Sports Injuries

Sport is a very big part of our lives. Many people play or watch sports every day, as it helps us keep fit and it is usually very enjoyable to take part in. However, it is not unusual for sporting participants and spectators to suffer injuries from time to time.

Suffering a sports injury can have serious, detrimental effects to the quality of life of the injured person. An injury caused by sporting activities can pose a financial risk, especially to those who play sports for a living, or have an active job.

If you have sustained an injury whilst participating in sporting, or watching sports, you may be eligible to claim compensation for a sporting injury on a no win no fee basis.

When Can I Make a Sports Injury Claim?

Sports injury claims for compensation can be made if you have been injured at a sporting event due to someone else’s negligence or there has been a breach in their duty of care. Both participants and spectators at sporting events are entitled to claim for compensation following an injury sustained whilst watching or playing sports.

For some sports, such as boxing, rugby, ice hockey, or horse riding, the risk of injury is high. Therefore, if an injury is sustained whilst taking part in these types of sports, the injured party may be unable to bring a claim for compensation. The rules of these sports dictate that the activity is a contact sport and that consequently injuries are sometimes inevitable.

However, there are other occasions when an injury can be caused by someone else’s negligence. In these cases, the injured party will have grounds to bring a claim.

We would invite you to discuss your individual case with us, and we will advise you whether we think it has the merits to be a successful personal injury claim. All cases will be assessed on their own facts, and whilst some cases would not be successful, there are always other cases which involve faulty sporting equipment or uneven playing surfaces which could lead to a successful claim.

Common Sports Injury Claims Brought by Sports Players

Successful sports injury claims may be brought as a result of injuries to players due to many different types of negligence. The most common types of sports injuries that we typically see include:

• Falls on uneven or badly maintained fields or courts
• Improper or inappropriate tackles
• Poor or improper coaching
• Violent behaviour of other players
• Faulty sports equipment

Common Sports Injury Claims Brought by Spectators

It is also possible to sustain an injury whilst watching a sport. To bring a successful claim for an injury whilst watching a sport, it is necessary to prove that someone else’s negligence was the cause of your accident and subsequent injuries. Some common injuries to sports spectators include:

• Riots between fans at games
• Defects at sporting grounds or stadiums, such as poorly maintained seats or uneven ground causing spectators to fall or trip.
• Being struck by a ball or puck whilst sitting in the crowd at a game.

The types of accidents and injuries which can be sustained whilst playing or watching sports are numerous. The important thing to remember is that negligence needs to be proven to bring a successful claim for an injury.

I have Sustained an Injury Whilst Playing or Watching Sports; What Should I Do?

If you have been injured as a result of an accident either watching or playing sports, you should do the following:

• Seek medical attention – If you have sustained an injury, the first thing you should always do is seek attention from a medical professional. You should visit a G.P. or hospital to have your injuries assessed.
• Obtain evidence – Soon after your accident, you should attempt to obtain evidence (if possible) of the event which caused your accident, as well as your injuries. If your accident was witnessed, you should try to obtain witness statements from teammates or anyone else who was close by when your accident happened.
• Report the accident – Whether you intend on making a claim or not, you should report your accident to the coach or person responsible for managing the sports event to make them aware of the issue.
• Contact Beacon Law – If you would like to make a sports injury claim for compensation, contact Beacon Law to speak to one of our experienced sports injury solicitors about making a claim for the suffering caused by your injuries and any additional losses.

What are the time limits for sports injury claims?

Before starting your claim for compensation, it is important to note that there are strict time limits on personal injury claims. From the date of the accident that caused the injuries, the injured party will have 3 years in which to commence proceedings for claiming compensation.

It must be noted, however, that there are some exceptions to this rule:

For example, if the claimant was under the age of 18 at the time of the incident, they have until their 21st birthday to make their compensation claim. In the meantime, provided that the claimant is still under the age of 18, a litigation friend such as a parent, guardian, or close family member could claim compensation on their behalf.

Another exception to the 3 year time limit occurs when the claimant who has suffered an injury does not have the mental capacity to begin their compensation claim. Rather than being limited to making a claim within 3 years from the date of the incident, the claimant is entitled to begin their compensation claim at any moment in time once they regain the mental capacity to do so.

How Much is my Sports Injury Claim Worth?

It is difficult to make an estimation on the valuation of a compensation award from the beginning of a claim. The value of your no win, no fee sports injury claim will depend largely upon the seriousness of your injuries and your additional losses. Compensation is split into general damages and special damages as shown below:

General damages – General damages refer to compensation for your injuries. This will be based on your pain and suffering as a direct result of the injuries sustained in your accident.
Special damages – Special damages refer to any additional financial losses you sustained as a direct result of your injuries. These can include loss of earnings, travel costs, home care costs, and medical treatment costs. You should ensure that you keep receipts of any additional expenses to prove your special damages.

Why Choose Beacon Law to Assist in Your Sports Injury Claims?

Beacon Law are a specialist firm of personal injury solicitors with tons of experience in dealing with sports injury claims. We provide a high level of service to all our clients and work hard to ensure you are adequately compensated for your sporting injury. We will ensure that you understand every step of the process when claiming compensation for a sports injury.

Beacon Law is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. To find out about our no win, no fee claim funding and legal fees, have a look at the funding section on our website.

If you have suffered injury as a result of someone else’s negligence at a sporting event, then please call us today to start your claim or complete our contact form at the top of the page to request a call back.