Sports Accidents

Though none of the lawyers at Marcotte Law Firm would ever be mistaken for a professional athlete, we do know one thing: injuries are part of the game. No matter what sport you play, any level of physical activity can lead to an injury. Many are minor, such as a twisted ankle on the basketball court or a pulled hamstring on the track. Unfortunately many are also major injuries: fractured bones and torn ligaments.

While injuries happen, the fact remains that many sports injuries can be prevented. Whether it’s due to the negligence of another athlete or a coach can cause serious injuries that can rob an athlete not only of his/her ability to compete, but also injuries that spill over and affect their day-to-day lives.

• Sports Rage: While many amateur athletes participate for the love of the game and to get some exercise, competition sometimes gets the best of people. Whether it’s in an organized event or a pickup game at the local park, people sometimes get heated and take it out on other athletes. This can take the form of an unnecessarily hard foul or even an assault.
• Improper Child Supervision: Just like teachers, baby sitters, and school bus drivers, coaches are responsible for supervising the children on their team. Whether it’s a fight between the kids or not supervising the children while they practice, kids often get injured even when they’re not playing.
• Child Athlete Injuries: As parents, we trust coaches and sports leagues to not just help out children develop as athletes and as people, but also to protect them from preventable injury. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. These injuries are particularly terrible when an otherwise promising youth athlete is injured, which eliminates the possibility of securing a college scholarship.
• Aggressive Spectators: Over the last few decades, spectators have come to become more and more belligerent. This is especially true when children are involved and parents become too vigorous in their “support.” This is why we often see signs on fields and in gyms reminding parents that it’s just a game. However, some parents and spectators find themselves getting into confrontations with other spectators or even coaches and referees.

If you or your child were hurt in a preventable sports accident, it’s important to find an experienced Personal Injury Lawyer, as there are many hurdles that you will have to overcome to be made whole. First, there are statutory protections for certain people and entities. This means that unless their actions were grossly negligent, you could be prevented from recovery. Second, many leagues and facilities require you to sign waivers to participate. While it makes sense to acknowledge that sports injuries often occur without it being anyone’s fault, these waivers also often try to prevent you from recovering due to the negligence of someone else.

At Marcotte Law Firm, we have decades of experience representing people who are injured through no fault of their own. Whether your sports injury happened on or off the field, we know how to guide you through the claim process to get you the compensation you deserve.

Call or email us now for a free consultation. For most clients, there is no fee unless we win.