Treadmills are one of the most popular pieces of exercise equipment in fitness centres and for use at home. While commonly used without incident, sometimes accidents happen due to various reasons such as poor instructions, manufacturing defects, lack of maintenance, or inadequate safety measures. Importantly, if you have been injured by a treadmill in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be eligible to make a treadmill injury claim for compensation.

If you’re interested in making a claim immediately, please contact our team on 0800 6524 881. If not, please continue reading to learn more about the treadmill injury claims process.

Am I Eligible To Make A Treadmill Injury Claim?

Before pursuing a compensation claim for a treadmill injury you have sustained, it’s important to establish the cause of the accident and who is at fault.

A personal injury solicitor will be able to assist in determining these factors and verifying that:

• You were owed a duty of care by the treadmill manufacturer, supplier or operator; and
• Their negligence led to a treadmill accident or incident; and
• You suffered an injury because of that negligence.

Collecting sufficient evidence to support your treadmill injury claim and prove these statements to be true will be important for the success of any compensation claim so we’ll look into that in more detail further below.

Duty Of Care Related To Treadmills

Manufacturers, installers, and service providers in the UK have a legal duty of care to ensure the safety of their customers while using their products or facilities, as outlined by laws such as the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957. This includes businesses such as gyms, hotels and fitness centres. Therefore, they must provide safe equipment and facilities and take appropriate measures to prevent treadmill accidents.

Regular inspections, maintenance and repair of treadmills should also be carried out to make sure they are in good condition. Any treadmills that do not meet safety standards should be taken out of service until it is safe to use again. Treadmills should be set up in a safe location and used in accordance with all safety guidelines.

If there is a failure in any of the above and somebody is injured as a result it could result in a compensation claim.

Common Causes of Treadmill Accidents

While some treadmill accidents may simply just happen, if a user is running with care and attention and the owner has followed all the regulations, avoidable injuries should be avoided. However, some examples of treadmill accidents where an injury claim might be possible include:

• If you slip and fall on the treadmill due to a slippery or uneven surface.
• Poor maintenance of the treadmill has led to a fault and the user being injured as a result.
• A mechanical failure or malfunction of the treadmill caused an injury because of poor quality control or lack of maintenance.
• Lack of proper supervision particularly if children or an elderly persona in using the treadmill.
• Using the treadmill in a poorly lit area that should have been made temporarily out of service.

Don’t worry if the specific cause of your treadmill accident is not listed above. Gym owners and operators have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their customers. Therefore, if your injury was a result of their negligence, you may be eligible to file a treadmill injury claim for compensation.

Common Injuries Caused By Treadmills

A treadmill accident can result in a variety of injuries, some of the most frequent being:

• Sprains and strains. These typically occur in the ankles and knees.
• Broken bones. These are commonly broken feet, broken ankles and broken legs.
• Cuts and lacerations. Cuts and lacerations can occur if a user falls and comes into contact with the treadmill’s running belt or other parts of the machine.
• Head injuries. Injuries such as concussions can happen if a user falls and hits their head on the treadmill or surrounding objects.
• Heart problems. Cardiac issues can be caused by pre-existing conditions or over-exertion.
• Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI). Conditions such as bursitis and tendonitis or any other injuries related to repetitive motions and impact.

If someone else’s negligence caused your injury from using a treadmill, please contact our advisors as you may be eligible to file a claim.

How Much Compensation For A Treadmill Accident Could I Claim?

When determining the amount of compensation for a treadmill-related injury, various factors must be taken into account to make sure the claimant receives what they deserve. The factors that would typically be considered include:

• General damages – The physical and emotional impact of the injury, such as the severity of the injury and the amount of pain and suffering experienced, and any loss of the ability to enjoy life.
• Special damages – for example:
  • Loss of wages, future earning potential, and missed opportunities for promotion.
  • Medical costs – Any costs relating to your treadmill injuries such as treatment and prescription costs.
  • Travel costs – Any expenses for travel to and from medical appointments due to your injury.
  • Vehicle adaptions – If your injury has meant it was necessary to have adaptions made to your vehicle, these costs may also be accounted for.
  • Care costs – If you have had to have help around the home or had to pay for care, these expenses may be covered.

If you appoint a personal injury solicitor to make a treadmill injury claim on your behalf, you can be sure they will include everything needed to get you the best compensation payout possible.

Compensation Calculator

The exact amount of compensation that might be awarded for a treadmill injury cannot be determined without all the facts at this stage. However, legal professionals can consult the Judicial College guidelines when evaluating such claims to estimate potential compensation payouts for specific injuries.

By using our compensation calculator, you can refer to these figures to get an idea of how much a treadmill injury claim may be worth.

Although any amounts shown are in line with the guidelines, you should only take them as advisory.

Evidence To Support A Treadmill Injury Claim

To successfully file a compensation claim for a treadmill accident, it’s important to gather the necessary information to help support your claim. Steps you can take to do this include:

• Accident photos. Take Photographs or videos of the cause of the treadmill accident if possible.
• Accident report. Report the accident to staff and ask for a copy of the accident report from the facility’s accident book.
• Witnesses. Gather contact information from anyone who witnessed your accident.
• Medical report. Seek medical care straight away. Any medical records related to your treadmill injuries could be used as evidence.
• Video footage. Ask for a copy of any CCTV footage of your treadmill accident if available.
• A diary. Keep a diary and regularly document your injury’s progress with photos.
• Receipts. Keep the receipts of any expenses you have incurred as a result of your injury.

If you would like professional help, you can take advantage of our free consultation with one of our claims advisors. They can help guide you through the process of making a claim and ensure that all the necessary evidence is collected.

Time Limits For Claiming Treadmill Injury Compensation

In the UK, there is a statute of limitations for personal injury claims. This simply means that there is a set time limit within which a treadmill injury claim needs to be initiated.

In most cases where the injury is immediately apparent, the claim should start within 3 years of the date of the injury. If an injury was not immediately apparent, however, then the time limit would begin on the date the injury was first diagnosed.

Some specific circumstances have different time limits, however. For example, if you apply to become a litigation friend to make a claim on the behalf of a child injured by a treadmill, the 3-year time limit will not apply. It will only commence if the child reaches their 18^th birthday and a claim hasn’t been made.

It’s important to be aware of the statute of limitations when considering making a claim for a treadmill injury, as if the claim is not started within the specific time frame, it may be barred and you could be prevented from receiving compensation.

Starting The Treadmill Injury Claims Process

Navigating the process of a personal injury claim can be difficult for those without any experience or knowledge of personal injury law. An experienced personal injury solicitor on our team, however, can provide the guidance and expertise needed to build a strong case.

By having a free consultation with a claims advisor to start, you can freely discuss the details of your treadmill accident and in return be given expert advice on your eligibility to claim compensation. If they advise you to proceed with making a claim, we could then pass it over to a personal injury solicitor.

Our personal injury solicitors offer their services on a No Win No Fee basis which means there are no upfront costs involved and you’ll pay nothing if it’s unsuccessful.

If you have any additional questions regarding making a treadmill injury claim, our live chat service is available for your use or you can call us on 0800 6524 881.