When you step onto someone else’s property, there should be some assumption that it is safe. This applies to a stadium where a sports event is being held too. There are some assumed risks when you attend a baseball or hockey game, but the venue itself should still be relatively safe and free from obvious hazards. If the people in charge of monitoring the property are not keeping it safe, then you may want to talk to our New Jersey premises liability lawyers.
What Are “Assumed Risks” at a Sports Event?
Some people do not think they can sue over injuries at sports events because tickets to such events usually include some kind of waiver. These waivers say that you are assuming risks just by coming to the event, so you should not be able to sue. However, these types of waivers are often difficult to enforce.
Also, there are differences between “assumed risks” and negligent behavior that leads to an injury. A good example of an assumed risk is potentially getting hit by a puck or game ball. If you sit in an area that is not directly protected by netting, plastic, or a barrier of some sort, you accept the possibility that some object might fly in your direction.
What Kinds of Injuries Are Common at a Sports Event?
There are plenty of injuries that can happen at sports events that are not assumed risks though. There are injuries that can happen due to negligence on the part of whoever is tasked with caring for the venue and keeping occupants safe. Flying bats, balls, or sticks are one thing, but these other types of hazards should be addressed before they can hurt someone:
- Leaking pipes
- Poor lighting
- Broken handrails or bannisters
- Damaged seating
- Poorly maintained walkways or parking lots
- Rowdy and/or inebriated fans who could hurt other attendees
If you or a loved one were injured by one of the above hazards or something like it, then you may be entitled to compensation.
Do I Need to Hire a Lawyer?
You are not required to hire a lawyer, but one can do a lot to help you with your case. A seasoned personal injury lawyer from our firm can:
- Gather evidence needed to make your case
- Talk to people who witnessed the accident that harmed you or your loved one
- Field settlement offers and calculate fair compensation
- Answer any questions that you have
- Hold all liable parties accountable
The venue owners and other parties involved are sure to have lawyers on their side. Make sure that you even the playing field a bit.
Talk to Our Legal Team
When you are ready to move forward with your personal injury suit, contact Rubenstein, Berliner & Shinrod, LLC. We can schedule a consultation and tell you more about our experience with premises liability cases.
