Pilates Studio Gym Accident Injury Lawyer

Pilates is a form of mind and body exercise program developed by German fitness trainer Joseph Pilates. The program involves a series of exercises that focus on developing a strong core and proper alignment, along with breathing techniques that promote strength and endurance. This is an extremely popular workout in many countries throughout the world, and there is no shortage of Pilates studios throughout California.

Some studios are privately-owned small businesses, while others are part of a large franchise. Club Pilates, for example, is the largest Pilates franchise in the U.S, and its headquarters are located in Irvine, California. But any gym or fitness center presents the possibility of accidents for those that are on the property. These include slip and falls and trip and falls, inside and outside the studio. People can also be sexually assaulted by Pilates instructors, especially if they sign up for private lessons.

Under California’s premises liability laws, business owners have a duty of care to their clients and other individuals that have a reason to be on the property. If there is a breach in the duty of care, either through an act of negligence or reckless behavior, the owner is legally responsible for the incident. As an accident victim, you have the right to legal representation from a Pilates studio gym accident injury lawyer. Contact us at our law firm to schedule a free case review.

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Legal Basis for a Lawsuit against a Pilates Studio

Workouts can be physically demanding, no matter how advanced you are in a specific exercise program. That’s why injuries are to be expected at some point, even if you are being assisted by a certified Pilates instructor. However, there are certain precautions that must be in place at any business to minimize the risk of harm and suffering. For example, it’s reasonable to expect regular cleaning and repairs at a gym, which can keep people from slipping on the floor or tripping over things in the hallways.

Store owners must also be mindful of security issues, like parking lot assaults. Lack of security inside and outside the studio increases the possibility of sexual assaults, muggings, carjacking, and other devastating incidents. Installing security cameras, signs to indicate that the premises are monitored 24/7, and thorough background checks on employees are all sensible measures to reduce the risk of assault and battery.

As you can see, there are many ways to hold a business responsible when there is an injury to someone on their premises. If you sustained injuries from a slip and fall, physical assault, or any other accident at a Pilates studio, give us a call to learn about your available legal options.

Liability for Sexual Assault at a Pilates Studio

Sexual abuse can easily take place at yoga and Pilates studios, where instructors often have direct physical contact with their students. This is necessary to ensure proper alignment and guide them through challenging movements. Aside from working with an instructor during class, Pilates students may schedule private lessons, either at the studio or in their home. If an instructor has sinister motives on their mind, it’s not hard to see how they can take advantage of this situation.

With sexual assault, cases can be very complicated, since there is an attacker who is clearly guilty of the crime. But liability may be shared by the employer if the abuse took place within the scope of the employee’s job duties. Employers, for example, must run background checks to ensure that the instructor doesn’t have a record of violence or criminal behavior. They must also take any reports of inappropriate behavior seriously, which includes calling the police and firing the instructor, or removing them from the studio while an investigation is pending.

Sadly, some of these studios – especially major franchises – make it very hard for the victim to receive justice. In essence, any accusation of sexual assault hurts their reputation, and in turn, their profits margin. That’s why legal representation is the best way to fight back against a negligent business if you are sexually assaulted by a Pilates instructor.

How Much is the Average Settlement for a Pilates Studio Accident Case?

When it comes to settlement value, there’s no average number that can be applied to every injury case in general. Each victim has unique factors regarding their accident and the injuries they’ve suffered. They also have different circumstances in their life that will determine the monetary damages they are eligible to receive. Possible economic and non-economic damages from a gym accident injury claim include:

• Expenses for medical services, including medications and rehabilitative services
• Income lost from your job / business
• Intangible losses – mental anguish, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, etc.
• Property damage if any of your belongings were lost / destroyed in the accident
• Attorney’s fees and court costs
• Punitive damages if negligence by the defendant was especially harmful / outrageous

With slip and falls and trip and falls, case values may be within the range of $75,000 to $2,500,000. Sexual assault cases typically have higher values, and much of this is based on the victim’s emotional trauma and mental-health related issues. It’s common to see compensation awards of $450,000 to $3,000,000 and above with sexual assault lawsuits against large businesses. Of course, these are only estimates at the end of the day. We are ready and available if you’d like to figure out the value of a lawsuit for being injured at a Pilates studio.  

When can I Expect my Case to be Settled?

There’s no specific amount of time that we can quote when it comes to how long it will take to settle a personal injury case. For some of the people we represent, a fair amount of compensation may be achieved within a few months. For other clients, the legal process can take over two years, due to resistance by the defendant, which we will need to overcome with additional legal action. Generally, 6 to 10 months is the average timeline for cases at our law firm, and most injury claims are settled privately with the defendant’s insurance company. In the event further action is needed, i.e., a lawsuit and possible court hearing, it can take around 18 months to several years to receive compensation from a Pilates studio injury claim.

Deadline to Sue Club Pilates or another Pilates Studio

Most lawsuits for injuries at a fitness center have a 2-year statute of limitations. That means you have two years from the day you are injured to seek compensation from the business and anyone else that’s liable for the incident. The only exception is for cases involving sexual assault, which have a 10-year statute of limitations. While this is a generous amount of time, the days and weeks right after your accident is the best time to collect evidence and build a compelling case. To ensure a positive outcome in a lawsuit against Club Pilates or any other studio, contact our law firm immediately.

Contact us for a Free Case Evaluation

No matter what kind of exercise you’re into, there are bound to be moments of unexpected injuries. In many cases, no one is to blame, and we have to accept that certain accidents are a matter of bad luck. On the other hand, laws are in place that obligates property owners to ensure the safety of their premises. That means you should not be injured from a business owner’s failure to remove hazards, make timely repairs, post warning signs, and other preventative measures. If negligence or reckless conduct is the reason you were injured at a Pilates studio, it’s essential to speak with an attorney as soon as possible

From slip and fall lawyers to sexual assault lawsuit attorneys, we can provide you with the right expert here at Normandie Law Firm. The first step is to meet with us for a free case review to discuss your rights and legal options. You may also be interested in a free second opinion if you have an active case that you have questions or concerns about. If you decide to join the Normandie family, you won’t need to worry about legal fees, which we bill to the party you are suing. That’s our promise to you under the Zero Fee Guarantee, along with the assurance that the only way we get paid is by winning your case.

Please take a moment to contact us and schedule a free case evaluation.

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