Injured at a Gym in Texas? When the Gym May Be Responsible

January is a popular time to set new goals. Many people make New Year’s resolutions to get healthier, build better habits, or try something new. For many Texans, that means signing up for a gym membership and jumping back into fitness routines.

But with the rush of new and returning gym members, injuries also tend to rise. Emergency rooms often report an increase in gym-related injuries in January. These injuries range from muscle strains and sprains to broken bones, head injuries, and more serious accidents.

Gyms are meant to be places for health and improvement, but they can also be dangerous when safety rules are ignored. Understanding when a gym may be responsible for an injury can help you protect your rights if something goes wrong.

Do Gym Waivers Protect Texas Gyms?

Most gyms require members to sign a liability waiver before using the facility. These waivers are meant to limit the gym’s responsibility if someone gets hurt. However, under Texas law, waivers do not protect gyms in every situation.

A gym may still be held responsible if:

• The gym acted with gross negligence

• Unsafe or broken equipment caused the injury

• Management failed to fix known hazards

• There was a lack of reasonable supervision

In short, a waiver does not give a gym the right to ignore safety.

Common Causes of Gym Injuries

Not all gym injuries are accidents. Some happen because a gym failed to keep members safe. When negligence is involved, legal action may be possible.

Poor Supervision or Staffing

Gyms have a duty to monitor their facilities. Injuries can happen when staff are not present on the gym floor or when group classes are not properly supervised. Overcrowding, lack of instruction, and failure to assist new or inexperienced members can all increase the risk of injury.

Without proper oversight, small mistakes can quickly turn into serious accidents.

Faulty or Poorly Maintained Equipment

Broken or unsafe equipment is a common cause of gym injuries. A gym may be responsible if it allows members to use:

• Machines with missing or broken parts

• Equipment without safety locks or pins

• Machines that are not regularly inspected or repaired

• Equipment with known defects that were ignored

Gym owners are expected to keep equipment in safe working condition.

Who May Be Liable for a Gym Injury?

Responsibility for a gym injury depends on how the accident happened and who caused it.

Gym Owners or Property Owners

Gym owners can be held liable if an unsafe condition on the property caused an injury. Under premises liability law, property owners must fix known dangers or clearly warn members about them.

If a gym fails to do so, it may be held responsible for resulting injuries.

Equipment Manufacturers

If a defective machine caused the injury, the manufacturer of the equipment may also be liable. This applies when the equipment is dangerous due to poor design or manufacturing defects.

Injured at the Gym? Call Shaw.

The new year should be about progress and better health—not pain, medical bills, or missed work. If you or a loved one was injured at a gym due to someone else’s negligence anywhere in Texas, you may be entitled to compensation for:

• Ambulance and emergency care

• ER visits and hospital stays

• Surgeries and medical treatment

• Pain and suffering

• Property damage

• Lost wages or missed work

• Wrongful death

• And more

At Carabin Shaw, we understand how overwhelming an injury can be—especially when you’re trying to improve your life. Our team is here to help you understand your options at no cost.

📞 Call Shaw at 800-862-1260 or use our live chat to schedule your free case evaluation. No fees. No obligations. Just clear answers and experienced legal guidance.

We look forward to serving you.