You may sign up for a gym membership to improve your health. So it is devastating when the exact opposite occurs, and you incur severe injuries from a workout. What’s worse is if these injuries were due to no fault of your own. Continue reading to learn potential safety hazards to avoid at the gym and how an experienced Tampa slip and fall lawyer at Merricks Law Group, P.A. can help you hold the appropriate party accountable.
What are potential safety hazards to avoid at the gym?
It is in your best interest to listen to your body at all times during your workout. In other words, you must not overexert yourself. This is because pushing your body beyond its capable limits may cause you to become faint; with this, you may hit your head upon collapsing. Or, you may suffer from heat stroke or any other type of cardiac event.
Also regarding overexertion, you must not try to lift heavier weights than you can handle. This is because you may strain, sprain, or pull your muscles. What’s worse, you may be unable to get the weight off you and ultimately suffer respiratory issues. Similar injuries may result if you attempt to use equipment that you do not know how to properly work. This is why it is recommended to have another individual “spot” you whenever you push yourself to this extent.
What happens if I incur an injury due to no fault of my own?
Unfortunately, even if you abundantly take care of yourself throughout your workout, you may still incur an injury. This may be true if a gym owner fails to clear the facilities of all safety hazards. For example, you may encounter a defective piece of equipment, or otherwise one that was not built correctly. Or, you may slip and fall due to slippery surfaces in the pool area or locker room.
So if you believe that a gym owner is to blame for your accident, then you may consider pursuing a personal injury claim against them. At first, you may be hesitant to do so based on the gym membership contract you signed. This contract may have disclosed that there is a certain degree of risk with working out in the facility. It may continue by saying that, for this reason, you are unable to sue for the injuries you incurred in the facility.
However, this contract does not cover the gross negligence of a gym owner. So you may still attempt to recover financial compensation so long as you can prove that your accident was due to no fault of your own but rather the fault of the gym owner.
For these reasons alone, you must consult with a skilled Hillsborough County personal injury lawyer immediately. Our team at Merricks Law Group, P.A. is happy to advise you.