A signed waiver carries real weight in North Carolina, but whether it ends an adult trampoline park injury claim depends on the wording of the document and the facts of what happened.
Picture a Friday night in Raleigh. A group from work heads to a trampoline park for a team outing. Or a parent in Cary decides to hop on the court during a birthday party. One bad landing later, someone is on the floor holding an ankle. At the front desk, a staff member says what many people hear next: “You signed the waiver.”
Does a Signed Waiver Settle Everything?
A waiver is an important document, and North Carolina courts generally give weight to a clearly written one between adults. They also read these documents closely, and they interpret unclear wording against the business that wrote it.
So the question isn’t only “did you sign?” It’s “what exactly did you sign, and how does North Carolina law apply to it?”
What Courts Look At When Reviewing a Waiver
Under North Carolina law, a waiver may not be enforced if it:
- Violates a state statute
- Results from a serious imbalance in bargaining power
- Conflicts with a substantial public interest
The wording matters as well. To cover a business’s own negligence, the language generally needs to say so clearly. It should also fit the activity. A vague reference to “any risks” may be read differently than a waiver that describes the specific risks of trampoline jumping.
Other Questions That Come Up
A waiver is rarely the only issue. North Carolina follows contributory negligence, which means a finding that you were partly at fault for your own injury may affect a claim. That’s one reason the details of the day matter.
Facts that often come up in these cases include:
- How many staff members were on the floor
- Whether the park enforced its own posted rules
- Whether equipment and padding were maintained
- Whether the park followed recognized industry safety standards
What to Do After an Adult Trampoline Park Injury in the Triangle
A few simple steps can protect both your health and your options:
- Get medical care right away, even if the pain seems manageable
- Report the injury and ask for a copy of the incident report
- Photograph the area, the equipment, and your injuries
- Save the names of staff and anyone who saw it happen
- Ask for a copy of the waiver you signed, since the exact words matter
In most cases, you have three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in North Carolina. Acting sooner helps, since evidence and memories fade.
Where to Go From Here
A signed waiver can feel like the end of the conversation. Looking closely at the document and the circumstances gives you a clearer picture of where you stand.
If you’d like more background, read our guide to the trampoline park injury claim process for families in Durham, Raleigh, and the Triangle.
If you were hurt and want to talk through your situation, book a consultation with Philip A. Mullins Law today.
General information only
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and deadlines may change, and the result in any case depends on its particular facts.
