Attorney
There is always some risk of injury when playing sports in youth sports. However, although athletes anticipate the possibility of injuries, there are situations where injuries were preventable had safety precautions been in place. If you or a child was injured playing sports because of negligence, you might have a right to pursue a personal injury claim. Our Washington, D.C. personal injury attorney is knowledgeable in sports injuries and is here to ensure you, or your loved one gets the deserved compensation.
Common Sports Injuries
Many sports injuries can occur while playing high school or recreational youth sports. Common examples are:
- Head injuries
- Broken bones or fractures
- Sprains
- Back, knee, and elbow injuries
- Dislocations
If you have suffered an injury while playing sports, it is crucial to seek medical attention immediately. Injuries from high-contact sports can have a lifelong impact. The most serious is where there are head, neck, or spinal cord injuries. These can impact a person’s behavioral, emotional, and cognitive abilities, especially if there has been a repeated injury to the same area.
After you have consulted with a doctor, you may wish to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney to review your legal options.
Who Is Responsible for a Sports Injury?
Many different parties can potentially be responsible for a sports injury. Coaches, school districts, other players, venue owners, or sports equipment manufacturers could be liable. Because each case is fact specific, it is essential to speak with an attorney familiar with sports injuries.
To have a claim, you must be able to show negligence by another party, in addition to other factors. For example, perhaps a school or coaching staff failed to provide proper protective gear to players or get a person appropriate medical attention when the injury occurred. Maybe a school did not properly maintain its sports field or left a hazardous condition unattended. These are all examples of where another party’s negligence may have directly caused your injury.
However, there can be some complexities in determining who is responsible for an accident. DC is a contributory negligence jurisdiction. This means that if a player contributed to their injuries, they might not be able to recover compensation from another party.
Liability waivers can also complicate things. But, there are still situations where a liability waiver will not erase the consequences of another party’s negligence.
Speak With an Attorney
Dealing with a sports injury can be overwhelming, and you may need to focus on your loved one’s health and recovery. Having an experienced attorney on your side can make pursuing a claim much easier for you and your family. If you have questions about a sports injury in the District of Columbia or need an attorney for your or a loved one’s pending case, we can help. Do not delay seeking help, as the timelines for filing a claim or lawsuit can be stringent. Contact our office today for a free consultation.