Sports Accidents - When Should You Make A Sports Accident Claim?
By: Jessica Parker | Posted: 07th April 2009
Nobody would ever wish to play down the health benefits of sport - nor would anybody want to create a situation in which people were afraid to play sport or organise sport for fear of leaving themselves open to a compensation claim.
By its nature, sport involves a degree of rough and tumble. Participants train hard, play hard and push themselves to improve. That is healthy, and to be encouraged.
However, the fact that sport is often physically demanding is not an excuse for organisers, trainers or even players to hide behind. A sports trainer, leisure centre operator or equipment manufacturer has a responsibility to the people who will use their equipment or train under them.
For example - if someone suffers an injury as a result of faulty or improperly maintained equipment, that is not their fault. Also, it is not the type of injury that one can to some extent expect might happen as a result of the physical nature of the game. Rather, it is a failure of health and safety and it cannot be excused merely because it occurred in a sporting field.
An injury suffered in this manner will be just as debilitating as one suffered in any other way; the same loss of work and need for rehabilitation applies. Also, the same example needs to be made of the person or manufacturer who allowed faulty equipment to be used.
For these reasons, a sports injury claim is a wholly appropriate recourse for an injury victim, and it is not one which should be viewed as having a stigma attached to it.
There are other occasions in which an accident can occur in the sporting arena that can lead to a just and fair compensation claim. A spectator, for example, viewing his local team, can rightfully expect that the stadium and the facilities meet health and safety standards.
Accidents can occur if they seating or shelter is inadequate, or if poor lighting or conditions lead to a slip or fall.
If this happens, and the spectator is hurt as a result in a manner that leaves him unable to work and earn money, then it is perfectly fair that they receive a just amount of compensation to enable them to cope with a situation caused by someone else's carelessness or ineptitude.
Similarly, organisers of spectator sports have a responsibility to ensure appropriate levels of crowd control and safety. Failure to do so can lead to horrific situations and anyone who does not take these responsibilities seriously should rightly face a personal injury claim.
If you suffer a sports injury through participating in or watching sports, you may need a significant amount of time to recover. You could lose out on earnings and even become permanently disabled as a result of your injury.
In cases of serious injury through sport, it is vital that victims receive the type of support they need to recover, and sometimes making a sports injury claim is the best way to do that.
The National Accident Helpline are specialists in sporting accidents and sports accident claims. Our specialist solicitors help victims of accidents make an accident claim for their personal injury.This article is free for republishing
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Tags: excuse, spectator, recourse, sports injury, accidents, health benefits, health and safety standards, health and safety, compensation claim, stigma, poor lighting, injury victim, faulty equipment, local team, rough and tumble