Football Injury Liability - Accidents in Sport
Las Vegas, Nevada
Suing for a football injury
Football, a beloved high-impact sport, brings excitement and passion to millions of fans worldwide. However, with its intensity comes a significant risk of injuries that can profoundly affect players' lives and careers.
Understanding the legal implications of injuries is very important. It helps protect players' well-being, ensuring they receive appropriate compensation and support after an injury. It also provides a framework for accountability, encouraging teams, coaches, and equipment manufacturers to prioritize safety measures.
Free consultation for football injuries
If you or your child got injured while playing football in Las Vegas, Nevada, whether it was a training practice or a football competition, call us at 702-432-1000 to discuss your case. Your consultation will be informative and free.
While we can't reverse the unfortunate event of an accident, we can help you get money to pay for your medical bills (past, current, and future) and other damages.
Role of waivers and contracts
Waivers protect teams and organizations from legal claims arising from injuries considered an inherent risk to the sport. By signing a waiver, players generally agree to assume the risks of participation. However, waivers do not provide blanket immunity.
So, don't assume that you can't hold the responsible party accountable because you signed a disclaimer - there are many situations when the waiver of liability does not apply. In Nevada, if the injury is due to negligence or willful misconduct, or if the waiver is deemed unenforceable by the court, you can sue. For more information, call our office.
Proving reckless conduct in a football injury case
Often, the reason behind a football injury is the reckless conduct of the players. Stadiums usually videotape all football games. However, recklessness could be hard to prove.
If the football player is injured during the game, the opponent's reckless conduct must be very obvious, leaving no doubt in any spectator's mind that the act did not occur in the regular football game. A good example would be an over-the-top tackle on a football pitch, a helmet-to-helmet contact, or unnecessary roughness.
Common injuries in football
Here are some common types of injuries that occur while playing football. They range from mild to severe and may significantly impact a player's health and career.
- Concussions,
- Fractures,
- Ligament tears,
- Sprains and strains,
- Dislocations,
- Bruises and contusions,
- Muscle tears,
- Tendonitis,
- Spinal injuries,
- Cuts and lacerations,
- Overuse injuries.
Head injuries in football
Concussions have become the biggest concern, increasing the risk of mental illnesses and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
After a concussion, you can only return to football practices with their healthcare professional's approval and supervision.
Another thing to remember is that the multiple effects of head and back injuries may appear many years later.
Who is liable for a football injury?
- Coaches for encouraging aggressive behavior
- Youth leagues for not explaining the real dangers of the game to the parents
- Protective helmet manufacturers for making the wrong product
- The individual player who caused an injury and violated specific safety rules
Also, there are situations in which one player injures another player deliberately to gain an unfair advantage.
In Nevada, a person, a group of people, or an organization whose negligence or reckless conduct caused an injury is financially responsible for damages. Football injury is no exception to this rule.
Also, in some cases, multiple parties are liable for injuries.
What to do after a football injury
Seek immediate medical attention: Save all documents: Keep all medical records, including diagnosis, treatment plans, and immediate care received. Ensure you follow all medical recommendations to demonstrate you take the injury seriously.
Document an incident: Write a detailed account of the injury, including the date, time, location, and circumstances. Take photos of the injury, the scene, and any contributing factors (e.g., defective equipment or unsafe playing conditions).
Notify the authorities: If your football injury is severe and results in hospitalization, or you believe the injury happened due to negligence or intentional harm of another player, report the injury to the relevant league, team, or organization.
Contact an attorney: We invite you to call us at 702-432-1000 to discuss your case.
What compensation to expect
The compensation after a football injury directly correlates to the medical expenses, including future medical bills and other damages. In 2021, the family reached a $3.5 million settlement in the death of a Maryland football player. In a famous 2015 settlement, the National Football League promised to compensate former players who developed dementia and other brain diseases tied to concussions, but not all retired players who applied were approved for compensation.
Challenges associated with football injury lawsuits
• Assumption of risk: Football is known for its physical nature, and players know about the associated risks. The waivers that players sign acknowledge the risks, which can complicate legal claims.
• Contributory negligence: The defense may argue that the injured player contributed to their injury through their actions or behavior. Determining the degree of fault shared between the player and other parties could be challenging.
• Complex medical evidence: A football injury may involve complex medical issues that require expert analysis and testimony. Distinguishing between pre-existing conditions and injuries directly caused by the incident is not always straightforward.
• Team dynamics: Legal disputes may strain team and coaching staff relationships.
We can help
If you or your child sustained an injury due to another player's malicious or reckless behavior during a football game, whether it was a professional match or a Sunday League game, you might be entitled to sports injury compensation.
Call us at 702-432-1000 to discuss your situation.
We work on a contingency basis, meaning you don't have to pay until we get you money with a settlement or verdict at trial.
The initial consultation is free.
We serve clients in Las Vegas and Nevada.
Last updated on May 14, 2024.
