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Can you sue over sports injuries?

On Behalf of | Oct 7, 2024 | Personal Injury

You may have a child who plays sports through a city organization or through their school. Most sports come with at least some degree of injury risk. This is especially true for contact sports like hockey or football. There is a certain assumption of risk for every player. 

If your child plays, then you likely had to sign a waiver when they signed up. This waiver says that you understand that the sport is dangerous and that injuries could happen, so you cannot sue if your child is hurt while playing. But are there any scenarios where this waiver may not apply?

Was the organization negligent?

You may still be able to sue if your child was injured, but only if you can show that the school or the organization was negligent and that their negligence led to the injury.

For instance, maybe the school never taught your child to tackle properly while playing football, so they suffered a neck injury. Or perhaps they were given outdated or broken pads and other equipment, and they got hurt because they simply did not have the gear that they needed. The coach knew there was a greater risk and allowed them to play anyway.  

On the other hand, a routine injury likely means that you can’t sue the organization. If your child suffers a knee injury getting tackled during a football game, that may just be a risk that comes along with the sport. So negligence, rather than the injury itself, is the crux of the issue.

Your legal options

If your child has been injured, it is very important to understand exactly what legal options you have. You may need substantial compensation for medical bills and related costs.