There are few better things to do in your free time during sports seasons than going to a sports game. You might be thrilled about the prospect of the Boston Bruins taking on the Philadelphia Flyers or the Boston Red Sox going up against the mighty Philadelphia Phillies. Possibly the last thing you expect is to be injured while in attendance. However, if you do, it pays to know what you can do about it.
Contact a Lawyer
Whether you’ve sustained injuries after being struck by a foul ball, or you slipped and fell down slippery stairs at a sports stadium, it’s in your best interest to contact a law firm like Parker Scheer. Injuries at sports stadiums are not always clear-cut, nor are the personal injury claims that can follow.
By contacting a law firm, you can gain insight into your rights and whether you may have a sound case to move forward with a personal injury or premises liability claim.
Read the Fine Print
You may have noticed a lot of text on the reverse side of your sports ticket. While many people don’t read this information, it can be vital to do so if you find yourself with injuries resulting from the game you attended.
Typically, in the fine print, you will notice a sports facility’s disclaimer, which outlines its legal responsibilities for fan injuries. The statement is normally quite general, stating that pucks and balls may leave the field of play at high speeds. In these situations, the spectator assumes the risk of injury.
In most situations, this disclaimer is valid. If you suffer an injury from a foul ball, it is your responsibility to seek medical assistance and cover the costs yourself.
Exceptions to the Rule
Having a disclaimer on a sports ticket is how sports facility owners can avoid hundreds of lawsuits. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t file a claim in some situations. You just have to be able to prove negligence.
For example, if you are hit by a foul ball at a baseball game, the owner of the sports facility still has to make sure they have done everything in their power to minimize the injury risk. They often do this by putting netting behind the home plate. This is because the ball can be traveling so fast that spectators can’t move out of the way fast enough to avoid being hit.
However, if you were hit just outside of the netting, you may be able to make a claim based on the net not being large enough. You may even be able to prove that it doesn’t meet industry standards.
If you experienced a slip and fall injury at a sports game during the game, at the end of it, or at half-time, you might also be able to make a premise liability claim. For example, if a leaking toilet had not been fixed, leading to a water leak and your subsequent fall, your chosen lawyer could help you build a strong case about their negligence.
Foul balls and flying pucks can lead to injuries that sports facility owners are not responsible for. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t be held accountable for some injuries. If you have been involved in an incident at a sports game, consult your local law firm for advice.