Recreational sports injuries are often caused by negligent actions that may be compensable through a personal injury claim or lawsuit against the negligent party.
Recreational Sports Pose Injury Risks
Recreational sports injuries can have life-altering consequences for both adults and children. When accidents occur while playing active, high-contact sports such as football, basketball, baseball, and soccer, injuries can result in broken bones, spinal fractures, head trauma and traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and permanent disabilities. In some cases, recreational sports injuries result in death.
Children who play high-contact sports have a high risk of physical and mental injuries, because their bodies and brains are not fully developed. Attorneys in Henderson NV commonly see a high rate of injuries involving youth recreational sports. Football is a leading cause of injuries because players often collide at high speed on the field. While safety equipment such as helmets and pads are required for players, this equipment does not always prevent catastrophic injuries on the field.
In the U.S., over three million children under the age of 14 are injured playing recreational sports each year. More than three-quarters of a million children are treated in emergency rooms for recreational sports injuries every year, and one-fourth of those injuries happen while playing football. When injuries are fatal, the leading cause of death a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Who’s Liable for Injuries?
Recreational youth sports usually require parents to sign an injury liability waiver, but coaches, trainers, and third parties may still be held liable under conditions of negligence. A liability waiver assumes assumption of risks, stating that parents and/or players understand the risks connected to the activity. However, assumption of risks has nothing to do with negligent actions such as:
- Encouraging inappropriate behavior or conduct by players
- Pushing a player beyond reasonable limits during training and practice
- Physically assaulting or reprimanding a player during or after the game
- Keeping an injured player in the game
- Failing to get medical help during an emergency situation
When negligent actions cause injuries, attorneys in Henderson NV can file a personal injury lawsuit to collect compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. In Nevada, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including recreational sports injuries, is limited to two years, so claims and lawsuits must be filed in a timely manner.If specific conditions do not allow extra time, Nevada courts are likely to dismiss the case and disallow compensation for injuries.