Working with a personal trainer should be a safe way to improve your health. When you suffer an injury because of a trainer’s negligence, you may be eligible for compensation through a personal injury case. A San Luis Obispo personal injury lawyer from Ernst Law Group can help you sue a personal trainer or their employer and fight to recover your losses so you can focus on healing.
When you have grounds to sue a personal trainer for injury
Personal trainers take on substantial responsibility when working with clients. Their role is to improve your strength, fitness, and endurance, but more importantly, to keep you safe and prevent activities that could cause harm.
A trainer must consider your abilities and limitations when designing your program. If an injury resulted from unsafe practices or failure to adjust exercises to your needs, it could be classified as personal trainer negligence. Common personal trainer injuries include sprains, strains, fractures, or joint damage.
Failure in any of these areas may qualify as personal trainer negligence in California, and you may have grounds to file a lawsuit.
You may have grounds to sue a personal trainer’s employer
Personal training sessions often take place in gyms or fitness centers, and the facility may share liability for your injuries. For example, you may have been hurt while using defective equipment or in a slip-and-fall accident caused by unsafe conditions. Facilities are also responsible for making sure their trainers are qualified and may be liable if they fail to conduct background checks or supervision.
In many cases, recovery comes from the gym’s or trainer’s liability insurance policy, which is designed to cover injuries sustained during training.
How to get compensation for injuries sustained during personal training
After sustaining an injury, report it to your trainer and, if applicable, their employer. Document the incident in writing, by email, text message, or both, and keep copies for your records. Take photos of your injuries and, if defective equipment played a role, photograph that as well. Then, seek medical attention for an official diagnosis and follow all treatment instructions.
In many cases, your next step is to file a claim with the at-fault party’s personal trainer insurance or the gym’s liability insurance before pursuing a lawsuit in court. Regardless of the process, you’ll need to compile evidence that proves the elements of negligence.
To get the compensation you deserve, you must show that the trainer or facility owed you a duty of care, failed to meet that duty, and that failure directly caused your injuries and related losses. Proving these elements is essential to building a strong personal injury claim and protecting your right to fair compensation.
Damages you may collect when you sue a personal trainer for an injury
A personal injury claim or injury lawsuit can help you recover your medical expenses, lost wages, and loss of earning capacity if you can’t return to work. You can also seek compensation for pain and suffering and reduced enjoyment of life.
The insurance company representing your trainer or gym, often through liability insurance, may try to minimize the injuries claimed. Work with an experienced personal injury lawyer to calculate the true value of your claim before accepting a settlement.
Pushback you may experience when suing a personal trainer
You may face pushback when you file a lawsuit. The gym or trainer likely had you sign a liability waiver when you began personal training sessions. In California, these waivers must meet specific standards and cannot excuse gross negligence or reckless behavior.
Even with a waiver, trainers and gyms still owe you a duty of care. They have to assess your body’s limits, listen to feedback, and take steps to prevent injury.
Avoid unnecessary fault
The at-fault party may try to blame you to reduce the value of your claim. Under California’s pure comparative negligence system, you can recover damages even if you are found mostly at fault, but your percentage of fault will reduce your award.
A trainer might claim you insisted on lifting too much weight or ignored safety advice. They may also claim you had a pre-existing injury. Having clear documentation and medical records can help counter these arguments.
Recovery starts with the right legal team
A personal trainer’s job is to support your health and well-being. When their negligence causes harm, our California personal injury attorneys can help you hold them accountable. To arrange your free consultation, call us at (805) 541-0300 or contact us online. Ernst Law Group can handle all aspects of your personal injury lawsuit so you can focus on recovery.