A retrospective review that was performed by Doty J et al evaluated and compared domestic and commercial park trampoline injuries over a 2-year period and the results show that trampoline accident is a prevalent occurrence.
It was found that out of 439 total trampoline injuries recorded, 150 of them occurred at commercial trampoline parks, with the other 289 occurring at homes. Their study also showed that trampoline-related injury was mostly fractures/dislocations with several cases requiring surgical intervention.
These stats are what make insuring a trampoline difficult. Insurance companies see trampolines as high-risk equipment and since they are in it for business they won’t want an item that will almost guarantee they lose.
Getting a trampoline coverage is difficult and for good reasons. Many have tried to get one but failed. If you are one of such we have the answer here.
It is important that you do everything within your power to get trampoline insurance that will not deny you of your entitlement whenever there is an incident provided you did your part. If you fail in some of your duties of preventing a trampoline accident, you might find it hard to get your insurance coverage.
We will be sharing with you some tips that can help you get that trampoline insurance coverage easily.
Buy a New Trampoline
The obvious first step is to acquire a new and high-quality trampoline and not an already used one that might be faulty already. This is really important because the type of trampoline you get will determine whether or not the contractual terms governing the trampoline insurance will be honored.
Train Your Kids on Safety
Training your kids on trampoline safety makes it easier for an insurance company to insure your trampoline. They know that if the kids are well trained to use the trampoline safely there would be less likelihood of accidents if not eliminated.
The insurance companies will want to know if you took extra efforts in training your kids on trampoline safety. Take time to show and explain to them what you did and how much the kids have learned.
Use compliance to the training as an incentive to motivate the kids to comply and imbibe the safety measures.
Get the Right Safety Accessories
This is a very important consideration because apart from the fact that it enables you to easily get your insurance coverage, it also helps to reduce the otherwise harmful effect of a trampoline accident to your kids. Some accessories that you can look to get for your trampoline are trampoline safety skirt, trampoline anchor kit and even trampoline tent to prevent extra high jumping as well as keep insects and draughts away.
Keep Neighbors Kids Away
Without a trampoline liability waiver which warns your neighbors of the possible risk in trampoline jumping and gets them to agree they won’t blame you for any wrong-doing in the event of an accident.
You can be sued if your neighbors’ kids injure while playing in your trampoline. This is why the insurance company advises that you keep your neighbors, kids, away because they are not ready to pay for the damages you may have to pay for such an accident. A trampoline waiver helps to shield you and your insurance company from unnecessary legal battles.
Adult Supervision
When children look at a trampoline, all they see is fun. They fail to see the possibility of an accident. Hence, they can opt for new styles even when they are potentially harmful. It is your duty as an adult to keep them within what is acceptable. Generally, adult supervision tells the insurer that it was purely an accident and not an act of negligence.
An insurance company will be persuaded to cover your trampoline when they see the measures you’ve taken to reduce their risk of investment.
Safe Environment
Trampolines are supposed to be placed on open fields that are free from rocks and harmful objects. You should also ensure that your trampoline is placed on level ground to avoid falls due to imbalance. This action reduces the possibility of fatal injuries.
After Use Security
Secure your trampoline after use to prevent people or the elements messing with the mechanism as this can affect the safety of your trampoline. This also ensures kids don’t use it unsupervised.
Keep it out of the Reach of Kids
Since we have already established that trampoline requires adult supervision, ensure that they cannot get to it when you are not around to supervise them.
Install a Home Security System
A home security system can help in preventing some preventable trampoline accidents or reduce the effect of the accident when it happens. For instance, if you have a camera overlooking the trampoline, you can spot when there’s been an accident or when neighborhood kids sneak in to jump or when a kid is doing unsafe trampoline practices, even if you are not physically present at the scene.
Shop Around
Before settling for an insurance company, you are free to compare the insurance packages available to you and choose the most suitable.
Get a Good Agent
Ensure you go for an insurance agent that is experienced and willing to get you a good deal.
Other Tips to Consider
Some other tips that can also come in handy are:
Stay with the Same Company: let the insurance company in charge of your home, car, and health also see over your trampoline safety except in the rare case where they don’t have a trampoline insurance package. It’s better than getting a fresh insurer to insure your trampoline safety alone.
Maintain a Good Credit Record: A good credit record is one thing that insurance companies like to look at before honoring any insurance contract. It is this point that tells them that you have been diligently honoring your part of the contract.
Negotiate: Don’t just swallow whatever your insurer tells you hook, line and sinker. Ensure you understand what is in it for you. If you are not cool with what you are been offered, try a different insurer.
Consider Deductibles: Check and see if you have some items on your insurance list that you won’t mind to remove in other to have your trampoline covered at a reasonable rate.
The reason an accident is even an accident in the first place is that it happens when we least expect it. This goes to say that we are never prepared for it. Sometimes an accident happens to the most careful of us.
This is the major reason we have insurance or else if we adhere strictly to all safety measures we won’t need insurance coverage for our trampoline.
Terkura Vincent is a Trampoline Safety Advocate and CEO of Casdale Trampoline Safety Centre. Our passion is to see families enjoy trampoline with utmost safety. You can help us do this by sharing the articles with other families that use trampoline.
You can reach Kevin at kevin@casdale.com
