Can you sue a personal trainer for an injury?
Personal Injury - September 4, 2025 by Horwitz, Horwitz & Associates
If you have ever wondered, “Can you sue a personal trainer for injury?” the answer is yes. When personal trainers are negligent, they can put you at serious risk. You have the right to hire a Chicago personal injury attorney to hold them accountable. Horwitz, Horwitz, and Associates advocates for you and fights for justice and fair compensation for your losses.
When can you sue a personal trainer for injury?
Personal training is a great way to improve fitness and tailor exercise to your specific needs. However, negligent trainers can cause serious injuries that can set you, your health, and your fitness back considerably. Some common training injuries may include muscle and ligament sprains/strains, broken bones, tendonitis/bursitis/fasciitis, cartilage damage, heart attacks and stroke, and concussions.
You can sue a personal trainer when an injury results from them overworking you, using too much weight, failing to spot you or correct improper form, and/or assigning the wrong exercises for your needs. They can also contribute to a slip and fall accident if they fail to maintain a safe workout environment.
Who is liable for personal training injuries?
If you have suffered a personal training injury caused by another party, your personal trainer is most likely the party responsible for causing it. However, they may not be the only liable party. Fitness facilities can be held responsible if they fail to enforce safety protocols or sufficiently train their staff. In some cases, fitness equipment manufacturers could also be held responsible if they produce defective fitness equipment. Your lawyer can investigate the situation to determine which party you should file a lawsuit against and hold accountable.
How do you hold personal trainers liable for injuries?
To hold a personal trainer or applicable party liable through a personal injury claim, you will need to demonstrate their responsibility to you and how they failed to uphold it. Personal injury lawyers will gather evidence and establish negligence by demonstrating four elements that build upon each other.
These steps include:
- Duty of care: Personal trainers have a responsibility to keep their clients safe from harm during workout sessions.
- Breach of duty: When a personal trainer fails to uphold safe exercise practices with their clients, they breach their duty to clients.
- Causation: Negligence by personal trainers can cause serious injuries.
- Damages: Negligent personal trainers are responsible for providing compensation.
This process must be completed before you can receive a settlement for your losses. Many trainers carry personal trainer insurance to protect themselves. When you file a claim and establish the trainer’s negligence, their liability insurance will generally pay for your losses. Coverage will vary depending on the type of personal training insurance they have.
How does a liability waiver impact my legal rights?
Before working with a personal trainer, they will likely ask you to sign a liability waiver. If you have been injured by a personal trainer, they are likely to use this document to defend themselves and claim that you voluntarily assumed all potential risks before you started. If the injuries you sustained are in fact the fault of the trainer or gym staff, then you may still have the right to file an injury lawsuit. It is important to have your lawyer review the waiver to see what your options are depending on the text of the document.
Let Horwitz, Horwitz, and Associates fight for you
At Horwitz, Horwitz and Associates, we are here to help you recover compensation for all injuries claimed in your case. We provide top-notch service so you have the support you need to regain your life after a training injury. Call our firm at (800) 985-1819 or contact us online for a free consultation to talk with an experienced personal injury lawyer.
