Child & Adolescent Sports Injuries
Sports are a great way for children to stay active and healthy as they develop important life skills, such as teamwork. Unfortunately, any type of physical activity also carries with it the risk of injury. This is true particularly for contact sports such as football, basketball, soccer, or hockey. Sports injuries often result in significant medical expenses and rehabilitation costs, not to mention pain and suffering.
If you are a parent whose child has been injured while playing sports, you may wonder how to meet your expenses, and who can be held accountable for the damages and losses. The skilled personal injury lawyers at Crowe Arnold & Majors, LLP can help evaluate your claim and maximize your chances of securing fair and full compensation for your losses. Contact us today at (214) 231-0555.
Child Injury Rates in Sports
About 30 million children and teenagers participate in organized sports in the United States. About 3 million of them are injured each year. Nearly one-third of all injuries suffered by children are sports-related injuries. A twisted ankle or a sprained knee is common on the playground or athletic field. However, some sports are more dangerous than others. For example, a child who is in football is more likely to suffer injuries than a child who is in a non-contact sport like swimming.
Here are a few numbers from the National Safe Kids Campaign and the American Academy of Pediatrics, which show just prevalent child sports injuries are in the U.S.:
- The leading cause of death from playing sports is a traumatic brain injury.
- More than 775,000 children (aged 14 and under) are treated in hospital emergency rooms for sports-related injuries each year.
- Children between 5 and 14 account for 40 percent of sports-related injuries for all age groups.
- Approximately 20 percent of children participating in sports activities are injured each year, and one in four injuries is considered serious.
Common Sports-Related Injuries
Here are some of the most common injuries children sustain while playing sports:
- Sprains and strains
- Concussions
- Broken bones or fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Heat stroke
Understanding Your Rights After a Sports Injury
If your child’s sports injury occurred during the normal course of activity they were engaged in, a principle in personal injury law called “assumption of the risk” could make it challenging for you to hold someone accountable. “Assumption of the risk” states that willing participants in a sport usually assume certain dangers that come with playing that sport. However, if the injury occurred as the result of an intentional act by another player, then you may be able to file a lawsuit against the at-fault parties involved, including the school district and/or sports league that was involved.
You may also be able to hold the coach responsible for using poor judgment or making a decision that caused or contributed to your child’s injury. Or, if your child’s injury was caused by a poorly maintained athletic facility, then the owner and/or manager of the facility or sports complex can also be held liable.
Injured victims can seek compensation for damages, including all medical expenses, hospitalization costs, expenses related to physical therapy, cost of medication, medical equipment, etc.
Contact Us
If your child has been injured while playing sports, call the Dallas child injury lawyers at Crowe Arnold & Majors, LLP. For a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation, call us at (214) 231-0555.
