Millions of children and young adults in the United States engage in competitive sports. As the level of completion goes up, the risk of sports-related injuries also increases. People who participate in contact sports like wrestling, football, and rugby are prone to getting injured. However, the injuries resulting from individual sports like swimming and gymnastics can be just as severe.
As personal injuries attorneys, we have come across sports-related cases involving injuries such as fracture bones, concussions, strains, sprains, muscle and nerve damage, exhaustion, and fatigue. You should be advised that involvement in competitive sports may subject you to such injuries. Although the risk of injury is a normal part of sports, this doesn’t make the injuries less painful or less costly to treat.
Who is Liable?
When it comes to sports injuries, the question of liability is complicated. The answer may depend on where you are and the level at which you are playing. In some states such as California, there are laws that mandate universities to pay for students medical bills in case of sports-related injuries. In states where no such laws exist, universities may be less keen to pay for medical bills of their injured athletes. Nevertheless, it is still possible to place the liability on the government or the institution you represent if there was negligence on the part of the coach, trainer, or anyone representing your institution as the injury occurred.
If you have a medical insurance cover, the insurance should pay the medical bills in case you sustain an injury. However, things are not always clear since insurance companies strive to pay out as little as possible.
The role of a Personal Injury Attorney
Whatever your situation may be, the most appropriate thing to do is to seek the assistance of a personal injury attorney to help you know who is liable and help you in the process of making a claim. Experienced lawyers are conversant with the prevailing law, and their knowledge will go a long way toward helping you get justice.
Although sports-related injuries can be quite severe and expensive to treat, the liability is not always easy to establish. However, with the assistance of a personal injury attorney from Robert J. DeBry & Associates, it is easier for you to navigate the complex legal jungle and get the justice you deserve.