The number of trampoline parks have exploded across the country, including North Carolina. Advertised as “safe” and “fun for the whole family,” trampoline parks are a popular destination for birthday parties and other events. One of the more popular attractions is called the Wipeout.
The Wipeout is a trampoline attraction with two rotating arms, one low arm that the customer can jump over and one higher arm that the customer ducks under. The Wipeout is surrounded by approximately 8 trapezoid or triangle-shaped trampolines which the customers use to bounce over the low arm. The arms are constructed in various ways. Older models may have a bar covered by pads. Other arms, particularly those found on newer devices, may be inflated with air. Some Wipeout models may only use one arm. The arms are controlled by a park employee who has the ability to increase the speed of the arms and reverse directions.
Regardless of how the arms are constructed, the Wipeout is designed to do exactly what the name suggests – to try and wipe out (knock down) customers until one jumper is left. Tragically, the Wipeout poses unreasonable and hidden dangers that are not obvious to trampoline park patrons.
As a result, in the past few years, several states have banned the Wipeout, and more states may follow. For example, in 2022, Colorado ordered the shutdown of all Wipeout devices at trampoline parks. The Colorado Amusement Rides and Devices Program issued this order in the interest of public safety in response to repeated reports of injuries.
The Law Office of Kevin J. Williams recently litigated the case of a boy who badly broke his arm on the Wipeout at a North Carolina trampoline park. In that case, the operator reversed the direction of the arm without issuing a verbal cue. The arm clipped the boy’s leg as he tried to jump over it, causing him to extend his arm towards the ground as he landed, resulting in the break.
We retained an expert in biomechanical engineering and physical therapy who testified about the hidden dangers posed by the Wipeout. Among other things, our expert testified that the trampolines produced an unpredictable bounce due to their small surface area and trapezoidal shape. Also, the failure of the human operator to provide a verbal cue as to the reversal of direction was another contributing factor. Further, the impact of the arm generated significantly more force than expected. In addition, the surfaces where our client landed were much stiffer and less cushioned than they appeared.
The boy’s surgeon was also helpful. He had treated many Wipeout victims in the past. The surgeon said that what set the Wipeout apart from other causes of injury were: (1) the sheer number, and (2) severity of the injuries. The case settled shortly before trial which was scheduled for early 2024.
Unfortunately, the Wipeout is still used in many other trampoline parks across North Carolina. In our case, the Wipeout had been removed prior to our inspection of the trampoline park. We cannot claim with certainty that our lawsuit prompted the removal of the Wipeout. However, the Law Office of Kevin J. Williams can claim that it will continue to fight for victims of the Wipeout and trampoline parks to bring them justice, and to try and make these trampoline parks safer for our children and other patrons one attraction at a time.
