Hurt Playing A Sport?: You Might Have A Personal Injury Claim

Hurt Playing a Sport?: You Might Have a Personal Injury Claim

Even if you get hurt playing a team or solo sport you might still have a claim on you hands. A lot of people believe that it’s hard to prove a claim in such cases, however there are some things you’ll want to know before writing off the possibility. The main feature is that sports injury cases differ from most other personal injury claims in that they focus on a malfunction of the gear being used and the area being used for the activity. If you satisfy the requirements for a sports injury claim you can proceed just as you would any other personal injury claim.

In this article we’ll help you to decide whether or not you have a personal injury claim, as well as what a sports personal injury claim entails in the first place. If your injury happens to fall outside the scope of the sport itself you may have a personal injury claim that’s worth moving forward with.

What classifies a sports personal injury claim?

A sports personal injury claim must be due to something outside of the game or the players of the game. It can’t be a common injury that is sustained as the result of playing the same. These different types of injuries can include any injury that stems from using faulty equipment, negligent maintenance of the place of play, and even can results from improper instruction on how to play from a coach.

Faulty equipment falls under the realm of product liability. It can range from helmets that don’t fit properly, or a malfunction in the helmet that doesn’t allow the strap to buckle properly. Under these circumstances the manufacturer of the product is responsible for any damages or injuries that might occur.

Maintenance and coaching personnel all have the responsibility to ensure that all fields of play and equipment are functioning properly before the game begins. This can range from things like the field of play not being maintained properly, to failing to provide the teams with the proper equipment to enable safe play of the chosen sport.

Aside from the responsibility of others, the equipment and the personnel, there’s another factor that comes into play. This last factor is the personal responsibility of the player and his guardian. This means that all proper physicals must be done before playing the sport. All initial health checks should be done prior to engaging in any physical activity as the blame can fall on the player and the parents if the checks aren’t done beforehand.

What are some common sports that cause injury?

Most contact sports, or sports that involve the use of a lot of protective gear have a higher potential for injury. Some sports that are under this realm include: football, horse riding, boxing, cricket, hockey and rugby.

How can I make a sports personal injury claim?

Once an injury does occur and you believe you have a claim you must be sure to collect a number of points of evidence. For instance, you’ll need to make sure there is direct witness evidence of the event occurring, and have the ability to prove negligence. You’ll also want to be sure to document any faulty equipment and/or make sure you have the faulty piece of equipment in your possession.

If you think you might have a sports persona injury case on your hands you should always consult with a personal injury lawyer beforehand just to be sure. I hope you’ve found this article beneficial and now possess a deeper understanding of how to move forward with a sports personal injury claim, and how to recognize a claim in the first place.

Sources:

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/defenses-personal-injury-cases-32276.html

Zane Schwarzlose writes for Alamo Injury Attorneys, a personal injury law firm in San Antonio, Texas. Zane thinks that sports injury are way too common.