Paul Schneiderman is an experienced, dedicated attorney who is available to represent people in personal injury and other sports-related legal matters. Sports law is not just for professional athletes!
Sports injury cases can occur while an athlete is playing sports at any level, as well as to sports spectators. Examples of sports injury cases include:
- The person who tears their ACL while playing on poorly maintained field while playing with their company's recreational soccer team.
- The college athlete who may be injured during a rowing practice.
- The parents of a young football player or gymnast who wasn't taken out of practice or competition after sustaining a concussion or other serious injury.
- The professional sports fan who needed extensive rehab for their hip after slipping and falling on a stadium walkway that had not been kept clear of spilled food and beverages.
These can be intentional or negligence injury cases. Complex legal concepts, such as assumption of risk and foreseeability are common elements of sports injuries. For example: can a baseball fan who is hit by a ball receive damages for their injuries?
Persons who have been injured while playing sports or attending a sporting event deserve to consult with a capable sports injury attorney who can thoroughly evaluate the circumstances of their injury and help them address the legalities involved.
Liability in Sports Injuries
Sports injury law is complex, so it is not always intuitive to a player or their loved ones who is responsible for their safety. Furthermore, many players or their families assume that because they signed a waiver at the start of a season or upon entering a facility, they have given up their rights to hold anyone responsible should the worst occur.
The reality, however, is that there are circumstances in which another party can be held responsible for a sports injury or recreational injury. In some cases, there are protocols or rules that should be in place to protect players, but these protocols or rules are missing or ignored by institutions or organizations. There are also circumstances in which another player steps so far outside the rules of conduct, either intentionally or recklessly, that they can be held liable for the injuries and damages sustained by another player.
Additionally, many facilities that host sport and recreational activities have rules and guidelines for their use, as well as regulations and statues that they are obligated to follow, that can be relevant to an injury case. Examples of facilities or institutions in which the rules and guidelines of use may be relevant to injury cases include:
- Ski resorts
- Skateboard parks
- Public and private swimming pools
- Water parks
- Trampolines
- Sports facilities
Sports Injury, Recreational Injury, and Waivers
Many times, players or their families assume that because they signed a waiver that the beginning of a season or upon entering facilities, it means that no one can be held responsible should an injury occur.
Do not assume that because you or a loved one signed a liability waiver or purchased a ticket, that you have signed away your right to hold facility owners or operators responsible for a negligent or illegal act.
Do not assume that just because playing sports or engaging in recreational activities carries some risk, it means that there are no circumstances in which a fellow player or opponent cannot be held responsible for injuries resulting from their intentional or reckless behavior.
Sports injury and recreational injury law are complex. You deserve a lawyer who can evaluate the circumstances of your injury and help you understand your rights.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a sports accident as a player or as a spectator, contact Paul L. Schneiderman today by calling 206-464-1952 to receive your free personal injury report.