Boy Injured on Bouncy Castle to Receive Sizeable Settlement
A boy who suffered brain damage after he was kicked in the head while playing on a bouncy castle has been awarded compensation that could amount to £1 million, a ruling that will cause parents to stop and think.
Sam Harris, who was 11 years old at the time of the accident, had been playing on a bouncy castle set up in a field behind the home of Catherine and Timothy Perry. The Perrys had hired the bouncy castle for their triplets' birthday party. Sam, who was passing with his father, asked Catherine Perry if he could join in.
Whilst on the bouncy castle Sam was kicked in the head by a 15-year-old boy doing a somersault. Sam's skull was fractured and he suffered a very serious and traumatic brain injury. As a result, he now has severe behavioural problems and requires round the clock care.
In court the judge decided that the accident had been caused because the Perrys had not supervised properly the children playing on the bouncy castle. There should have been someone there to prevent the older boy from using it at the same time as the younger children and to ensure that dangerous play was prevented. The hire contract for the castle also stipulated that it should be under constant supervision whilst in use.
At the time of the accident, however, Mrs Perry had her back turned away from the castle while attending to another child.
The judge dismissed the defence's claim that Sam's father should have provided better supervision.
The total compensation payable could be as much as £1 million.
The Perrys have been given permission to appeal against the decision although the judge rated their chances of succeeding as ‘poor’.
Sam Harris, who was 11 years old at the time of the accident, had been playing on a bouncy castle set up in a field behind the home of Catherine and Timothy Perry. The Perrys had hired the bouncy castle for their triplets' birthday party. Sam, who was passing with his father, asked Catherine Perry if he could join in.
Whilst on the bouncy castle Sam was kicked in the head by a 15-year-old boy doing a somersault. Sam's skull was fractured and he suffered a very serious and traumatic brain injury. As a result, he now has severe behavioural problems and requires round the clock care.
In court the judge decided that the accident had been caused because the Perrys had not supervised properly the children playing on the bouncy castle. There should have been someone there to prevent the older boy from using it at the same time as the younger children and to ensure that dangerous play was prevented. The hire contract for the castle also stipulated that it should be under constant supervision whilst in use.
At the time of the accident, however, Mrs Perry had her back turned away from the castle while attending to another child.
The judge dismissed the defence's claim that Sam's father should have provided better supervision.
The total compensation payable could be as much as £1 million.
The Perrys have been given permission to appeal against the decision although the judge rated their chances of succeeding as ‘poor’.
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