The summer time is a time for outdoor sports and recreation. Whether you are out on the baseball field hitting a home run, scoring a goal in your soccer match, or acing your serve on the tennis court, participating in sports is a great way to stay active and have fun. While playing sports can be great fun it also comes with the inherent risk of injury. If you were injured while you were playing in a sports league do you know if you are entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering? In this article we will be diving into the common injuries you might encounter while playing sports, as well as the complications that can arise when trying to pursue compensation for the injuries you may have sustained.
Injuries in Sports: Breaking Down the Legal Aspects
The severity of injury that you can encounter while playing sports ranges greatly, from minor scrapes, bruises, and sprains to more severe injuries like broken bones and concussions. When these injuries occur fault must be determined. Several factors come into play when trying to establish who or what is liable for these injuries including the nature of the injury, the circumstances in which the injury occurred, as well as any agreements or contracts that you have signed with a sporting facility.
Liability and Negligence
In order to seek compensation from an insurance policy or the person who caused your injuries we must be able to establish that someone was negligent and was the cause of your injuries. When referring to a sports league, negligence can occur in various ways:
- Improper Maintenance of Facilities: If the field or court that you are playing your sport at is poorly maintained and leads to an injury, the entity that is responsible for its upkeep may be found liable for your injuries. For example, if you were playing tennis and there was a chip in the court that caused you to trip and sprain your ankle, then the owner of the tennis court may be found liable for the injuries you have sustained.
- Inadequate Supervision or Coaching: Coaches and organizers have a duty to ensure that the game is being played safely. If your coaches do not give you proper instruction on the rules of the sport and it results in injury, then your coach may be found liable for the damages you have accrued. The same goes for any supervisors or referees. Their duty is to make sure the game is being played safely and properly and if they do not enforce these rules then they could be found liable for your injuries.
- Faulty Equipment: If the injury is caused by defective or broken equipment that was provided by your sports league, then the manufacturer or supplier could be held responsible for the damages that you have received.
The Role of Waivers
More often than not if you join a sports league you are required to sign a waiver before you are able to play. These waivers typically release the league or organization from any liability for the injuries that you may have received during play. These waivers are designed in a way to protect an organizer from a lawsuit; however, a waiver is not always ironclad. In some specific circumstances a skilled Utah personal injury lawyer will be able to find that a waiver is not enforceable:
- Gross Negligence or Recklessness: Gross negligence is a lack of care that demonstrates reckless disregard for the safety of lives of others, which is so great it appears to be a conscious violation of other people’s right to safety. If the injury you received is a result of gross negligence or is an act of intentional harm, then the waiver might not be able to protect the liable party.
- Unclear or Unfair Waiver Terms: Depending on the language of the waiver, your Utah personal injury lawyer will take the waiver to the court and dispute the language. A court may deem a waiver is unenforceable if the terms that were detailed are found to be ambiguous or if the signer was not given a reasonable opportunity to understand its terms.
Steps to Take After an Injury
If you were injured while you were playing a sport make sure that you take the following steps in order to protect your rights:
- Seek Medical Attention: Your health and safety should be your top priority. Make sure that you seek a medical evaluation as soon as possible, even if you do not feel too hurt. A medical evaluation can reveal injuries that may have gone unnoticed, and your doctor will be able to create a treatment plan to get you on the path to recovery.
- Report the Injury: If you have been injured be sure to report the incident to the league officials and document the incident. Try to include details of how the injury occurred as well as any other contributing factors.
- Gather Evidence: Try your best to collect as much evidence as possible, this can include photographs of the injury, pictures of the playing conditions, statements from anyone who saw the accident, as well as any relevant documents such as any waivers or contracts that you may have signed.
If you were injured while playing in a sports league it can be difficult to understand what your next steps should be. But by understanding the legal aspects that go into a personal injury case you will be able to navigate your road to recovery with ease. If you or someone you know has been injured and you don’t know where to start, then contact your Utah personal injury lawyers at LifeLaw Personal Injury. We are happy to discuss what happened with you and help you figure out if you have a case. Our Utah personal injury lawyers are dedicated to helping you understand your rights and will fight for your rights to compensation for your injuries. If you or someone you know has been injured, contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your injuries.