Sports Injury Lawyer
Consistently ranked as a Top 10 Personal Injury Law Firm in Ontario by Canadian Lawyer Magazine.
If you have been incurred a sports injury, it’s crucial to understand your rights and the legal options available to you. At Bergeron Clifford, we are a trusted and experienced personal injury firm specializing in accident cases. We help accident victims navigate the complexities of their claims and seek the fair compensation they deserve. In the aftermath of an injury, seeking immediate medical attention for your physical and mental health is essential. If you are considering pursuing a lawsuit regarding your accident, our lawyers are here to guide you through the next steps and provide valuable insight into the legal options available to you.
Pursuing Compensation for a Sports Injury
If you are injured in a sports accident, it is possible to recover fair compensation that can help to pay your medical bills and potentially replace your lost income. Even if your child was injured as a result of sports, there can be compensation available to them to help aid in their recovery. It may be in your best interest to speak with our team of experienced sports injury lawyers to determine whether the circumstances of your or a loved one’s injury warrant legal action.
How to Determine Liability for a Sports Injury
In 2022, there were more than 6,000 people hospitalized in Ontario as a result of sports injuries. It is important to note that when you agree to participate in any kind of sport, you are also assuming the risk that you could be injured. As a result, many athletes and individuals believe that when they get hurt, it is simply a part of the game. However, someone else could be liable for what happened to them. Liability for a sports injury may fall on the following parties:
Equipment Manufacturers
Sports equipment needs to meet stringent quality control standards. Companies that produce sports equipment routinely test their products to ensure they are safe, but sometimes a piece of equipment could be defective. When playing a contact sport with faulty equipment, you may be more severely injured than if the equipment worked properly. In some instances, the defect could be why you’ve been injured.
Coaching Staff
Your coaches are entrusted to teach you the proper techniques of any sport and to guide you as you train to compete. They are instrumental in ensuring you have the right gear to perform and follow a dedicated training program to help you reach pinnacle condition. Coaches may make choices for you that are not in your best interest and could be held liable if you are injured due to their decisions.
Other Players
The intention of other players on the field can go a long way toward proving potential negligence. If it is evident that another player went out of their way to hit you, trip you, or cause harm to remove you from the game, you could hold them accountable for their reckless actions.
Practice and Game Facilities
You have the right to practice and perform at safe venues. It is up to the owners of sports facilities to repair any ground damage that could cause sports injuries. A common example is when the field is poorly maintained, and athletes suffer injuries because they run over uneven patches of grass that could have been filled in before a game.
What to Know About Waivers and Release Forms
Many sports organizations require athletes to sign waivers or release forms that can make it difficult for them to be held liable for any injuries on their property or through their programs. Even if you signed one of these forms, they cannot legally exclude negligence, which means you can still bring forth a lawsuit if you can prove that someone breached their reasonable duty of care before you got hurt.
How a Sports Injury Can End a Career
If you earn a living by playing sports, a single injury can end your season or keep you from ever returning to the game you love again. While acute injuries happen suddenly, chronic injuries occur over time, limiting your range of motion.1 Ultimately, either type of injury may force you to leave the sport and cause you to sacrifice your potential future income. In some cases, you may need several healthcare professionals working together to help put you on the right road to recovery.2 Many athletes may force themselves to return to play, causing further harm to their health in the process.3 Others leave their careers because they cannot return to their previous physical condition following an injury.
In some cases, you may need several healthcare professionals working together to help put you on the right road to recovery.2 Many athletes may force themselves to return to play, causing further harm to their health in the process.3 Others leave their careers because they cannot return to their previous physical condition following an injury.
Understanding the Impact of Sports Injury Accidents
How Our Lawyers Can Help
Our dedicated team understands the physical, emotional, and financial toll that a sports injury can have on individuals and their families. We are committed to providing compassionate and skilled legal representation to help you navigate through the complex process of an injury claim. Here’s how our lawyers can assist you:
If you find yourself grappling with the aftermath of a sports-related injury caused by another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to financial recompense to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and the emotional toll of pain and suffering.
At our firm, we understand the physical, emotional, and financial burdens that accompany sports injuries, and we are committed to advocating on your behalf. Our experienced lawyers stand ready to provide you with expert guidance and representation, ensuring that your rights are protected and your best interests are served.
Contact Us Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident in Ottawa, our team at Bergeron Clifford is ready to help you through this difficult time and fight for your rights. We offer compassionate and skilled legal services to ensure you receive the fair compensation you deserve.
Time is of the essence when it comes to pursuing a personal injury claim following a motor vehicle accident. That’s why we are committed to providing you with the information you need to make informed decisions about your case. For more information on our services, please contact us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Navigating life after an injury of any kind can be challenging. This is only added to the fact if the accident resulted from someone else’s negligence. Our sports injury lawyers provide invaluable assistance by guiding you through the legal process with expertise and compassion. We assess your case thoroughly, gathering evidence and advocating on your behalf to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
Negligence in a sports injury case refers to any failure to exercise reasonable care that results in harm to another person. This could include reckless behaviour, inadequate supervision, or failure to maintain safe conditions. Our experienced lawyers will evaluate the circumstances of your injury to determine if negligence played a role in your case.
The statute of limitations for filing a sports injury claim varies depending on your location and the specifics of your case. It is crucial to act swiftly to preserve your legal rights. Our compassionate team can provide you with the guidance you need to navigate these time constraints effectively.
While some cases may require litigation, many are resolved through negotiation or alternative dispute resolution methods. Our goal is to achieve a fair settlement without needing a trial; however, we prepare all cases for this proceeding to ensure our clients have the best options available to them. If litigation becomes necessary, rest assured that our team will provide dedicated representation every step of the way.
We understand that financial concerns can add stress to an already challenging situation. That is why we offer our services on a contingency fee basis, meaning you only pay if we win your case. This allows you to pursue the compensation you deserve without worrying about upfront legal fees.
Sources
1. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. 2018. “NIAMS Health Information on Sports Injuries.” National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. October 19, 2018.https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sports-injuries 2. Nancy Garrick, Deputy Director. 2017. “Sports Injuries.” National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. April 5, 2017. https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sports-injuries/diagnosis-treatment-and-steps-to-take. 3. Mayer, Jochen, Stephanie Burgess, and Ansgar Thiel. 2020. “Return-To-Play Decision Making in Team Sports Athletes. A Quasi-Naturalistic Scenario Study.” Frontiers in Psychology 11 (June). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01020.
