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There has been growing concern about the rise of sport-related incidents causing injuries. The problem affects everyone engaging in sports activities.
According to the National Safety Council, there are more injuries from exercise than in any other sport. This figure is followed closely by bicycling, then basketball and football coming in third and fourth, respectively.
Those who experienced sporting incidents and injuries in Jersey County should speak with an attorney about legal options for compensation. A knowledgeable lawyer could advise you on what may be possible in your situation.
Types of Sporting Injuries
There are many injuries you can get from various sports activities. These injuries produce different symptoms and complications. The most common injuries include:
Sprains
Sprains are a result of overstretching and tearing ligaments. It most commonly affects ankle joints.
Strains
Strains are a result of overstretching or tearing muscles or tendons. Tendons are tissues that connect bones and muscles. Strains most commonly affect the hamstring muscle, groin, and lower back.
Swollen Muscles
Muscles naturally swell when they are injured. The swelling usually causes pain and leaves muscles weak.
Fractured Bones
Also known as broken bones.
Dislocations
A dislocation happens when you force a bone out of its socket. Dislocated joints leave you feeling weak and are painful. They also tend to cause a lot of swelling.
Achilles Tendon Rapture
The Achilles tendon, named for the Greek hero Achilles, is located at the back of your ankle. This tendon can break or rupture during some physical exertion causing severe pain.
Knee Injuries
There are several different kinds of knee injuries that sporting activities can cause. The most common is an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury where the ligament tears from the bone with differing severity. ACL injuries are painful and make walking difficult.
Concussion
A concussion is a mild reversible brain injury you get from blows to the head. Symptoms of a concussion include headaches, dizziness, and short-term memory loss. You may also lose consciousness when you receive the injury.
Dehydration
If you do not take in enough water while performing physical activities, you are likely to experience dehydration. Dehydration can lead to heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
Child Sport Injuries
While it is difficult to avoid any injuries from sports, a lot of effort has gone to making many sports safe for minors and children.
These efforts aren’t always successful as more than 3.5 million children under fourteen years visit hospitals for sports-related injuries each year.
Children experience traumatic brain injuries and overuse injuries from participating in sports. Most sports-related injuries occur during practice rather than at games.
Causes of Child Sports Injuries
Most child sport injury cases involve improper or inadequate supervision and defective sports equipment.
Inadequate supervision is when an adult fails to recognize injuries or does not allow proper rest time.
Defective equipment can lead to injuries like concussions if head protection gear is ineffective. If other protective gear is old, oversized, or undersized, it may provide inadequate protection. Even defective baseball bats and other sporting goods can cause injuries when they fail.
Illinois Laws on Sports Injuries
Illinois follows the assumption of risk doctrine when evaluating sports-related injury cases. This doctrine dictates that someone participating in a sport understands some risk of injury is present and determines the point where the assumed risk of injury is.
Express assumption of risk comes into play when there is an agreement in advance that an injury sustained while participating is not subject to damages.
Implied assumption of risk states that the party knew of the risk and still chose to participate even with no agreement about damages in place.
These two assumptions of risk also apply to spectators who put themselves in harm’s way.
Illinois courts also use the comparative risk standard, which evaluates how much fault each party had in causing the injury. If the plaintiff is more than 50% responsible, they will not receive compensation.
What Legal Action Can You Take for Sporting Injuries in Jersey County?
If you or your child are injured while participating in a sport and you believe negligence led to the injury, contact a reputable injury attorney to help manage the lawsuit. A lawyer is best suited to navigate the complex legal systems governing injury lawsuits. They can also improve your chances of receiving compensation. To further discuss sporting incidents and injuries in Jersey County, call today.
