Trampoline Park Injury Waivers: Are They Really Enforceable?

A single afternoon at an indoor trampoline park can end in the emergency room, and many parents are stunned to learn the park expects the waiver they signed to shield it from every claim. If your child suffered a trampoline park injury in Washington, that piece of paper may carry far less weight than the staff suggested. Washington courts have repeatedly refused to let a signature erase a child’s right to be made whole after a trampoline park injury.

Capital Injury and Disability Law has spent decades holding negligent businesses and their insurers accountable across Lacey, Olympia, Tacoma, and the surrounding counties. Understanding how a trampoline park injury waiver actually works is the first step toward protecting your family.

What Counts as a Trampoline Park Injury?

A trampoline park injury is any harm suffered on a commercial jumping facility, from sprains and fractures to concussions and spinal damage. These parks pack dozens of jumpers onto connected trampolines, foam pits, and dodgeball courts, so collisions, awkward landings, and equipment failures are common sources of a serious trampoline park injury.

The most frequently reported injuries include:

• Fractures and dislocations. Legs, ankles, and wrists absorb the force of bad landings, and lower-leg fractures are among the most common serious injuries at trampoline parks.
• Head and brain injuries. Collisions and falls can cause concussions or lasting damage, and our team handles brain injuries of every severity.
• Spinal and neck trauma. Somersaults and double-bounces can compress the spine, occasionally causing permanent damage.
• Soft-tissue damage. Torn ligaments and deep bruising can sideline a child for months.

How Common Are Trampoline Park Injuries?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, roughly 310 trampoline parks operate in the United States, the number is growing about 8% a year, and about 110,000 people are treated in U.S. emergency departments for trampoline injuries annually. The same research found that 11% of trampoline park injuries are significant enough to require medical care.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission publishes trampoline safety guidance for families, and pediatric experts warn that children face the greatest risk. Since younger bodies are still developing, a fall that would bruise an adult can fracture a child’s growth plate.

Are Trampoline Park Waivers Enforceable in Washington?

A trampoline park waiver signed by an adult for their own participation is often enforceable in Washington, but only within limits. A waiver signed by a parent to give up their child’s right to sue after a trampoline park injury is a different matter, and Washington courts have consistently refused to enforce those against the injured child.

Washington treats these two situations very differently. When a competent adult voluntarily signs a clearly written release for their own activity, that release usually holds up, even for ordinary negligence. When a parent tries to sign away a minor’s future claim, the state’s public policy steps in to protect the child.

Why Washington Courts Throw Out Waivers Signed for Minors

Washington courts throw out parental waivers because a parent has no legal authority to surrender a child’s own future right to compensation. In the landmark decision Scott v. Pacific West Mountain Resort, the Washington Supreme Court held that pre-injury releases signed by a parent on a child’s behalf violate public policy and cannot bar the child’s claim.

The reasoning is protective. A child injured through a business’s negligence has an independent legal right to seek care and resources for that harm. Since a parent might be unable or unwilling to cover a lifetime of medical needs, the court refused to let a signature strip the child of recourse.

Washington reinforces this protection in another way. Under state law, a parent cannot settle or release a minor’s injury claim without court approval, and a guardian ad litem is typically appointed to make sure any settlement truly serves the child. Due to these safeguards, the waiver a trampoline park hands you at the door rarely ends a child’s case the way the park hopes.

When a Waiver May Not Protect the Park, Even for Adults

Even a validly signed adult waiver has clear breaking points in Washington. Courts will set a release aside when the conduct goes beyond ordinary carelessness or when the document itself is defective. A signature does not give a business permission to be reckless.

A trampoline park waiver may fail to protect the park when:

• Gross negligence or recklessness is involved. Washington does not allow businesses to waive liability for grossly negligent conduct that shows reckless disregard for safety.
• The release violates public policy. Agreements that undercut essential public protections can be struck down.
• The clause is hidden or confusing. A release buried in fine print, where a reasonable person could sign without realizing they were giving up rights, may be unenforceable.
• The injury falls outside the waiver’s scope. A release covering jumping may not cover a defective platform or a falling ceiling panel.

Adult vs. Minor Trampoline Park Waivers in Washington

Adult and minor waivers stand on very different legal footing in Washington. The table below shows how the same signed form can shape a trampoline park injury claim in one direction while doing little in another, and why a parent’s signature rarely carries the weight a trampoline park expects.

Common Causes of Trampoline Park Injuries

Most trampoline park injuries trace back to conditions the business could have controlled. These facilities are responsible for safe equipment, adequate supervision, and enforced rules, and lapses in any of those areas can turn a preventable trampoline park injury into a premises liability claim.

Frequent causes include:

• Understaffing and poor supervision. Too few monitors means dangerous behavior, like double-bouncing and overcrowded trampolines, goes unchecked.
• Defective or worn equipment. Torn mats, exposed springs, and thin padding create hazards. When faulty gear is to blame, a product liability claim may apply.
• Unsafe premises. Wet surfaces, cluttered walkways, and inadequate padding can support a premises liability claim.
• Inadequate warnings. Parks that fail to warn about known risks, such as foam pit landings, may share fault.

What to Do After a Trampoline Park Injury in Washington

After a trampoline park injury, seek medical care first, then protect the facts that will support any future claim. Prompt documentation matters, since parks often preserve their own incident reports and video while expecting families to walk away quietly, so acting quickly helps protect your rights.

Practical steps to take:

• Get medical attention. Even a mild concussion or a hairline fracture needs a professional evaluation.
• Report the injury. Ask the park to complete an incident report and request a copy.
• Document everything. Photograph the equipment, the scene, and any visible injuries, and save your waiver and receipts.
• Identify witnesses. Collect names and contact details from anyone who saw what happened.
• Speak with an attorney before signing anything else. Do not give a recorded statement to the park’s insurer without guidance.

How a Washington Personal Injury Attorney Can Help

A Washington personal injury attorney can investigate the trampoline park injury, challenge an unenforceable waiver, and pursue full compensation while your family focuses on healing. Since many of these cases turn on supervision records, equipment maintenance logs, and surveillance footage, early legal action helps preserve the evidence that insurers would rather see disappear.

Capital Injury and Disability Law has been in practice since 1977, recovering more than $600 million for over 20,000 clients across Washington. Several members of our team formerly worked for insurance companies, so we anticipate their tactics and push back hard. As proud members of the Washington State Association for Justice, we bring both compassion and tenacity to every claim, which you can see reflected on our reviews page. You can also learn more about our firm.

Talk to Capital Injury and Disability Law About Your Trampoline Park Injury

If your family is facing a trampoline park injury in Lacey, Olympia, Tacoma, or anywhere in Thurston or Pierce County, you do not have to accept that a waiver ends your case. A conversation can help you understand your options and the compensation that may be available. Reach out through our contact page to speak with our team.

Frequently Asked Questions