Personal Injuries Caused by Sports
Sports provide many benefits, including enhanced physical health, support of mental well-being, and entertainment. Unfortunately, injuries are a natural risk when it comes to sports. Sports injuries can cause short- or long-term damage, and lead to costly financial losses.
When a sports injury occurs, it is important for injury victims to consider whether the injury was preventable, and whether another person or party should be held liable for resulting losses. Personal injury lawyers at Chanfrau & Chanfrau can work with injury victims from Daytona Beach, FL, Palm Coast, FL, and surrounding areas to determine if they have grounds to file a personal injury claim.
Which Sports Cause the Most Injuries?
Some sports are known to be more physical than others. For instance, contact sports like football and soccer involve a lot of interaction between players, so the risk of injury is understandably high. However, someone can be injured while participating in any sports activity, including walking. According to the National Health Statistics Report that was published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2016, sports and recreational-related injuries were most often related to the following activities:
- General exercise (including aerobics, weight training, running, and jogging)
- Football
- Basketball
- Bicycling
- Recreational sports (i.e. soccer, volleyball, etc.)
- Water-related sports and activities
Common Types of Sports Injuries
Sports can cause two general types of injuries: repetitive injuries and traumatic injuries. Repetitive injuries are caused by repeated movements or an overuse of certain muscles or body parts. Common repetitive sports injuries include:
- Knee injury
- Shoulder injury
- Tennis or golf elbow
- Hamstring strain
- Shin splints
- Sciatica
Traumatic injuries refer to those that are caused by a singular event, such as a trip, fall, or collision. Traumatic sports injuries can damage the muscles and tendons as well, but they also put other areas of the body at risk. A traumatic sports injury may result in:
- Muscle sprains
- Broken bones
- Head, neck, or back injuries
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries
Should I File a Personal Injury Claim?
Sports involve an inherent risk of injury, so when someone participates in a team sport or chooses to exercise on their own, the court assumes that they are accepting the risk involved. However, that doesn’t mean that an athlete is always responsible for their own injuries, or related injury damages.
If a sports injury is caused by another party’s fault or negligence, they should be held accountable for the physical, emotional, and financial damages related to the injury. For instance, if a sports facility fails to remove debris from a sports field/court, neglects to clean up a spill, or otherwise fails to maintain clean and safe premises, and an injury occurs as a result, they should be held liable. Similarly, if a sports coach fails to provide proper safety equipment or neglects to remove an overly aggressive player and an injury occurs, they can also be held liable.
Personal injury lawyers from Chanfrau & Chanfrau can examine the details of a sports injury and advise injured parties in the Daytona Beach area whether they have grounds to file a personal injury claim.
Contact Our Practice
If you have suffered a sports injury that was caused by another party’s reckless or negligent actions, you may be due financial compensation for related losses. To discuss your legal options with the personal injury lawyers at Chanfrau & Chanfrau, contact our law firm online, or call (386) 258-7313 at your earliest convenience.