Who is legally liable for injuries in amateur sports games?

Everybody knows that there are inherent risks of injury in all contact sports and the players generally assume the risk of injury when they choose to participate in that sports activity.  Players, team coaches, and associated educational facilities or other team owners or financial supporters are not responsible to try to protect the players from inherent risks of participating in a sport activity.

Sports Related Spinal Cord Injury: Who's Responsible?

The bad news is that in many instances where there has been a severe sports team related injury it may be that nobody is going to be held liable or responsible even for a spinal cord injury.  There would be exceptions to that general rule indicating negligence on the part of others such as where a coach clearly failed to require the players to wear required protective gear while playing a sport or where a coach allowed team members to break the rules of the game without penalty putting the players at risk for injury.  Participants in a game are not allowed to freely increase the inherent risk of injury to others playing the game by engaging in reckless conduct or barred conduct for that particular sport.  Players do not assume the risk the players will engage in conduct that places them at risk for injury above the inherently involved in participation in that sport.

Getting Legal Help

If you or a member of your family has been injured by participation in a team sport and you are not clear as to whether or not someone should be held liable for the injury it is important to discuss the circumstances of the injury with a personal injury lawyer to determine if a recovery lawsuit is indicated.