to want to sue leisure centre for a birthday party injury

[KellyMarieBoomBoom]

DS attended a 6th birthday bowling party on Saturday. As far as I understand the (very nice and blameless IMO) parents were being sensible and supervising, I believe with some friends' help. However, DS managed to drop the heaviest ball on his foot, whilst the Mum had turned her back to deal with food. He was in absolute agony, with a bloody, crushed big toe. This resulted in an ambulance being called, hours in A&E, and an operation under general anaesthetic yesterday, to repair his mangled toe. An awful thing to happen at the best of times, made worse by it being his birthday on Sunday, which was pretty dire.
I am really angry with the leisure centre. It was an organised party and on its website it says "with supervision at all times you can have peace of mind that your child will have a great time in a fun and safe environment." Clearly this was not the case! The ball was 13lb, and the recommended weight for a ball for his age is 5lb. I don't think that children of his age should have access to balls weighing this much....surely they could have removed them? He wasn't even wearing shoes - they don't supply them for kids (yet are happy to put on parties). I really don't want to let them just get away with this, mainly so that another kid gets a ruined toe/birthday, but also because I'm so bloody angry about it. Could I sue them? Am I over-reacting? AIBU?

Sorry your ds was so badly hurt. You must have been very upset. I

But it wouldn't have crossed my mind in a million years to think of suing them.

Would you sue if they choked on a sweet/slipped on juice and hit their head etc etc at a bowling party...where do you draw the line, how much supervision can staff realistically give? If anything it was the parents fault not the bowling alley's! But kids have accidents all the time and I wouldn't be blaming anyone.

Sue nation.

People just can't accept accidents anymore can they.

I also don't understand why he wasn't wearing any shoes.
I held a bowling party a couple of years ago for my then 8 year old, and all the children were provided with shoes.
What were yours, barefoot?! How was he not wearing shoes?

An ambulance FFS!!! No wonder the NHS has no money!!! Small children ought to be taken by car.

Oh your poor ds, I hope he is ok and recovering well. What an awful fright for you.

Do you know what? I think they should not have had 13lb balls out and at the very least I would demand a written apology and details of how they were going to review their policies.

Witchway, sometimes if their fractures are bad they need strong analgesics in order just to be able to get into a vehicle. That happened to me DS. He couldn't be moved without screaming, and the paramedics had to sort him out.

Accidents happen. I am sorry for your ds but these things happen and throughout his life he will come across lots of things that happen . Everyone can't sue everyone for everything.

Are you OK OP? Sounds incredibly stressful and upsetting, particularly with the GA and surgery. I'm sure you were climbing the walls.

Easier said than done but try to take some time to yourself, get your breath back. I'm sure your wee boy is taking everything in his stride, while you are left in pieces.

You make some good points about the bowling alley not providing shoes but realistically I think the ones with a specific duty of care to your son were the people who had agreed to supervise him ( the birthday boy's parents?).

It's good to rant though, and blow off some steam. I hope you feel better soon

I think they should not have had 13lb balls out

Why? I assume adults were allowed to use the facilities too. Or should they only use kiddy toys?

Sue nation.

People just can't accept accidents anymore can they.

People just can't RTFT anymore can they?

Ermm, bowling balls are heavy. Unfortunate but tough luck In my opinion

It is dumb of both the parents and the venue to make the activity more risky than it needed to be by not removing the heavier balls from the lane being used by the party.

I think have a stern word with them and pointing out the contrast between their website and the realities of 13 lb bowling balls is certainly in order!

I agree with you that they should remove balls over 5ib for kids parties.

Zombie thread - the bumpers are out in force today

It's great that he wants to go to his best friend's bowling party - it shows he's not scarred by the experience. I don't think you'll have to watch him like a hawk at it - hopefully he's learned the lesson that you handle bowling balls carefully and don't drop them on your feet!

Anyway, glass of wine for you OP and a hug to your son.

Oops, yes Zombie! Wonder why someone bumped a thead like this?

WTF is it with zombie threads? But I did goggle at @ChaosTrulyReigns comment on the first page..

Giggle!

Yabu. Even the lightest balls are very heavy and dropped on a child's toe will cause damage. It is a hazard of bowling that supervisioncant present. Your son was unlucky that it landed on his toe. He'll have learned a lesson and be more careful in future.

• supervision can't prevent

Ah OLD THREAD!

Obviously you’re upset because your baby is hurt.

But really seriously fuck off and don’t sue anyone because your child dropped a ball on his foot FFS.

Ugh zombie FFS

Why the fuck would anyone resurrect this thread?