Key players in an accident and tips on how to navigate a situation successfully
By Joann M. Robertson
If your organization has a serious playground claim—which we hope you never do—you may be contacted by several parties to help resolve the issue. Additionally, your organization may wish to reach out to other parties to collect more information about the playground, especially if the situation involves a potential lawsuit. In this situation, your organization will likely be dealing with attorneys and insurance companies.
But there are other groups that serve different roles when it comes to risk management, so let’s review the function of each and obtain some safety tips from their unique perspectives.
Insurance
Insurance Claims Staff
A playground accident is a liability claim that is considered complex because it usually involves reviewing medical records and assessing fault and, therefore, may be resolved slowly. Claims staff members often look for details, including:
- Whether the playground was age-appropriate
- Whether the equipment was maintained
- Whether the surfacing was at the proper depth.
Insurance Claims Staff Safety Tips:
- Take pictures of the playground after the accident and keep this information on file with the accident report.
- Always check closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage to see if the accident is on tape.
- Keep a record of who was supervising the playground on the day of the accident and where that person was positioned when the accident occurred.
- Provide any helpful information to demonstrate that the playground was used properly, such as a list of the rules that were reviewed with the children.
- When an accident occurs, fill out the accident report immediately, recording only the facts, not opinions.