Child Injuries at Indoor Play & Trampoline Parks in Central Kentucky

Written by: Adam Turner – Morrin Law Office
Last reviewed: February 23, 2026

Indoor play places are part of life for a lot of Central Kentucky families—birthday parties, school breaks, and rainy weekends. Spots like Monkey Joe’s, GattiTown, Malibu Jack’s, Sky Zone, Jump Zone, and other trampoline parks and indoor playgrounds can be a great way for kids to burn energy. They can also get busy fast. When a lane is crowded, a climbing feature is slick, or rules aren’t enforced, a simple misstep can turn into a hard fall, a collision, or a trip to urgent care.

If your child was injured at a local indoor activity venue, this guide is here to help you sort through what matters: the injuries we often see, when a business may be responsible, how waivers fit into Kentucky law, and what you can do right away to protect your child’s health and your family’s options.

At a glance

• Get medical care first—especially after a head impact, neck pain, or severe swelling. (CDC)
• Photograph the exact area and the posted rules before anything changes.
• Ask for an incident report and write down who you spoke with.
• A signed waiver isn’t always the end of the conversation, particularly when a child is hurt. (Miller v. House of Boom Kentucky, LLC)
• Kentucky deadlines can be short, and minors can have different timing rules. (KRS 413.140; KRS 413.170)

Note from attorney Rob Morrin

I’m Rob Morrin, and I grew up and live here in Madison County, Kentucky. When a child gets hurt at an indoor play center, parents are often told ‘you signed a waiver’ before anyone talks about what actually happened. Focus on your child’s care first. Then, if you can, document the area and ask for an incident report before you leave. If we can’t add value, we’ll tell you that and try to point you in the right direction.

Be Well!

Common Injuries at Indoor Play and Trampoline Parks

Fractures

Broken wrists, forearms, elbows, and ankles often happen during a reflexive “catch” when a child falls. Trampolines add bounce forces that can turn an awkward landing into a hard impact. Fractures also occur when kids land near edges, hit a frame area, or collide when several children share a space.

Concussions

Concussions can follow a fall from a platform, a head-to-head collision, or a sudden snap of the head during a bad landing. Symptoms don’t always appear immediately, which is why monitoring after a head impact matters. (CDC) If a clinician diagnoses a concussion, follow their return-to-activity guidance and keep the venue’s “back to play” pressure out of it. (CDC)

Sprains and ligament tears

Knees and ankles take a beating in indoor play areas—especially where surfaces change (mat to floor, foam to trampoline) or where kids cut sideways in dodgeball-style zones. These injuries can look mild at first and then worsen as swelling and bruising show up.

Dental injuries

Chipped or broken teeth can result from face-first falls, collisions, or an elbow/knee to the mouth in crowded areas. Dental injuries also happen near hard edges: steps, rails, or rigid barriers that sit close to play lanes.

Spinal injuries

Serious spinal injuries are less common, but neck or back pain after a fall deserves careful attention. Risk rises when a child falls from height, lands twisted, or takes a head impact. If your child complains of neck/back pain, numbness, weakness, or severe headache, get medical help promptly. (CDC)

Falls from climbing structures

Indoor playgrounds often include bridges, nets, ladders, and elevated platforms. Falls can happen when a child slips on worn material, loses a grip, gets bumped, or uses a feature meant for older kids. Even “short” falls can cause fractures or head injuries if the landing area isn’t well padded.

Are These Businesses Responsible for My Child’s Injury?

Most cases come down to a practical question: did the facility take reasonable steps to keep families safe for the type of activity it offers? Kentucky courts often discuss a property owner’s duty to maintain premises in a reasonably safe condition for visitors. (Shelton v. Kentucky Easter Seals)

At indoor activity venues, responsibility questions commonly focus on:

Duty of care

A business that invites families in and charges admission usually has to act reasonably to reduce foreseeable risks. That can include maintaining equipment, fixing hazards, warning about dangers that aren’t obvious, and setting safety rules that work in real life—not just on a sign. (Shelton v. Kentucky Easter Seals)

Negligent supervision

Supervision isn’t hovering over every child. It’s staffing the right zones, watching known trouble spots, and stepping in when play gets unsafe. Examples include enforcing one-at-a-time rules, separating little kids from bigger jumpers, and stopping roughhousing before someone gets hurt. When staff are stretched thin, injuries become more predictable.

Unsafe equipment

Common issues include worn padding, loose netting, exposed springs or frames, damaged mats, slick surfaces, and poorly placed barriers. A key issue is whether the facility knew (or should have known) about the condition and failed to fix it or block access.

Overcrowding

Crowds change everything. Collisions increase, kids share lanes, and staff can’t keep up. If the facility sells capacity beyond what it can safely manage, that can matter.

Failure to enforce safety rules

Rules often cover flips, double bouncing, age ranges, lane sharing, and staying out of restricted areas. When rules exist but nobody enforces them, risk goes up—especially for younger kids trying to keep up.

Inadequate staff training

Training affects how staff spot hazards, intervene, respond to injuries, and document incidents. A sloppy response can also lead to missing information later—like who witnessed the fall or where it happened.

Kentucky also allows fault to be shared among parties in tort actions, depending on the facts. (KRS 411.182) That doesn’t mean a child “caused” their injury. It means the details matter, and multiple factors can contribute.

What About Waivers?

Many family fun centers and trampoline parks require a signed waiver, often completed online before you arrive. That’s typical.

Here’s the plain-English version:

• A waiver can affect certain claims, depending on its wording and the situation.
• A waiver does not automatically wipe out responsibility in every case—especially when a child is involved.

Kentucky’s Supreme Court addressed a parental pre-injury waiver in a trampoline-park setting and held it unenforceable under the specific facts of that case. (Miller v. House of Boom Kentucky, LLC) Kentucky cases also discuss limits on exculpatory clauses in other contexts. (Cumberland Valley Contractors, Inc. v. Bell County Coal Corp.)

Practical takeaway: If you’re worried about unsafe conditions, broken equipment, or a lack of supervision, don’t assume the waiver ends the analysis. A careful review of the facts and the paperwork can clarify what options exist. (Miller v. House of Boom Kentucky, LLC)

What Parents Should Do After an Injury

• Seek medical care. After a head impact, watch for delayed concussion symptoms and follow medical guidance. (CDC)
• Photograph the area (wide shots and close-ups): equipment, padding, flooring, barriers, and posted rules.
• Request an incident report and write down the date/time, staff names, and what was said.
• Get witness information from other parents or adults who saw the incident.
• Preserve receipts and records: admission, waiver confirmations, medical paperwork, out-of-pocket costs, and time missed from work.

If it’s appropriate, ask the facility to preserve any video from the time window. Many systems overwrite quickly.

Timing basics (Kentucky)

Kentucky has a one-year limitations period for many personal injury actions, but the right deadline depends on the legal theory and facts. (KRS 413.140) For minors, Kentucky law includes tolling rules that may extend the time to bring certain actions until the disability of minority is removed. (KRS 413.170)

Because timing can turn on details, getting reliable guidance early can prevent avoidable problems—without rushing you into a decision.

FAQs

Should I take my child to the ER after a head impact?

If your child shows concussion danger signs—or you’re unsure—seek emergency care. Some concussion symptoms show up later, so keep monitoring even if your child seems “fine” at first. (CDC)

The venue says, “You signed a waiver.” Is that the end of it?

Not always. Kentucky’s Supreme Court has addressed a parental pre-injury waiver in a trampoline-park context and found it unenforceable under the specific facts of that case. (Miller v. House of Boom Kentucky, LLC)

If the injury happened during normal play, can the business still be responsible?

Sometimes. The focus often lands on supervision, equipment condition, crowding, and whether staff enforced safety rules—not just the fact that kids were playing. (Shelton v. Kentucky Easter Seals)

What information helps the most right away?

Photos of the exact area, a copy or details of the incident report, witness names, and a clear timeline of symptoms and treatment. Keep all medical and expense records, even small ones.

Could fault be shared?

Kentucky allows allocation of fault in tort actions. How that applies depends on the facts. (KRS 411.182)

How Morrin Law Office can help

If your child was injured at an indoor playground, trampoline park, or family fun center in Central Kentucky and you have questions, Morrin Law Office can review what happened and explain your options in a clear, practical way. If we can’t add value, we may point you in the right direction.

Free Consultation / Free Professional Case Evaluation: Call 859-358-0300.

Morrin Law Office
214 W Main St, Richmond, KY 40475
Phone: 859-358-0300

Key Takeaways

• Indoor play venues can turn risky quickly when areas are crowded or rules aren’t enforced.
• Facts that often matter: supervision, equipment condition, crowd levels, and safety rule enforcement.
• A waiver doesn’t automatically end the question in Kentucky, especially for child injuries. (Miller v. House of Boom Kentucky, LLC)
• Document the scene early and follow medical guidance after head impacts. (CDC)
• Deadlines can be short, and minors may have different timing rules. (KRS 413.140; KRS 413.170)

Sources

• https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=17782
• https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=49037
• https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=17873
• https://www.cdc.gov/heads-up/signs-symptoms/index.html
• https://www.cdc.gov/heads-up/guidelines/recovery-from-concussion.html
• https://law.justia.com/cases/kentucky/supreme-court/2019/2018-sc-000625-cl.html
• https://law.justia.com/cases/kentucky/supreme-court/2013/2011-sc-000554-dg.html
• https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ky-supreme-court/1234046.html

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