Millions of Americans of varying ages suffer sports-related injuries each year. Although most sports and recreation injuries are accidental, when a defective product, inadequate supervision, or another form of negligence is involved, another party may be liable for an injured victim’s damages. Our sports injury lawyers at Moore Law Firm have more than 35 years of experience in handling all types of personal injury cases. Our team can assess your case and determine whether a claim is appropriate in your specific situation.
Serious Sports And Recreation Injuries
Contact sports such as football, soccer, and basketball have the highest injury rates, but athletes can be seriously injured during activities like cheerleading and baseball as well. Sports-related deaths are rare, but injuries such as repeated concussions sustained on the football field can lead to permanent conditions like traumatic brain injury.
Adults and underage athletes’ parents are typically required to sign a waiver of liability before joining or playing in any school or extracurricular sports league. However, in cases where a coach was negligent, they may be liable for your injuries. There have been several cases in which high school football players have been repeatedly sent back onto the field before fully healing from a concussion. This kind of carelessness often occurs because coaches are more concerned with winning than their players’ well-being. Sustaining repeated concussions can lead to severe brain injury and even wrongful death.
Serious injuries can also occur in non-contact sports and recreational activities like skateboarding, bicycling, diving, and skating. Outdoor recreational activities such as boating, water skiing, jet skiing, dirt bike, and ATV riding, and hunting can also lead to severe injury or death.
Some types of sports and recreation injuries include:
- Sprains and strains
- Torn muscles and ligaments
- Head trauma or concussion
- Neck, back, and spinal injury
- Paralysis
- Broken bones
- Facial and dental injuries such as road rash, lacerations, broken facial bones, and knocked-out teeth
- Dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke
- Accidental gunshot wounds
Causes Of Sports And Recreation Accidents
There are often many different factors often involved in a sports and recreation accident. That’s why it’s vital to seek the counsel of an experienced personal injury attorney who is familiar with investigating and litigating these types of cases.
Sports and recreation accidents often occur due to:
- Defective products, such as malfunctioning gym equipment, helmets, and other protective sports gear
- Dangerous premises such as uneven playing fields and hazardous playground equipment
- Diving and swimming pool accidents
- Inadequate supervision
- Improperly trained instructors
- Negligent coaches and personal trainers who push athletes too hard
- Aggressive players or coaches who cause physical harm to others
- Dangerous conditions at parks and other recreational areas and facilities
- Failing to seek emergency medical care for someone who is injured or ill
How Do Waivers Of Liability Work?
Waivers of liability are designed to protect individuals and organizations from legal action should someone become injured. Many waivers use specific language that covers a broad range of circumstances. Injured athletes and parents may believe that they have no legal recourse because they signed a waiver of liability, but there are exceptions in cases of gross negligence. Waivers that contain ambiguous wording may not hold water in a court of law. State law may also be a consideration in cases involving waivers of liability. Our sports accident attorneys are familiar with Alabama contracts and liability law. We can review any waivers of liability and determine if exceptions apply in your case.
Some exceptions to waivers of liability include:
- Vague, ambiguous language that is open to legal interpretation
- Gross negligence such as carelessness, recklessness, willfully dangerous conduct, and intentional acts
- Waivers signed by underage children
Who Is Liable For Sports And Recreation Injuries?
When an injury occurs due to negligence, several parties may be liable. Our sports and recreation accident attorneys can determine who may be liable in your specific case and help you pursue compensation if warranted.
- Liable parties may include:
- Coaches, instructors, and trainers
- Other players (or their parents if underage)
- Property owners
- Equipment manufacturers
- Municipalities responsible for recreation areas like parks, lakes, playgrounds, and public fields
It’s essential to keep in mind that bringing a lawsuit against a city or county can be convoluted and practically impossible to win on your own. Special protections are given to most municipalities, and the process for filing a claim may entail strict, specific procedures and timelines.
Recovering Compensation In A Sports And Recreation Injury Claim
Sports and recreation injuries can often be serious and require long-term medical treatment, physical therapy, and rehabilitation. Conditions like traumatic brain injury can permanently affect an injured victim’s cognitive skills, cause psychological issues, and affect their ability to work. Neck and spine injuries that cause paralysis require lifelong, long-term care, home modifications, and special equipment. On top of the physical pain, a victim may have to suffer, the emotional and psychological ramifications may never go away. If you, your child, or another family member has been injured, you may be entitled to recover compensation for:
- Loss of wages
- Loss of past and future income
- Loss of earning capacity
- Mental anguish
- Permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment
- Loss of companionship and consortium
- Wrongful death
If a negligent party’s actions were particularly egregious, suing for punitive damages may be appropriate in your case. For example, if you were water skiing and someone was drunk and operating a boat hit you and caused an injury, punitive damages may be awarded. The law surrounding punitive damages is complex. Punitive damages are not designed to compensate a plaintiff. Instead, they are intended to punish them for their wantonly careless conduct or deliberately malicious actions and deter others from committing similar acts.
Quality Legal Representation You Can Trust
Our team at Moore Law Firm provides responsive, compassionate legal representation you can rely on. When you have questions or concerns about your case, our personal injury lawyers are just a phone call away. Although recovering compensation for our clients is a top priority, helping victims deal with the trauma of being injured due to no fault of their own is a vital element of who we are. Consultations are always free. Our sports and recreation accident lawyers represent clients on a contingency basis, which means there are no up-front costs and you won’t be responsible for paying attorney fees unless we recover compensation in your case.
Contact Our Mobile Sports And Recreation Accident Attorneys Today
At Moore Law Firm, helping injured victims and their families get the care and compensation they need and deserve is our passion. If you or a loved one has suffered a sports or recreation injury caused by negligence, our dedicated team can assess your case and advise you on whether or now you have a viable claim. We can help you understand your rights and pursue maximum compensation for your damages. Call Moore Law Firm at 251-445-7602 or contact us online today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.