Compensation for Sports and Recreation Injuries
Wondering how compensation works for sports and recreation injuries? Depending on the nature of the case, the injured party may or may not be eligible for compensation.
If you are injured while participating in a recreational activity or sport and the injury is received in the regular course of playing the game, you are not eligible for compensation. However, if the injury is not a result of typical gameplay but of negligence of another person or of the facility, league, organization or coaches in charge of the activity, you may be entitled to compensation.
When Does a Sports Injury Get Compensated?
If you can prove that the party responsible for your injury did not take reasonable care or behaved unreasonably, you may be eligible for financial compensation, even if you signed a liability waiver.
Sports and recreation injuries commonly occur as a result of:
- Soccer
- Hockey
- Football
- Skateboarding
- Snowboarding
- Skiing
- Snowmobiling
- Cycling
- Horseback riding
- Playground
Assumption of Risk
The term “assumption of risk” refers to the participant’s assumed risk that they take on when they decide to participate in a potentially dangerous activity or sport. In some cases, a person expressly acknowledges risk by signing a written liability waiver that clearly lays out any potential risks. In British Columbia, a person must be at least 19 years of age in order to sign a liability waiver.
In other cases, risk is simply implied and a waiver is not signed. This means that if the risk involved was abundantly clear and the injured party was aware of the risks, they are liable for their own injury. However, if the injury was the result of negligence or recklessness on the part of the facility, sports league, or coach, the injured party may be owed compensation.
Can a Personal Injury Lawyer Help?
If you have been injured while participating in sports or a recreation activity and believe that you may have a case against another party, contact a personal injury lawyer right away to determine whether or not you have a case. At Hoogbruin & Company, our team of lawyers have extensive experience with sports and recreation injury cases and can help you pursue the best possible outcome. We are dedicated to serving our clients and will do everything in our power to get you the compensation that you deserve. Get in touch today for a consultation.