Students, Sports Injuries, and Your Legal Rights
Sports are a big deal in the United States, but this is especially true in Texas. This is the state that inspired “Friday Night Lights,” a critically acclaimed nonfiction book and television program about high school football.
The TV show featured a character who was seriously injured while playing football. In real life, this tragic scenario plays out more than people might realize. Just ask any Dallas personal injury lawyer about high school sports injuries.
Whether you’re a high school student who aspires to one day join “America’s Team” or a college student playing on either side of the Safeway Bowl, you might understand the risks of being injured on the gridiron. But do you understand the full risks? The serious nature of some injuries on the field is becoming apparent sometimes many years or decades later. Traumatic brain injuries sustained by professional football players have recently gained media attention.
But it’s not only football that poses a risk of serious injury. Without question, all contact sports present unique injury risks to all players involved. In some sports, such as hockey or football, injuries may even be considered “part of the game.” But some sports-related injuries are more serious than others. And in some cases, negligence can be a factor. And that’s when individuals and entities must be held accountable.
Common sports-related injuries
What are common examples of sports injuries? Sports-related injuries do not just happen during the game. Due to the amount of physical strain and preparation athletes of any age endure on a regular basis, a sports-related injury can happen anywhere and anytime. They can happen during practices or instruction. They can happen at gyms, training facilities and ball fields. Sporting injuries cover a wide range. Some of the most frequently reported sports-related injuries include the following:
- Head injuries, including concussions
- Broken bones and fractures
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord trauma
- Internal bleeding
- Knee injuries
Do I have legal rights if my child has been injured?
Some sporting injuries may seem unavoidable. This is especially true in football, where unintentional helmet-to-helmet contact or a twisted leg can occur in a matter of seconds. But if an accident could have been avoided in any way, you may have a right to take legal action and seek damages. Athletic facilities and organizations have a legal obligation to provide athletes with a safe environment and well-maintained equipment. This includes properly maintained premises, equipment (such as helmets and knee pads) that meets safety standards, and well-qualified coaches and instructors who properly train students.
If you believe your injuries or the injuries of a loved one were caused by the carelessness of another person or organization, it’s imperative to contact an attorney immediately. As any qualified Dallas personal injury attorney knows, a failure on the part of a sporting organization – from coaches and instructors to individual participants – to provide student athletes with a safe and secure environment could be grounds for legal action against that negligent party. You may be entitled to compensation that’s essential to pay for medical bills, potential lost wages, pain and suffering and other emotional damages resulting from the accident. Contact a lawyer immediately. A delay may affect your rights.