Is This Place Safe for My Kid?”: A Personal Injury Lawyer’s Guide to Spotting Hidden Dangers Before It’s Too Late

As a personal injury attorney who’s represented too many families after a child was hurt, let me be real with you: most injuries don’t happen in the way you’d expect. It’s not always a wild freak accident or something you see coming. Sometimes it’s a loose bolt on a playground. A cracked tile at a mall. An unlocked gate at a pool.

Small things — overlooked by property owners who should know better — can cause big injuries to little bodies.

So if you’re a parent, guardian, teacher, or even just a watchful big sibling, here’s the truth: you are the first line of defense. That’s why I put together this guide to help you quickly spot the kind of hidden hazards I see in personal injury cases — and what you can do to avoid them.

1. Playgrounds Aren’t Always Play-Safe

I know playgrounds are where memories are made. But they’re also where a lot of injuries happen.

What to look for:

• Exposed hardware: Screws sticking out, broken bolts, or rusted metal.
• Worn or broken surfacing: That mulch or rubber under the slide? It’s supposed to cushion a fall. If it’s thin, patchy, or missing, it won’t do its job.
• Loose handrails or ladders: Wiggle them. If they move too much, it’s a red flag.
• Spaces between equipment: Openings that could trap a child’s head or limbs are dangerous. (This is especially common on older equipment.)

What to do:

Walk the play area before letting your child run off. If something doesn’t feel safe, trust your gut. Report it to the property manager. If it’s a public park and no one listens? Snap a pic and send it to your city’s parks department.

2. Watch Out for Slippery Surfaces — Especially Indoors

Places like malls, grocery stores, and even your local pediatrician’s office can become injury traps when the floors are wet or uneven.

What to look for:

• Recently mopped floors without warning signs
• Spilled liquids (juice from another kid’s sippy cup, maybe?)
• Mats or rugs that slide or curl up at the corners
• Uneven tiles or floor transitions — those can catch a small foot or trip a running toddler.

What to do:

If the floor looks suspicious, slow things down. Hold your child’s hand. Let staff know about any spills. Remember, property owners are supposed to fix these issues or at least warn you about them.

3. Pools: A Whole Other Beast

Pools are one of the most regulated areas of premises law for a reason — they’re beautiful, fun, and deadly when mismanaged.

What to look for:

• No self-latching gates or locks that don’t work.
• No fencing around pools at apartment complexes or Airbnbs.
• Slick pool decks without grip surfaces.
• Missing drain covers — they can cause suction entrapments (yes, that’s a real thing, and it’s terrifying).

What to do:

If a pool isn’t secured or visibly well-maintained, do not trust it. Ask management or the host about safety measures. If something feels off, skip the swim — no lawsuit is worth your kid’s life.

4. Parking Lots and Drop-Off Zones

These aren’t places we think of as “dangerous,” but as a lawyer, I’ve seen my fair share of parking lot injuries.

What to look for:

• Lack of speed bumps in areas where kids walk.
• No signage warning drivers to slow down.
• Blind corners with hedges or structures blocking the view.
• Faded crosswalks — drivers might not know where to stop.

What to do:

Hold your child’s hand every single time. Park further away if it means avoiding chaos near the entrance. And don’t assume drivers see you — make eye contact or wave before crossing.

5. Indoor Play Places, Daycares, and Schools

Whether it’s a trampoline park, daycare, or indoor jungle gym, the standard of care has to be high when kids are involved.

What to look for:

• Overcrowding: Too many kids + too few staff = accidents waiting to happen.
• Damaged padding or exposed surfaces on walls or play structures.
• Broken toys or equipment: Loose wheels, cracked plastic, or sharp edges.
• Blocked exits or emergency routes: You’d be surprised how many places overlook this.

What to do:

Observe first. Ask staff about cleaning routines, first aid protocols, and staff ratios. If you feel something’s off — say it. You’re not being a “Karen.” You’re being a parent.

6. Airbnbs, Vacation Rentals, or “Friend’s Houses”

We let our guard down in homes. But not all homes are childproofed, and not all hosts take liability seriously.

What to look for:

• Stairways without gates
• Glass tables or unstable furniture
• Sharp corners on countertops
• Unlocked cabinets with cleaning supplies or medications
• Balconies with wide railing gaps

What to do:

Bring your own childproofing gear (think outlet covers, cabinet locks, etc.) if you’re traveling. And ask your host upfront if the property is kid-friendly. A little awkwardness now can prevent an ER visit later.

7. The “Negligence You Can’t See”

Now this part’s tricky — because sometimes, it’s not about what you see, but what’s missing.

What to look for:

• No adult supervision in high-risk areas like pools, bounce houses, or open play zones.
• No posted safety rules (think pool rules, capacity limits, or age restrictions).
• No security cameras or emergency protocols

What to do:

Ask. Ask who’s supervising. Ask what happens if a kid gets hurt. Ask if employees are trained in CPR. Ask about waivers and read them. Don’t sign blindly — those waivers don’t always hold up in court, but they can make your case messier.

So What’s the Legal Angle?

Here’s the truth most people don’t know: property owners have a legal duty to keep their premises safe — especially when children are involved.

In Florida, that duty increases if the child is legally invited (like in a school, daycare, or store) or if the property contains an “attractive nuisance” (like a pool or trampoline). And if they fail in that duty and your child gets hurt? You may have a claim.

But my job isn’t just to win cases. My job is to prevent them.

Bottom Line — Be “That Parent”

Yes, you might feel like the overprotective parent asking too many questions or checking under the swing set. But here’s what I tell my clients:

You’re not overreacting. You’re doing your job.

And if something ever does go wrong — if a property owner’s carelessness hurts your child — call Jaime “Mr. 786 Abogado” Suarez today to Get You Paid!