If you participate in an organized sports event, you may be wondering whether your injuries could warrant a lawsuit. Similar to car accidents, sports injuries can cause various damages that can negatively impact your life. Please continue reading to learn when you can take legal action for your sports injuries and discover how our skilled Jefferson County Personal Injury Lawyers can help you navigate your legal options.
Can I sue if I’m injured while participating in an organized sports event?
When you participate in an organized sports event, you typically will not be entitled to file a lawsuit against an at-fault party to seek monetary compensation for the damages you’ve incurred due to your injuries because of the inherent assumed risk of injury. When you participate in playing a sport such as hockey, basketball, football, soccer, baseball, tennis, or any other pastime, there is an assumption of risk involved, meaning you know that playing sports can be inherently dangerous; however, knowing those risks, you decide to play anyway. For instance, you may take an inadvertent elbow when jumping to head the ball during a soccer game or over-rotate during a cheer stunt and land face first. Whatever the case, some accidents occur due to the inherent nature of the game. Therefore, there are no grounds for filing a lawsuit.
When am I entitled to take legal action for my injuries?
Nevertheless, there are a few instances in which injuries may be considered more than just “part of the game” and could be considered grounds for a lawsuit. As mentioned above, participating in a sporting event can be inherently dangerous. However, some injuries may occur outside the expected scope due to malicious behavior. If a member from another team, a fan in the stand, or anyone intentionally causes you to harm, you can file a personal injury claim, as this is not a risk we assume when playing sports.
Moreover, you may be entitled to pursue legal action if your injuries were caused due to negligent coaching. When a coach causes their player to suffer an injury or illness because they will not allow a water break or puts them back in the game after an apparent concussion, they can be held liable as these are not inherent risks assumed when participating in a sporting event. Additionally, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit if equipment malfunctions caused your injuries. Sporting gear often becomes worn out after several uses. Therefore, they must be inspected regularly to ensure they are working correctly. If a product defect, such as a football player’s helmet not absorbing the small impact the way it calms it will, you may pursue legal action to collect compensation for your losses.
Furthermore, suppose you are injured due to unkempt facilities, meaning you were injured due to dangerous property conditions. In that case, you may be able to pursue a premises liability lawsuit against a negligent property owner. Property owners are responsible for upholding a duty of care to maintain a safe environment for those on their premises. Therefore, if you are injured because of unsafe property conditions, the property owner of the sports facility can be held liable for the costs associated with your injuries.
Contact a determined lawyer from Alabama Personal Injury Lawyers, LLC, to discuss your legal options. Our firm is committed to helping our clients fight for the rightful compensation they deserve.
