PORTLAND SPORTS
INJURY ATTORNEY

We Handle Sports Injury Claims in Portland and Throughout Oregon

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Thousands of people in the Portland, Oregon area enjoy participating in sports on a regular basis, both for recreation and exercise. Additionally, for many young people, organized sports are an excellent way to stay active and learn important lessons about discipline and teamwork. While participation in athletic events undoubtedly has significant benefits, it also exposes athletes to a significant risk of injury. Fortunately for victims, in some cases, victims of sports injuries are able to recover compensation for their losses, including their medical expenses, lost income, loss of quality of life, and physical and emotional pain and suffering.

Choosing to Participate in 
Sports Involves Assumption of Some Risk

Under a legal doctrine known as “assumption of the risk”, people who participate in sports are unable to recover for injuries that occur as a result of the way the game is generally played. For many people, this makes intuitive sense – a football player who suffers a sprained ankle when he or she is tackled cannot turn around and sue for damages, as it is simply part of the game. By voluntarily agreeing to play a sport, a participant assumes the risks inherent in that activity.

When Can An
Injured Athlete Recover?

There are some cases in which people who are injured in sports injuries can recover, however. Some of the more common circumstances in which this is the case include the following:

• Injuries caused by defective equipment: In some cases, sports injuries may be caused by equipment that is defectively designed, manufactured, or marketed. Common examples of the kinds of sports equipment that, if defective, could cause injury include helmets, pads, skates, baseball bats, hockey sticks, shoes, or boating equipment.
• Injuries caused by negligent premises maintenance:  Another common source of accidental injury in sports that may be legally actionable is the failure of a party to adequately maintain the field or area in which an athletic activity occurs. Examples of these kinds of cases could involve issues such as goal posts that are not properly secured on a football field or liquid spills that are not cleaned within a reasonable amount of time on a basketball court.
• Injuries caused by negligent coaching: Coaches have a duty to provide their players with adequate guidance and training and also to not put them in a situation for which they are not prepared in regard to their current level of skill and experience. When coaches fail to meet this duty, often they or their employer can be held liable for any injuries that occur as a result.
• The intentional or reckless acts of another player:  While not a sports “accident,” another situation in which injured athletes may be able to recover is when their injury is caused by the intentional acts of another participant, such as if a player assaulted another player. Relatedly, some courts allow sports participants to recover if the actions of the other player were reckless and outside of the ordinary way in which the sport is played.

Don’t miss out on these common personal injury mistakes.

Get the legal counsel you need to guide you through the process of filing an injury claim.

Common Injuries Sustained
in Sports Accidents

Individuals who are injured while playing sports often sustain extremely serious injuries. Some of the more common include the following:

• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• Bruises
• Sprains
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Strains
• Spinal cord injuries
• Amputations
• Concussions
• Dislocations
• Muscle tears
• Nerve damage

After a sports injury, it is critical for victims to seek medical attention as soon as possible. In many cases, the true extent of an injury is unclear until hours or days after it has occurred, and it is best to start treatment as soon as possible. In addition, undergoing a thorough medical evaluation conducted by a medical professional will result in the generation of an official record that can help establish damages and the fact that your injuries were sustained during the athletic activity at issue in the event that your case becomes contested.