Sports Injury Attorney

Sports Injury Attorney

A sports injury attorney can help you if you’ve been injured in the course of your athletic pursuits. A sports injury occurs when an athlete sustains an injury from playing sports, and it can happen to anyone who participates in sports at any level, from the most elite professional athletes to casual gym-goers. While most people understand that participating in any sport carries with it the risk of getting hurt, such injuries are not always considered preventable or unavoidable. Some injuries occur because of improper safety equipment or lack thereof, while others might be caused by another player’s negligence or recklessness.

Assumed Risk in Sports

Depending on the situation, if you are injured due to someone else’s actions during a sporting event, you may be able to seek compensation for the injury via a personal injury lawsuit. However, sports injuries are different from many other forms of personal injury claims as there is an assumed level of risk that an athlete takes by participating in a sport. In most cases, the assumption of risk can prevent an injured athlete from suing anyone else for their injuries, but there are a number of exceptions to this assumption of risk.

While most sports injuries are accidental, some injuries can be the result of negligence or malice. Victims who suffered sports injuries that result from negligence by the sport’s governing league, gyms, schools, coaches, or malice from other athletes may be entitled to recover compensation for the damages they suffered as a result of the injury.

Common Causes of Injuries in Sports

Sports injuries can be broadly categorized into three main causes: environmental, internal, and external factors.

1. Environmental Factors

• Footing and Surface Conditions: Uneven or slippery surfaces can lead to falls and injuries.
• Weather Conditions: Extreme heat, cold, or wet conditions can increase the risk of injury.
• Location Elements: Poorly maintained fields or courts can pose significant hazards.

2. Internal Factors

• Physical Condition: Athletes with poor flexibility, strength, or endurance are more prone to injuries.
• Playing Technique: Improper techniques can lead to strains, sprains, and other injuries.
• Personal Health: Pre-existing conditions or fatigue can increase vulnerability to injury.

3. External Factors

• Equipment Deficiencies: Faulty or inappropriate gear can fail to provide necessary protection.
• Coaching Practices: Negligent coaching, such as pushing athletes beyond their limits, can cause injuries.
• Field or Facility Hazards: Failure to remove dangerous objects, such as gopher holes on a soccer field, can lead to accidents.
• Emergency Preparedness: Lack of an emergency plan for injuries can exacerbate harm.
• Heat Exhaustion Recognition: Not identifying and responding to heat exhaustion symptoms can be dangerous.
• Referee Training: Poorly trained referees may fail to enforce rules that prevent injuries.
• Supervision: Inadequate supervision during sporting events can result in unsafe play.

For example, if players are injured because they stepped in a gopher hole at a local soccer field, the field owner may be held liable for negligence in maintaining safe playing conditions.

What Are Common Sports Injuries?

With more than 700,000 concussions in sports and recreation activities treated in U.S. emergency rooms in 2010 alone, sports injuries are quite common in America. According to some estimates, more than half of all athletes will sustain a serious sports injury during their time as competing athlete, Sports-related falls accounted for over 200,000 ER visits that year as well.

Examples of common sports injures includes:

• Sprains and strains – common types of sports injuries that occur when ligaments and tendons are overstretched or torn.
• Concussions – a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a bump, blow or jolt to your head.
• Fractures – with the force involved in many contact sports, broken bones are not all that uncommon with sports injuries.
• Meniscus tears – knee injuries resulting from damage to one of two C-shaped pieces of cartilage located on either side of your knee joint.
• ACL/MCL tears – Knee ligament tears involve damage to the structures of the knee joint and are often serious enough injuries to warrant surgery.

What Are Common Sports Injuries?

Sports injuries are prevalent in the United States, with over 700,000 concussions from sports and recreation activities treated in emergency rooms in 2010 alone. It’s estimated that more than half of all athletes will experience a serious sports injury during their careers. In 2010, sports-related falls accounted for over 200,000 ER visits.

Here are some examples of common sports injuries:

Sprains and Strains:

• Sprains: These occur when ligaments are overstretched or torn, commonly affecting ankles and wrists.
• Strains: Involve overstretched or torn muscles or tendons, often affecting the hamstrings or lower back.

Concussions:

• A mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. Symptoms can include headaches, dizziness, and confusion.

Fractures:

• Broken bones resulting from the high impact and force involved in many contact sports, such as football and hockey.

Meniscus Tears:

• Injuries to the knee involving damage to one of the two C-shaped pieces of cartilage located on either side of the knee joint, often caused by twisting movements.

ACL/MCL Tears:

• ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) Tears: Involve damage to one of the major ligaments in the knee, often requiring surgery.
• MCL (Medial Collateral Ligament) Tears: Involve damage to the ligament on the inner part of the knee, which can range from mild to severe.

Dislocations:

• Joints, such as shoulders and fingers, can be dislocated due to impact or falls, causing immediate pain and immobility.

Tendinitis:

• Inflammation of tendons, commonly affecting areas like the elbow (tennis elbow) or Achilles tendon, often due to overuse.

Shin Splints:

• Pain along the shin bone, usually resulting from overuse, common in runners and athletes who perform a lot of sprinting.

Rotator Cuff Injuries:

• Injuries to the shoulder muscles and tendons, often seen in sports that involve repetitive arm movements, such as baseball and swimming.

Stress Fractures:

• Small cracks in bones caused by repetitive force or overuse, commonly affecting the lower legs and feet.

Taking preventive measures, such as proper training, using appropriate equipment, and ensuring adequate rest, can help reduce the risk of these common sports injuries.

Why Should I Hire a Sports Injury Lawyer?

Most often, sports injuries are not life-threatening and have a quick recovery time. However, they can still be extremely painful and debilitating during their healing process. In cases like these, having an experienced attorney working on your behalf can help ensure that you’re compensated for your lost wages, pain and suffering, medical bills, and other costs related to your injury.

For example, if you suffer a broken leg during a sporting event and there is a dispute over how it happened or who was at fault, then it could be worth speaking with a lawyer about whether or not you have a case for personal injury.

Damages Awarded in Sports Injury Lawsuits

For a valid sports injury claim, a victim can receive compensation for a number of damages which can include things such as:

• Medical bills
• Pain and suffering
• Lost income
• Loss of companionship
• Wrongful death
• Lost wages
• Punitive damages (if applicable)

What is a Typical Settlement Amount for a Sports Injury?

The amount of compensation received through a settlement really depends on the type of injury suffered and the severity of damages caused by the injury. For example, if you tore your ACL and need surgery to repair it, then you’ll want to hire an attorney who can negotiate with all parties involved so that they pay enough money to cover the costs of the damages.

If you’re in doubt, then you can always consult with an attorney on how much they think your case could be worth. No two cases are alike, so there’s no way of telling exactly how much someone should expect to get.