Hammock Accident Injury Lawsuit Attorney

Hammocks originally had practical purposes, like serving as portable beds for soldiers and sailors. Today, hammocks are associated with leisure and relaxation, especially during the spring and summer. While hammocks are lightweight and easy to transport, they can also be the source of serious injuries. Hammock injuries happen for a variety of reasons, including improper installation and irregular maintenance. Businesses and property owners have a legal duty to prevent such accidents under California’s premise liability laws. If you have been injured on a hammock, contact the personal injury attorneys of Normandie Law Firm. Our lawyers can help you sue the responsible parties and recover the compensation you’re entitled to.

Hammock Accident Injuries

Most people are unaware of how dangerous hammocks can be since they’re relatively low to the ground. However, hammock accidents can lead to severe injuries, including death. In 2020, for example, two sisters in Cleveland, Ohio were sleeping in a hammock that was tied to a tree and brick pillar. The brick pillar collapsed on both girls, causing them to die from their injuries. This tragedy illustrates the importance of safety measures when using hammocks. When hammocks are not properly hung and maintained, they can be the cause of numerous injuries, including:

• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injury
• Deep lacerations
• Broken neck
• Spinal cord damage
• Paralysis/ Loss of function
• Disfigurement

Many of these injuries occur from things falling on the victim when the hammock collapses. However, the hammock itself can fall apart due to broken down netting and hardware. There may be too much weight placed on the hammock as well, if people are not made aware of the hammock’s weight capacity. Regardless of how you were injured, recovering from a hammock accident can be a long and expensive process. Obtaining compensation for these injuries is essential, which is why you should speak to an attorney right away.

Call us and talk to a hammock injury lawyer about your rights and legal options.

Common Places for Hammock Injuries

Hammocks have become increasingly popular in the last 100 years as people became more interested in outdoor recreation. In the last 5 years alone, hammock sales have almost doubled worldwide, making them a common sight in many locations. Hammocks can be found at:

• Hotels
• AirBNBs
• Bara and Clubs
• Beach Resorts
• Private homes
• Apartment buildings
• Schools

Lounging in a hammock should be a pleasant experience at these places. But a lazy afternoon in the sun can quickly turn into a nightmare, depending on how a hammock is hung and maintained. In some cases, the manufacturer is at fault for making a defective or dangerous product. But property owners can be responsible as well, if they fail to maintain reasonable safety standards on their property. These include fixing problems that they’re aware of and warning people of unsafe conditions.

These conditions, by the way, don’t just refer to clear and obvious signs of danger. Property owners can be held responsible for things they should have known about. For example, let’s say someone rented out an AirBNB to a family with young kids. There’s a hammock in the back yard of the property that hasn’t been maintained in a long time. The owner figures that it’s the middle of winter and no one will use the hammock, so he doesn’t take it down. During their stay, the family’s children are playing in the yard and decide to get in the hammock. The hammock collapses, along with heavy branches from the tree that it’s hanging from.

Because the family had kids, the owner should have known that they could play around in the hammock regardless of the weather. Additionally, he should have known that the hammock may have been unsafe since he had not maintained it on a regular basis. The family in this case would have grounds to sue the owner for their children’s injuries.

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Premise Liability for Hammock Accidents

In order to sue a business or property owner for a hammock accident, you would need to prove that they are liable for your injuries. In California, premise liability laws dictate that owners must keep their property in a “reasonably safe” condition by doing the following:

• Maintenance and repairs as needed.
• Regular inspection in the case of commercial buildings, apartments, etc.
• Give clear warnings of any unsafe conditions.

An owner who fails in any of these areas is liable for injuries that occur on the property, including injuries from broken down or collapsing hammocks. Duty of care to visitors is especially important for big businesses like hotels, nightclubs, and beach resorts. Hammocks at these places are used on a frequent basis by people of all shapes and sizes. Thus, they require more maintenance and repair than hammocks in private homes. By ignoring the problem or putting up no warning signs, businesses leave themselves open to lawsuits from countless people.

Warning signs should also indicate important usage information, like the hammock’s weight capacity. Placing too much weight on a hammock can have tragic consequences, like the case of Erin Field, who got into a hammock that was tied to a rooftop chimney. When her boyfriend got in the hammock with her, the chimney collapsed on top of them, leaving Erin with a broken neck and spinal cord. While she is grateful to have survived, she is paralyzed from the chest down and requires round-the-clock care.

Erin will need life-long medical care as a result of her accident and has sued for compensation to cover those expenses. However, there are many other losses that you will suffer as a hammock accident victim. You may also be the loved one of someone who died from hammock-related injuries. If so, there are forms of compensation available to you as well in the form of a wrongful death compensation lawsuit.

Our lawyers can explain these options to you in more detail and get you started on a claim for compensation.

Defective Hammock Stands Recalled by the Manufacturer

So far, we’ve focused on the responsibility of property owners for the safe installation and maintenance of a hammock. But issues during the manufacturing of the product can also lead to an accident. For example, on July 21, 2022, The Hammock Source recalled around 32,500 Key West Knock Down Hammock Stands due to an issue with the weld that connects the stand to the base. The defect may cause the base of the hammock stand to break and lead to a fall-related accident for the user.

The hammock stands, which were sold through Lowe’s and Lowes.com, are labeled with model code “KW-KDBRZ” on a white label near the carry handle. Consumers have been advised to stop using the hammocks and reach out to The Hammock Source to receive a full refund.

At the time of the recall, there were 9 reports of injuries from the hammock stands breaking at the base. If you or someone you know had an accident involving a Key West Knock Down Hammock Stand, contact us to speak with a defective product lawsuit attorney. Based on the circumstances, you may have the right to sue the manufacturer and obtain compensation for your injuries. We can help you explore all the available legal options during a free case evaluation.

Compensation from a Hammock Injury Lawsuit

In a lawsuit for hammock accident injuries, there are several types of losses you can recover. These include:

• Medical costs like hospital stays, surgeries, and physical therapy.
• Pain and suffering for emotional trauma associated with the accident.
• Lost wages for missed time at work, job loss, or permanent disability.

Some cases also qualify for punitive damages, which are awarded when the owner was especially negligent in their duty to keep you safe. In that case, the courts will approve additional amounts on top of your settlement award as a form of punishment to the responsible party. However, punitive damages are seen as excessive in most cases, so you should speak with an attorney before suing for this type of compensation.

Sadly, some lawyers stick to the basics when it comes to lawsuits so they can win the case and move on to the next one. This can leave clients without sufficient funds to cover their losses. The lawyers of Normandie have the experience to bring you every type of compensation you’re entitled to, including punitive damages.

Wrongful Death Compensation for Loved Ones of Hammock Accident Victims

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), over 3,000 people in America die every year from hammock accidents. Many of these deaths come from improper installation or failure to follow safety warnings from the manufacturer. A common example is hanging the hammock from an unstable source, like tree branches and chimneys. Improper maintenance, like not replacing defective hardware, can also lead to fatalities from hammock accidents.

If your loved one died from a hammock accident on someone else’s property, you may be able to sue for wrongful death compensation. This type of lawsuit allows you to recover the losses that are left behind by your loved one’s passing. A wrongful death lawsuit can include:

• Funeral costs
• Medical bills related to the deceased person’s injuries
• Pain and suffering for your emotional trauma
• Loss of wages or inheritance as a result of your loved one’s death

Additionally, there is a form of compensation known as loss of consortium, which applies to spouses and registered domestic partners. California law generally defines loss of consortium as the loss of love, companionship, and support that you had with your former partner. Essentially, there are specific things you enjoy with only your partner, like sexual relations and having children. Depending on your relationship, you may be able to sue for those losses as well.

We want to stress that wrongful death compensation isn’t about replacing your loved one. However, you should not face financial hardship or struggle with mental health issues because you can’t afford therapy. Someone else is responsible for those damages and you should be compensated accordingly by all the responsible parties.

To learn more about filing a lawsuit for wrongful death, call the attorneys of Normandie Law Firm.

Statute of Limitations for a Hammock Injury Lawsuit

There’s a lot to deal when you’ve been injured or lost a loved one in a hammock accident. During this time, seeing an attorney may be the last thing on your mind. But it’s extremely important that you find legal representation right away. Remember, it’s not just your injuries you have to recover from. You need to recover from the damage to your finances and mental health as a result of those injuries. Putting off a compensation claim can make it harder for you to bounce back these losses, especially if you miss the statute of limitations.

In California, a lawsuit for personal injury must be filed within two years from the date of your accident. If you’re seeking wrongful death compensation, you must file a claim within two years of the person’s death. If you miss this deadline, you may not be able to sue at all, or receive an award that’s far below what you deserve.

Our Los Angeles attorneys will make sure your claim is filed in a timely manner. Call our office and let us fight for you in a lawsuit for hammock accident injuries.

How Normandie Law Firm Can Help

Personal injury laws exist to protect victims when they are injured through no fault of their own. However, most victims are unsuccessful in going after companies and property owners on their own, which is why it’s best to work with an attorney. We at Normandie Law Firm believe that all victims are entitled to legal representation, regardless of their financial status. That’s why we’ve always used a contingency fee structure for all our services.

Here’s how it works: you pay us nothing for our services, starting with your initial consultation. Once we win your case, we will recover our fees directly from the hotel, resort, or any other responsible party. If we lose your case, you still owe us nothing as a part of our Zero fee guarantee. So you have nothing to lose by giving us a call and finding out how you can receive compensation for your injuries.

Don’t wait – contact us today to schedule your free consultation.

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