Injuries in the middle of a game, regardless of the sport, are terrible not only because they hurt physically, but also because if the injury is severe enough, you will have to miss the game to go to the hospital. Visitors have a legal right to expect a reasonable level of safety and security from sports property owners and venue operators. If you are harmed as a result of a stadium owner’s or sports facility’s failure to keep spectators safe, you can file a premises liability case to hold them accountable for your losses.
Two types of injuries occur at stadiums and sporting venues: 1) common premises liability accidents include slips and trips, and 2) injuries that occur when a spectator at a sporting event is struck by a ball or puck. Let us look at the legal liability in both cases.
Slip and Fall at the Stadium
Owners of stadiums and venues have a legal obligation to maintain their premises safe from known threats. Because of the enormous number of viewers, entertainment and athletic events pose special obstacles. Managers should examine their property regularly for risks that might affect the public, such as:
- Inadequate lighting
- Seats or stairwells are broken
- Whether it’s leaking pipes or flooded flooring,
- Handrails or safety banisters are missing.
You must be able to establish that the owner of a stadium or sports facility was negligent to win a premises liability lawsuit against them (i.e., that the owner did something wrong).
The fact that you slipped and fell does not prove that the owner was careless. Furthermore, just because the surface was slick does not indicate the owner was careless. It has to be very slick on the floor. Then, to show that the stadium owner was negligent, you must show that the owner knew or should have known that the floor was excessively slippery and failed to take anything to remedy the situation.
Injuries When Hit by a Ball or Puck
When you turn over your sports ticket, you’ll see a paragraph or two of legal terminology written in very small font. This is the stadium owner’s effort to relieve themselves of any legal obligation for any injury sustained by visitors to the venue. Balls, pucks, and even players leave the field of play on occasion. The balls or pucks may be moving at great speeds, and the fan takes the risk of injury from balls/ pucks/players that leave the field of play.
This is a far more difficult area of liability law to navigate. Establishing culpability in these circumstances frequently demands the assistance of a personal injury lawyer, since there is a good chance that your premises liability claim will be refused because you “assumed the risk” when you purchased the ticket and/or entered the venue.
Injuries at an arena are handled on a case-by-case basis. If you were injured at a sports arena, it is best to consult a personal injury lawyer at Autrey Law Firm. We have a team of experienced and knowledgeable attorneys who will give you the right legal advice.
