Sports and recreational activities are a part of many people’s lives in the US. Even though there are many benefits to playing contact sports, such as camaraderie and competition, there is also an increased risk of sustaining a brain injury. On average, over 283,000 victims under the age of 18 required emergency room care per year as a result of recreation–related traumatic brain injuries.
The lawyers at Goza & Honnold understand there may be an individual or organization at fault for failing to uphold a standard of care on the field or in manufacturing equipment for safety. Determining liability may be challenging without the help of a personal injury lawyer on your side. We have been awarded numerous litigation and trial awards, recovering millions for personal injury victims locally and nationally.
Liability for a Sports Brain Injury in Missouri
Depending on the circumstances of your sports-related accident that led to a brain injury, there may be one or multiple parties responsible for injury-related losses you sustained.
The following individuals may be determined to be liable for a sports brain injury upon a comprehensive investigation into the accident:
Coaches
Coaches may be held liable for sports brain injuries, especially if the player has had a history of suffering brain injuries in the past. In some cases, coaches ignore their prior medical history and put them in a game that can cause serious physical harm.
For example, a coach would potentially be liable if a player suffered a recent concussion and is not cleared to play, but was put in the game anyway and the player then suffered a second concussion, resulting in a TBI injury.
Coaches may also be found liable for a brain injury when they put players at unnecessary risk without proper warning or have a blatant disregard for the regulations governing the sport.
Sports Equipment Manufacturers
Sports equipment manufacturers may be held liable for brain injuries if their head gears are defective in protecting the head and brain during contact sports games such as football, lacrosse, or hockey. This may include initial injuries sustained during sports games or worsening injuries due to defective design.
For example, a snowboard gear manufacturer may produce a helmet that does not meet regulatory safety standards for impact. Even if a snowboarder wears it correctly, they may suffer a sports brain injury in the event of a crash.
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Property Owners or Event Organizers
Venue or property owners may be held liable if they failed to provide a safe environment for athletes to play. Other aspects that may determine venue liability include failing to provide qualified staff, emergency response plans, or upkeep of the facility to a reasonable degree. With an investigation into the sports accident, a premises liability lawyer may help build a claim to determine responsibility for brain injuries sustained on the venue or property.
Event organizers may also be deemed liable if they do not adequately warn athletes of risk or do not provide a medical response plan in the event of an accident. Schools, sports leagues, or referee staff may also be held liable in certain instances.
Medical Professionals
Medical professionals may be held liable for sports brain injuries in instances of improper response to the injury. Wrongful diagnosis, misdiagnosis, or medical malpractice may cause a brain injury to worsen.
If another medical professional of the same skill and training would have acted differently to respond to the sports brain injury that may have prevented further injury or other losses, a medical malpractice lawyer may demonstrate they failed to uphold a standard of medical care.
Teammates or Other Athletes
If another teammate or athlete acted maliciously, outside of the reasonable scope of conduct while playing, they may be held liable for a sports brain injury. For example, if a hockey player strikes you in the back of the head with the hockey stick, causing you to suffer a severe concussion, they may be liable for sports brain injury-related damages.
Speak With the Missouri Sports Brain Injury Lawyers at Goza & Honnold
Sports brain injuries may have lasting consequences on your physical, emotional, and financial well-being. If you suffered a sports brain injury because of someone else’s negligence, you may be eligible to seek compensatory damages in a personal injury claim. The lawyers at Goza & Honnold work tirelessly to investigate your sports accident to obtain the evidence necessary to prove liability.
To schedule a no-cost consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys, fill out a contact form or call our office at (913) 451-3433.