Sports Injuries & Potential Legal Claims
Millions of Americans are injured while playing sports each year, and many of these victims are hospitalized. Sports injuries range from concussions and broken bones to joint damage and soft tissue injuries. High-contact sports such as football, soccer, basketball, and hockey tend to produce more frequent and more serious injuries. Victims can incur substantial medical bills, lost income, and other costs, while suffering severe pain. They may wonder whether they can file a legal claim for compensation, as with many other types of injuries.
Unfortunately, most ordinary sports injuries do not provide grounds for legal action. This is because people who participate in a sport understand (or should understand) that accidental injuries are possible. In legal terms, they "assume the risk" of harm by voluntarily playing the sport. For example, someone who plays football should know that they might collide with another player. Someone who plays baseball should know that they might be struck by a ball.
On the other hand, a victim often can sue for compensation if their injury resulted from a risk that was not inherent to the sport. Common causes of sports injuries that may lead to legal claims include:
- Intentional misconduct
- Negligent coaching
- Defective sports equipment
- Unsafe sports facilities
Intentional Misconduct Causing Sports Injuries
While some sports inherently involve physical contact, the conduct of athletes and spectators sometimes crosses a line. If someone playing a sport is physically attacked outside the normal course of play, they may be able to bring a personal injury claim based on assault and battery. A spectator who is injured in a fight at a sports arena also may be able to bring an assault and battery claim against an aggressor, who may face criminal charges as well.
People or entities that permitted intentional misconduct to occur when they should have prevented it also may be held liable. These may include a coach or facility owner who was aware that someone had a history of violence but continued to allow them to participate in the activity despite the risk.
Negligent Coaching Causing Sports Injuries
While a coach cannot prevent all injuries to people who play a sport, they should adopt and follow basic safety measures. Coaches should give players appropriate rest breaks, allow them to hydrate properly, and give them functioning equipment. They should explain how to play the sport safely, describe common risks that players should understand, and oversee players to the extent needed to reasonably protect their safety.
When a player suffers a sports injury, a coach should know how to handle the situation. They should be able to recognize medical emergencies and respond to them immediately. Failing to take reasonable precautions and provide the same response that a reasonable coach would provide in the same situation likely will lead to liability.
Defective Equipment or Unsafe Facilities Causing Sports Injuries
Player safety in many sports depends on the use of protective equipment, such as helmets or masks. If this equipment is not properly manufactured or designed, a victim can bring a products liability claim against the manufacturer and anyone else in the chain of distribution. This is also true if playing equipment, such as bats or balls, contains defects. Claims based on defective products often use strict liability theories, which means that the victim needs to show only that the product suffered from a manufacturing or design flaw and that the defect caused the injury.
Meanwhile, premises liability laws across the US provide that property owners must keep their premises reasonably safe for people who are lawfully on them. If a victim suffers an injury due to a dangerous property condition while playing a sport, they might pursue a premises liability claim against the property owner. For example, they might establish liability if the owner of a facility failed to clean up debris on the playing surface, or failed to fix a hole.
