Court Case After Indoor Playroom Injury in Lublin

12 August 2026 Poland Radar 0 Comments

Prosecutors charged staff after an indoor playground accident in Lublin that left an 11-year-old gravely injured.

On October 25, 2025, an indoor playground accident in Lublin left an 11-year-old girl with severe spinal injuries. Consequently, prosecutors have finished the investigation and filed charges against two employees. The case will now go to the district court.

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What happened at the playroom

Prosecutors say the incident occurred during a birthday party on Węglin in Lublin. Moreover, the girl jumped onto an air cushion that was not properly inflated. As a result, doctors diagnosed multiple compression fractures in her thoracic and lumbar spine. Therefore, the injuries caused organ dysfunction and health disruption lasting more than seven days.

Investigators identified two staff members as responsible for supervision and safety at the venue. However, prosecutors allege the 23-year-old Jan Z. and the 24-year-old Dawid S. failed to perform those duties. In addition, authorities say they allowed children to use the attraction though the cushioning device was not operational. Both men deny guilt and offered long explanations to investigators. Consequently, they argue others were supposed to activate the inflating device and they believed someone had already done so.

indoor playground accident: charges and legal path

Prosecutors charged the two men with exposing a minor to a direct risk of death or serious bodily harm. Moreover, they charged them with causing moderate bodily harm. Therefore, the suspects face up to five years in prison if convicted. The indictment now sits with Sąd Rejonowy Lublin – Zachód. Consequently, the court will schedule public hearings and evaluate the evidence.

For context, criminal proceedings in Poland usually proceed from indictment to trial in the district court. Moreover, victims can pursue civil claims for medical costs and damages alongside criminal cases. Therefore, families often file separate lawsuits for compensation. In addition, workplace or business inspections may follow. For example, local sanitary inspectors or the State Labour Inspectorate (Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy) can open parallel probes.

Why this matters for expats in Poland

This case highlights safety oversight at private family venues. Consequently, parents and guardians should check equipment and staff training before parties. Moreover, you should ask who carries liability and how the venue documents safety checks. In addition, keep photos and witness names if something seems unsafe.

💡 GOOD TO KNOW: In Poland medical emergency care goes through the public health system called NFZ (National Health Fund). Therefore, hospitals treat urgent cases even without immediate payment. Moreover, a PESEL number (national ID for residents) helps hospitals and courts process documents faster. In addition, ZUS handles social insurance and benefits if work-related injury claims appear. Consequently, you can ask for an interpreter in court and in hospitals if you do not speak Polish. Finally, report safety concerns to local Sanepid (sanitary inspectorate) or PIP (labour inspectorate) to prompt inspections.

Legal outcomes can vary. However, this prosecution signals stricter scrutiny of private play venues. Moreover, courts may weigh staff training, maintenance records, and business protocols heavily. Therefore, expats who use local services should keep documentation and ask clear safety questions.

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