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Many people in Florida and throughout the country learned of a terrifying incident involving three kids who were hurt on Memorial Day after what has been referred to as a “waterspout” came ashore, lifting the bounce house in which the children were playing several feet into the air. CNN notes that one of the children involved in the incident was seriously injured.

Radio station KTSA recently reported that a civil suit has been filed on behalf of one of the children (the injured 5-year-old) who sustained injuries to her wrist and suffered emotional distress after falling from the bounce house, according to her attorney. The lawsuit has been filed against Ft. Lauderdale and claims that because of the city’s negligence, the child “suffered physical and mental trauma.”

The Claim
The child’s attorney stated that the city was grossly negligent when it permitted the girl to enter the bounce house; however, Ft. Lauderdale’s mayor has called the occurrence “a freak act of nature that no one could have prepared for or predicted.”

The mayor further noted in a statement that the weather changed severely and suddenly, such that it ultimately brought ashore an intense waterspout that was accompanied by powerful winds that ranged between 65 and 85 miles per hour. The bounce house vendor has received notice from the city with respect to their responsibility as they continue investigating the situation.

Bounce House Accidents: Not So Uncommon
CNN has reported other bounce house incidents in the past, noting that injuries involving the houses are not as uncommon as people may think. In fact, a doctor with the Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio conducted a study that revealed that the occurrence of bounce house-related injuries increased 1500 percent between 1995 and 2010.

Still, Randall Spivey and his team of personal injury lawyers know there are ways to keep children in bounce houses safe. Safety lecturer and Amberg Entertainment’s CEO Ted Amberg noted there are “three Ws for bounce house safety.”

The first “W” refers to weather. When it comes to inflatable houses and/or other toys, wind can cause them to become unsafe. Most manufacturers of inflatables suggest taking kids out of bounce houses (and even deflating them) if the winds reach 20 to 25 miles per hour or greater.

The second “W” refers to workers. More specifically, it refers to those individuals responsible for operating the bounce house. Many of those in charge of operation do not have a full appreciation of how bounce houses and other inflatables need to be anchored. That said, parents are advised to ensure the bounce house actually has an operator present to monitor the house and children at all times.

The final “W” refers to warranty. Parents are encouraged to request a copy of the bounce house company’s inspection documents, as well as documentation of their current insurance coverage. The CNN article notes that national guidelines and/or regulations with respect to inspections do not currently exist; however, each state may have its own set of rules and requirements.

If your child has been injured in a bounce house incident or any other incident, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. to discuss your case. Our Ft. Myers personal injury lawyers are here to help you obtain justice.