Child Sports-Related Injury Attorneys Mercer and Middlesex County NJ

Personal Injury Attorneys serving parents of Children Injured in Sports-Related Activities with offices in Hamilton and Bensalem

Child Sports Related Injury Attorneys Mercer and Middlesex County NJChildren participate in more sports activities than ever before and injuries resulting from sports are becoming more common.  Safekids.org, an organization that reports children’s injuries, estimates that 3.5 million children ages 14 and under, receive medical treatment for sports injuries each year. In 2010 (the most recent study), approximately 500,000 children were treated in emergency rooms for injuries related to football and basketball alone.  Sometimes, the injuries could have been avoided.  If you or a loved one has been injured in a sporting activity, you may be entitled to compensation.

Injuries from sports-statistics

In today’s modern world, there are many different types of sports in which children may participate. Almost anything a child would want to try is available no matter where you live, and many parents strive to provide their children with the experience of participating in a sport of their choosing.  It is likely that due to the number of available activities, there is an increase in sports-related injuries.  Safekids.org reports that the Consumer Product Safety Commission found the following statistics regarding sporting injuries in:

  • Basketball: 170,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in the emergency room for basketball-related injuries;
  • Baseball and softball: 110,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in emergency rooms for baseball-related injuries. It is reported that baseball has the highest rate of death for children ages 5-14.  Approximately 3-4 children die each year from baseball injuries;
  • Football: 215,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in emergency rooms for football-related injuries;
  • Ice hockey: 20,000 children ages 5 to 14 seek treatment in emergency rooms for hockey-related injuries;
  • Snow skiing or snowboarding: 25,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for snowboarding and snow skiing-related injuries;
  • Soccer: 88,000 children ages 5 to 14 were treated in emergency rooms for soccer-related injuries.

The above statistics represent only a small portion of injuries related to sports. Other sports include gymnastics, rollerskating, skateboarding, karate, volleyball, and tennis.  A child can be injured in almost any sport and filing a lawsuit in New Jersey is possible, but the proof needed to sustain a claim is more than mere negligence.

NJ Law on Sports Injuries and Negligence

There are different ways a person can be injured during a sporting event or practice.  Often, children are required to use certain equipment when engaging in the activity.  For example, in baseball, football, or hockey, the player is required to wear a helmet.  In some cases, the helmet may fail due to a manufacturing defect.  In those cases, a manufacturer may be sued for breaching their duty of care in producing a defective product.  However, not all injuries are due to product defects.  Some injuries are caused by the acts of others.

NJ Laws on Sports Injuries and NegligenceNew Jersey will not permit a legal claim based upon general theories of negligence.  In most other injury cases, the injured party must prove that his or her injury was caused by the negligence of another person.  In sports-related injuries, the injured party must prove that the injury was caused by an intentional or reckless act of another.

For example, if your child was injured in football after being tackled during the game, the person who injured him would not be found liable.  Tackling is part of football and is an expected act, necessary in playing the game.  However, if your child was standing on the field, waiting to start, and another person ran up behind him and blindsided him with a tackle, breaking his leg, he may be liable. This could be considered an intentional act not consistent with playing the game.  It can be difficult to discern what is reckless, as opposed to negligent conduct, without the help of an experienced attorney.

Contact Our Trenton and Bensalem Sports-Related Injuries Accidents Lawyers

Our attorneys have experience in personal injury matters and we are familiar with different fact patterns constituting negligence, recklessness, or intentional acts.  Sports injury lawsuits are one of the most difficult to prosecute. That is because it is hard proving that someone injured you outside of the assumed risk of the sport.

Our Sports Injury Lawyers at CR have years of experience handling these types of cases. We fight aggressively for your right to compensation. After all, just because your children play a sport does not mean that others have the right to act negligently.

Contact us today to get started with your personal injury claim. Get started by calling (609) 528-2596 or checking our website to schedule your consultation today.