Bleacher Accident & Falls

In recent years, more stringent standards have been arranged for the maintenance and construction of bleachers, to diminish the number of injuries and accidents as a result of common mishaps, which occur during the entrance and exit of occupants, and when they move around the seats.

If the negligence to bring up to current standards the bleachers which cause accidents, it is the owner’s responsibility to offer compensation to individuals who sustain injuries for the cost of out-of-pocket expenses and medical treatment.

To accommodate the various needs of a multitude of spectators of various heights, weights, and ages, bleachers need to be suitably constructed.

Typical hazards which stem from subpar design and construction of bleachers and entail the following:

Hazards in slipping and falling. Bleachers which are poorly built do not offer sufficient traction. Occupants tend to slip if the services are covered with ice, snow, or just wet.

Hazards in tripping. Many accidents with bleachers are caused by tripping over steps, during the entrance and exit of the bleachers.

Tip over bleachers. Inadequate weight distribution or an overcrowd can result in bleachers tipping over, which can cause sustained injuries to many spectators who at the time are in the bleachers.

A shortage of guardrails. It is possible without proper guard rails for occupants to fall from the top row, or the sides of bleachers. It is crucial that guard rails are regularly inspected to make sure they are not insecure or loose.

Collapse of the bleacher. Excess of occupancy in bleachers to accommodate occupants, general flaws in design, and poor materials and workmanship can result in collapsing bleachers, to cause sitting individuals harm during the collapse.

Openings in bleacher seats. Designs of older bleachers can include openings between the floor and the seats, which would enable a child to slide through the open space, and fall under the bleachers. The result can be mild to severe sustained injuries, which depends on the angle of contact with the ground, and height of the fall.

Anti-skid materials that are worn or poor. Sufficient traction must be offered to prevent accidents of slips and falls without presenting a hazard in tripping. Poorly implemented or designed measures in anti-skid materials can increase the risk of slip, fall, or trip injuries.

The owner of the facilities is responsible for the bleachers in retrofitting any existing bleachers, or installing new bleachers which meet current standards, and perform inspections regularly in order to make sure that the bleachers are safe for all individuals who use them.

During the use of the bleachers, if anyone sustained injuries, the owner may be held liable if there was proof the accident could have been prevented, or that the bleachers’ condition worsened the risk of injury than it otherwise would’ve been.

The property management company or the manufacturer of the bleachers, in addition, may have the responsibility to bear if it is deemed the bleachers were not regularly maintained or inspected for indications of wear.

Contact us for a free consultation or call Anzalone Law Firm PLLC, at: 603.548.3797