A trip to the soft play centre is a great way to keep children entertained and to let them burn off some energy. Unfortunately, though, accidents in soft play areas do sometimes happen and can lead to various types of injuries. If you or your child has sustained injuries at a soft play centre, you might be able to claim compensation for the suffering caused. In this guide to soft play centre accident claims, we’ll show you how the claims process works and how much compensation you could be entitled to.

You can get free legal advice about making a claim if you call our team for a no-obligation consultation. Any questions you might have will be answered and we’ll explain your potential next steps. Importantly, you won’t need to pay any legal fees upfront if your claim is accepted as all the personal injury solicitors on our team work on a No Win No Fee basis. As such, you’ll only ever pay for their work if you’re awarded compensation.

To discuss a soft play centre accident claim with a personal injury solicitor, please call us on 0800 6524 881. Otherwise, please continue reading to find out more about the claims process first.

Am I Eligible To Make A Soft Play Centre Accident Claim?

The main criteria our personal injury solicitors will want to confirm before taking on a soft play centre accident claim are:

• The operator of the soft play centre breached their duty of care by acting negligently; and
• That negligence caused an accident; and
• You or your child was injured as a direct consequence of that accident.

Of course, to be awarded compensation for any injuries, you will need to supply evidence to prove exactly how the accident happened, who was to blame and the extent of any injuries. Therefore, we’ll provide further advice on this later on.

What Duty Of Care Do Soft Play Centres Have?

Laws such as the Occupiers Liability Act 1984 and the Children Act 1989 mean that operators of soft play areas have a duty of care to try and keep all visitors (children and adults) as safe as possible. This means that they must:

• Inspect play equipment regularly and carry out risk assessments.
• Make sure all toys and equipment are free of damage and properly maintained.
• Provide adequate supervision, especially in high-risk areas such as on slides.
• Train staff properly.
• Ensure high hygiene standards.
• Provide clear signage about age restrictions.
• Clearly indicate fire exit routes.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) provide further information on the types of safety measures soft play areas should adopt.

Can I Claim Compensation If I Was Injured Working At A Kids Soft Play Centre?

We could also help you to claim if you’ve been injured while working in a soft play centre. If your accident was caused by poor training, a lack of PPE, damaged equipment or any other form of negligence by your employer, please get in touch and we’ll explain your options for free.

What Types Of Soft Play Centre Accidents Could Compensation Be Claimed For?

Any accident that has led to injuries in a soft play area caused by the operator’s negligence could lead to a personal injury claim. Some examples include:

• If another child collided with yours because they were allowed to use a fast slide before your child had exited.
• Where you slipped on a spillage, leak or recently cleaned floor inside the play centre where warning signs hadn’t been used.
• If your child suffered a head injury after banging their head on a beam without adequate padding.
• If your child’s fingers were trapped after a damaged chair collapsed.
• Where your child suffered an illness after being contaminated with germs inside an unhygienic ball pit.
• Where your child was hurt by bigger children who’d been allowed to enter an age-restricted part of the soft play area.
• If you suffered food poisoning as a result of undercooked or poorly prepared food.

Even if we have not described your soft play accident here, please get in touch and we’ll review your case for free to check if you could be eligible to claim compensation.

What Types Of Injuries At A Soft Play Area Could Compensation Be Claimed For?

Realistically, there are hundreds of different injuries that could be sustained in soft play area accidents. Some of the more common that lead to personal injury claims include:

If your child (or yourself) has been injured in a soft play centre accident, please call our team to check if you might be eligible to claim compensation for any suffering.

How Much Compensation For A Soft Play Centre Accident Claim?

Compensation for any physical pain and suffering caused by an accident at a soft play centre would be largely based on how badly you or your child has suffered. This generally needs to be verified by an independent specialist as part of the claims process so your solicitor will arrange a medical assessment. Until they receive the report about your prognosis, it’s difficult to say exactly how much compensation might be due. However, our compensation calculator for general damages may give you some idea:

You may also be entitled to compensation for:

• Psychological injuries (distress, fear, anxiety etc).
• Loss of amenity if the soft play area injuries have stopped you from enjoying your normal activities.
• Medical expenses such as the cost of private physiotherapy.
• Travel expenses.
• Care costs.
• Lost income.
• Personal property replacement costs.
• The cost of making your home or vehicle more accessible if you’ve sustained a permanent disability.

Your solicitor will aim to secure as much compensation as you’re entitled to. Therefore, they’ll spend a fair amount of time discussing how your injuries have affected your life before your claim is filed.

Evidence To Support Soft Play Centre Accident Claims

Following an accident in a soft play centre, there are some steps you could take to help secure evidence to substantiate your claim. This may improve the chances of compensation being paid so it’s worth spending some time doing the following:

1. Report the soft play area accident. You should tell staff about the accident and ask them for a copy of the accident report form.
2. Take photographs. If there is an obvious root cause of the soft play centre accident, try to take pictures of it before the area is sealed off or the cause is removed.
3. Get treatment. Don’t rely on first aid if you or your child is injured in a soft play area. Instead visit your GP, a minor injuries unit or A&E to have your injuries diagnosed by a medical professional. Notes from your appointment may be requested later as evidence.
4. Ask for video footage. If anybody recorded the incident on their phone, ask for a copy. Similarly, you could request any CCTV footage of the accident.
5. Collect witness information. Providing your solicitor with contact details for any witnesses to the soft play centre accident can help. Statements may need to be collected if there’s any argument regarding how the accident happened.

Your solicitor will help collect any evidence you don’t have yet if your claim proceeds. Therefore, don’t worry about calling us to begin the soft play centre injury claims process if you don’t have everything listed above.

Soft Play Centre Injury Claim Time Limits

For personal injury claims in the UK, there is a 3-year time limit. However, if it was a child hurt at the soft play centre, their time limit will not start until they turn 18 years old.

Importantly, at any time before then, you could start a claim on behalf of your child by becoming their litigation friend. This process allows you to deal with everything and to seek compensation for your child before they become an adult. If you don’t claim, they can claim themselves within 3 years of their 18^th birthday.

If the claim is for an injury you sustained in a soft play centre, generally you’ll have 3 years to begin from the date you of the accident. Don’t leave it too late though as your solicitor will need time to collect evidence and medical files to support your claim.

How Long Does A Soft Play Centre Injury Claim Take?

The length of time it takes to settle soft play centre injury claims generally varies from case to case depending on a number of factors, including the severity of the injuries sustained, the complexity of the case, and the willingness of the defendant to admit they are liable.

Therefore, some claims may be settled within a few months or so of starting the claim. On the other hand, if the claim is more complex, for example, if it involves more serious injuries where the claimant’s future prognosis isn’t yet clear, or if liability is disputed and further evidence is being sought, the claims process can take much longer.

It’s important to remember that essentially every compensation claim for an accident at a soft play centre will be unique, making it difficult to provide a specific timeline without knowing the details of what happened and why. However, if you speak with a personal injury solicitor on our team, they may be able to provide an estimated timeline based on the specifics of your case.

Starting The Soft Play Centre Accident Claims Process

The easiest way to check if you or your child may be entitled to compensation for soft play centre injuries is to call 0800 6524 881 today. If you do, a specialist advisor will review your eligibility and provide free legal advice during an initial consultation.

There’s no obligation for you to take action but if your claim is strong enough, a personal injury solicitor from our team may offer to help. If they do, you’ll receive No Win No Fee representation so you’ll only pay their legal costs if your claim is won.

For more information on soft play centre accident claims, please call or chat online with a specialist from our team.