Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Trampoline Injuries?

Why Trampolines Are a Coverage Issue

Trampolines are one of the most problematic items in residential insurance because they combine high injury frequency with potentially severe injuries. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that trampoline injuries send over 100,000 people to emergency rooms annually in the United States, with the majority of injuries occurring in children under 14. Common injuries include broken bones, sprains, concussions, spinal cord injuries, and in rare but devastating cases, paralysis.

The cost of trampoline injury claims drives insurer caution. A simple broken arm claim might settle for $5,000 to $15,000, but a spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury can produce claims of $500,000 to several million dollars. This risk profile explains why many insurers either exclude trampolines outright or impose strict conditions on coverage.

Like swimming pools, trampolines are considered attractive nuisances under the law, meaning you can be held liable for injuries to children who use your trampoline without permission if you failed to take reasonable steps to prevent unsupervised access.

How Different Insurers Handle Trampolines

Coverage with requirements. Some insurers will cover trampoline liability as part of your standard personal liability coverage, provided you meet specific safety conditions. Common requirements include a safety enclosure net around the trampoline, spring padding covering all hardware, placement away from trees and structures, a locking mechanism or barrier to prevent unsupervised access, and limiting the number of users at one time. Meeting these requirements keeps your coverage active; failing to maintain them can result in a denied claim if an injury occurs.

Trampoline exclusion. Other insurers will write your homeowners policy but add a specific trampoline exclusion endorsement that removes all liability coverage for trampoline-related injuries. Under this arrangement, your policy covers everything else normally, but any injury that occurs on, because of, or in connection with your trampoline is completely uninsured. You would be personally responsible for all medical bills, legal defense costs, and any settlement or judgment.

Policy denial. A number of insurers will decline to issue a homeowners policy if a trampoline is present on the property. If you already have a policy and add a trampoline without notifying your insurer, they may cancel or non-renew the policy when they discover it through a renewal inspection, a claim investigation, or a neighbor report.

What Happens If You Do Not Disclose Your Trampoline

Some homeowners attempt to avoid the trampoline coverage issue by simply not telling their insurer about it. This strategy carries serious risks. If an injury occurs and your insurer discovers the undisclosed trampoline during the claims investigation, they can deny the claim on the basis of material misrepresentation on your application. In some states, they can void the policy retroactively, which means you lose coverage not just for the trampoline claim but for all claims.

Insurers have multiple ways to discover undisclosed trampolines. Aerial imagery from satellite and drone photography is routinely used during underwriting and renewal reviews. Claims adjusters visit the property during any claim, not just trampoline-related ones. Neighbors may report the trampoline to the insurer. Annual or periodic property inspections catch undisclosed hazards.

The financial risk of non-disclosure far outweighs the cost of finding an insurer that covers trampolines or the inconvenience of removing the trampoline. Always disclose.

Safety Measures That Help Your Coverage

Whether your insurer requires specific safety features or not, implementing comprehensive trampoline safety measures protects your family, reduces your liability exposure, and may help preserve your coverage eligibility.

Install a full safety enclosure net that prevents jumpers from falling off the trampoline surface. Cover all springs, hooks, and frame edges with thick padding. Place the trampoline on level ground away from trees, fences, play structures, and hardscaping. Allow only one jumper at a time, as the majority of trampoline injuries occur when multiple people are jumping simultaneously and collide or land on each other. Do not allow somersaults or flips, which account for the most severe spinal cord injuries. Supervise all children actively when the trampoline is in use.

When the trampoline is not in use, remove the ladder or access steps and, if possible, install a locking enclosure that prevents unauthorized access. This directly addresses the attractive nuisance concern by demonstrating that you took reasonable steps to prevent unsupervised use by children.