Dangerous Gym Equipment
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Know Your Rights If You Have You Been Injured By Gym Equipment

The vast majority of people who work out do not get injured in their gym or fitness club. Still, about 9,000 Americans get injured due to fitness and gym equipment each year. Causes of gym equipment injuries include manufacturing defects, faulty installation of the machine or equipment, improper use, dangerous design or the gym’s failure to properly inspect and maintain equipment.

Many people who work out in gyms and fitness clubs in Kansas City and elsewhere in Missouri believe there is nothing they can do about an injury caused by weightlifting equipment or cardio machines. However, unless their own fault or improper use of the workout equipment caused the injury, injured gymgoers may be able to seek compensation by filing a premises liability claim.

The Most Dangerous Gym Equipment And Machines

The following pieces of gym equipment are considered to be the most hazardous ones because they are most commonly associated with injuries in gyms and fitness clubs:

  • Treadmills
  • Elliptical machines
  • Stair machines
  • Rowing machines
  • Weightlifting apparatus
  • Workout benches

Injuries caused by defective or dangerous workout equipment range from bruises and lacerations to back damage, head injuries, broken bones and even staph and fungal infections.

Causes Of Gym Injuries Caused By Weightlifting And Cardio Equipment

You can be injured by gym equipment because it was inherently dangerous or was inadequately designed by the manufacturer. Our experienced hazardous gym equipment attorney Kansas City has outlined the most common causes of gym injuries that may entitle you to sue the owner of the gym or fitness club where your injury took place:

  • Inadequate spacing between gym equipment and machines: Every gymgoer hates those waiting times in the gym, which can get ridiculously long during the peak hours, which is why some gyms decide to “help” their members by squeezing as many pieces of equipment as possible. Placing fitness equipment too close to one another may minimize those annoying waiting times, but it will also create a greater risk of injury in the gym, because inadequate spacing between machines and apparatuses means that gymgoers have little room to move around safely without coming in contact with machines operated by other members of the gym.
  • Inadequate instructions: You may have noticed that every gym equipment and machine in your gym comes with a label attached to it. On that label, the manufacturer provides instructions on how the equipment should be used. Amateurs in the gym actually read those instructions. When these instructions are not clear, any member of the gym is more likely to get injured while using that gym equipment as instructed.
  • Improper installation: The same goes for installation manuals provided by manufacturers of gym equipment. If the installation manuals are written inadequately, a gym or fitness club may improperly install the gym equipment, and as a result, any gymgoer can get injured while using it.
  • Unsanitary conditions: Have you ever thought how many people put their hands on handlebars on stationary bikes or touch grips on barbells, dumbbells, cables and other equipment in your gym? Literally hundreds of people per day. Those handlebars, grips and other surfaces often contain bacteria, which can cause staph or fungal infections. That’s why every gym and fitness club has a duty to prevent the spread of infections by regularly disinfecting common areas.
  • Dangerous gym equipment: Some pieces of gym equipment are more hazardous than others. For example, many treadmills continue running unless manually shut off, while other treadmills are automatically shut off when a user falls. You may be able to sue your gym for installing dangerous workout equipment.
  • Defective gym equipment: Gym equipment can be not only dangerous, but also defective. While gyms and fitness clubs are responsible for the maintenance and inspection of their equipment, they are not always the only party to blame for installing defective gym equipment. Gyms cannot be held responsible for injuries caused by the defects or faulty design that could not be detected or found in the course of inspection and maintenance. In that case, you may be able to sue the manufacturer of the defective gym equipment.

Let Us Review The Facts Of Your Gym Accident

As you can see, determining liability after sustaining an injury caused by hazardous gym equipment is not easy. That’s why you may want to consult with our experienced premises liability and products liability lawyers at Mayer & Associates, P.C. Schedule a free consultation by calling 816-692-2877 or completing our online contact form.