What Urban Air's waiver actually covers and what it doesn't
Urban Air is a chain of indoor trampoline parks with locations across the United States. Like most trampoline parks, Urban Air requires visitors to sign a waiver before entering — a legal document that attempts to shift injury risk from the business to the person jumping. The waiver does not mean Urban Air has no responsibility if someone gets hurt; it means Urban Air is trying to limit what you can sue them for and under what circumstances.
The specific language in Urban Air's waiver varies slightly by location and has changed over time, but the general structure is the same everywhere: you agree that trampoline jumping carries inherent risks, you assume those risks, and you promise not to hold Urban Air responsible for injuries that result from those risks. However, waivers cannot protect a business from liability for gross negligence, willful misconduct, or violations of safety laws. If an Urban Air employee deliberately ignores safety rules, fails to maintain equipment in a dangerous way, or violates state regulations about supervision and safety, a waiver may not shield them from a lawsuit.
Key Takeaways
- Urban Air's waiver attempts to prevent lawsuits for injuries from normal trampoline use, but does not protect the park from liability for gross negligence or willful rule-breaking.
- Parents or guardians must sign the waiver for minors, and the waiver applies only to the person whose name is on it — not to other family members.
- State laws vary on whether waivers are enforceable, and some states limit how much liability a business can waive for injuries to children.
- Urban Air's staff are required to enforce safety rules like no flipping on certain trampolines and proper spacing between jumpers, and failure to enforce these rules may make the waiver unenforceable.
- Keeping your own record of any injury, the circumstances, and staff response creates evidence if you later need to dispute what the waiver covers.
Who has to sign and what happens if you refuse
Anyone who enters the jumping area at Urban Air must sign a waiver or have a parent or legal guardian sign one on their behalf. If you are an adult, you sign for yourself. If you are under 18, your parent or guardian signs, and the waiver binds you to its terms. Urban Air will not let you jump without a signed waiver.
If you refuse to sign, Urban Air will not let you enter the jumping area. You can still be in the facility — in the lobby, watching area, or party room — but you cannot use the trampolines. There is no legal way around this requirement at Urban Air or at any trampoline park in the United States. The waiver is a condition of entry.
What injuries and situations the waiver tries to cover
Urban Air's waiver covers injuries that happen during normal trampoline use — landing wrong, falling, colliding with another jumper, or losing your balance. The waiver assumes you understand that trampolines are inherently risky and that injuries can happen even when everyone follows the rules. By signing, you are saying you accept that risk.
The waiver also typically covers injuries from activities that are part of the trampoline park experience but not the main attraction: walking to the bathroom, using the arcade, sitting in the waiting area, or being in the facility at all. Urban Air is trying to say: if you are here, you accept the risks of being here, not just the risks of jumping.
However, the waiver does not cover situations where Urban Air or its staff failed to follow their own safety rules, ignored obvious hazards, or broke the law. For example, if a staff member allowed five people to jump on one trampoline at the same time when the rule is two, and someone was injured as a result, the waiver may not protect Urban Air because the staff member violated the park's own safety protocol.
When a waiver may not hold up in court
Waivers are not absolute. Courts in different states treat them differently, and some states have laws that limit how much liability a business can waive. A waiver is most likely to fail if Urban Air or its staff:
- Knew about a specific hazard and did not warn you — for example, a broken trampoline or a wet floor.
- Failed to enforce their own safety rules — such as allowing unsafe jumping, not spacing jumpers apart, or not stopping dangerous behavior.
- Did not provide the supervision or staff presence the law requires in your state.
- Violated a safety regulation — for example, failing to inspect equipment or not having proper padding around hard surfaces.
- Acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct — meaning they did something so reckless it goes beyond just being careless.
Some states also limit waivers for injuries to children. A few states do not allow parents to waive a child's right to sue for injuries caused by a business's negligence. If you live in one of those states, the waiver may not be enforceable even if you signed it. Your state's laws matter more than Urban Air's waiver language.
What to do if someone is injured at Urban Air
If you or someone in your group is injured at Urban Air, tell a staff member when ready, even if the injury seems minor. Ask the staff member to document the incident in writing — most parks keep an incident log. Get the name and contact information of the staff member you spoke to and any witnesses who saw what happened.
Take photos of the injury and the location where it happened if you can do so safely. Write down what happened, the time, the date, what you were doing, and what the staff member said or did in response. If you received medical treatment, keep all records and receipts.
Do not assume the waiver means you have no recourse. If you believe Urban Air was negligent — if staff ignored safety rules, failed to warn you about a hazard, or did not provide proper supervision — you may still have a claim. Contact a personal injury attorney in your state who has experience with premises liability or trampoline park injuries. Many offer free consultations and can tell you whether the waiver is likely to protect Urban Air in your situation.
How state laws affect Urban Air's waiver
The enforceability of Urban Air's waiver depends partly on which state you are in. Some states enforce waivers broadly and require people to live with the risks they agreed to. Other states are skeptical of waivers and interpret them narrowly, meaning they protect the business only for the specific risks mentioned, not for all possible injuries.
A few states have passed laws specifically about trampoline parks. These laws often require parks to meet certain safety standards — like staff training, equipment inspection, and supervision ratios — and some states do not allow parks to waive liability for injuries caused by failure to meet those standards. If your state has a trampoline park safety law, that law may override or limit what Urban Air's waiver says.
You can find out whether your state has trampoline park regulations by contacting your state's health department or searching your state legislature's website for "trampoline park" or "recreational facility" laws. If a regulation exists and Urban Air violated it, the violation may make the waiver unenforceable.
What the waiver says about your medical information and photos
Urban Air's waiver often includes language giving the park permission to use photos or video of you for marketing or safety purposes. This is separate from the liability waiver but is part of the same document. By signing, you may be agreeing that Urban Air can photograph or film you and use those images in advertisements, on social media, or in safety training.
The waiver may also ask for permission to share medical information with emergency responders if you are injured. This is standard and necessary — if you are hurt and cannot communicate, Urban Air needs to be able to tell paramedics what happened and what medical conditions you have. You should read this section carefully and ask Urban Air staff to clarify anything you do not understand before you sign.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue Urban Air even though I signed a waiver?
Yes, if Urban Air was negligent in a way the waiver does not cover. Waivers protect businesses from liability for inherent risks of the activity, but not from liability for gross negligence, willful misconduct, or violation of safety laws. If staff ignored safety rules, failed to maintain equipment, or did not provide required supervision, you may have a claim despite the waiver. An attorney in your state can review the circumstances and tell you whether you have a case.
Does the waiver explore to my child if I signed it?
The waiver applies to your child in most states, but not all. Some states do not allow parents to waive a child's right to sue for injuries caused by negligence. Even in states where waivers are generally enforceable for children, the waiver may not protect Urban Air if the injury was caused by gross negligence or violation of safety laws. Check with an attorney in your state about how your state treats waivers for minors.
What if I did not read the waiver before I signed it?
Not reading the waiver does not make it unenforceable. By signing, you are agreeing to its terms whether you read it or not. However, if the waiver contains language that is unclear, contradictory, or hidden in fine print, a court may interpret it against Urban Air. If you have questions about what the waiver says, ask Urban Air staff to explain it before you sign, or take a photo of it to review later.
Can Urban Air change the waiver after I sign it?
No. The waiver you sign on a specific date is the one that applies to your visit that day. Urban Air cannot change the terms retroactively. However, if you visit again on a different date, Urban Air may ask you to sign a new waiver with different language. You have the right to refuse and leave, but you cannot jump without signing.
What should I do if I see unsafe conditions at Urban Air?
Tell a staff member when ready. Describe what you saw — a broken trampoline, inadequate spacing between jumpers, lack of supervision, or anything else that seems unsafe. Ask the staff member to address it. If they do not, you can leave and report the concern to your state's health department or the agency that regulates recreational facilities in your state. You can also contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission if you believe there is a product defect.