Steps to Take After a Sports Injury

Everyone should be doing sport, at least occasionally. It’s not only a lot of fun and a great way to get the exercise you need to live a long and healthy life. However, they come with risks. If you play sport for long enough, whether that’s gymnastics, rugby, or surfing, then an injury becomes increasingly likely.

What would you do if you got injured and believed you were entitled to compensation? It’s important to act quickly but carefully to ensure that you take the right steps at the right time. Work on understanding your rights, building your case, and using the support of legal experts to help you achieve a fair outcome. Below, you can learn more about the three steps to take immediately after experiencing a sports injury.

Check What Contracts You Have Signed

Before you participate in any sporting activity, there’s a good chance that you will have signed a contract. This could be the contract to join a soccer team, rent a mountain bike, or access a public swimming pool. However, the paperwork you sign may actually be a waiver, agreeing to take responsibility for a certain amount of risk.

If an injury does occur, then you need to read over these contracts carefully. Check whether the agreement covers the nature of your injury. This will usually be the case if the injury is something to have been expected given the activity and if it is relatively minor. Remember: signing a waiver doesn’t mean you can’t sue. Check the paperwork and find out where you stand.

Consider Your Defence 

If you believe that you have a case, then it’s time to start to begin thinking about a potential defense. While studying the contract, did you see where the establishment was legally obligated to accept the risk? If so, this is where you can begin making your argument. Think about the activity and how the injury you sustained was outside of what might be expected.

You need to prove that this injury wasn’t your fault. For example, was it a faulty piece of equipment or poorly marked hazards? These are all examples of evidence you could use to claim negligence or malpractice. After this, you also need to consider the costs to you. What have you suffered both financially and in terms of being able to live a full and happy life?

Reach Out to a Lawyer

Studying the contract and figuring out your case is something that you’ll need to spend time on. However, you never have to feel alone. Make sure that you’re represented by a lawyer every step of the way. Find someone reputable and experienced to give yourself the best chance of winning the case.

Don’t just reach out to any lawyer, though. You need to contact and hire a sports injury attorney. They’ll be specialized in cases like yours, meaning that they fully understand the law and how best to represent you in court. Hopefully, it won’t even go that far because the defendant will realize they have no excuse and will settle outside of court.

No one should have to experience the pain and fear of a bad sports injury. But, if it’s happened to you, think about how you might receive some compensation to make the healing process a little easier. The three steps above are essential if you’ve been injured and believe you have a case to argue. But, in the end, if you’re in the right in this kind of situation - and take the time to put your case forward - you should receive a fair outcome that you can be satisfied with.