New York Sports Injuries

When a professional football player gets carted off the field during a Sunday night game or a star basketball player limps off the court during a nationally televised game, seemingly every type of media reports the incident. However, injuries to professional athletes are only a small portion of the sports-related injuries suffered by millions of athletes, students and casual participants each year in the United States. While many of these injuries are minor, many are quite serious. Such serious injuries include spinal cord injuries. A spinal cord injury is an injury that cuts, bruises or causes any type of trauma to the bones or nerves that are part of the spinal cord. While the most common cause of a spinal cord injury is car accident, spinal cord injuries also happen to those participating in individual and team sports. Statistically, the highest injury rates are reported in sports that involve contact such as soccer, football, basketball and rugby. However, serious injuries are common to athletes involved in other sports such as baseball and cheerleading. A serious spinal cord injury could dramatically affect the victim’s life. For example, a complete injury to the spinal cord will result in permanent paralysis to some part of the body. If you or a family member suffered a spinal cord injury in a sports-related accident, it is important that you contact an experienced New York Sports Injuries Lawyer as you may have the right to compensation for medical costs, lost income, and pain and suffering through a personal injury claim.

Depending on the type of sport, there are many things that could go wrong and result in an athlete or participant suffering a serious injury such as a spinal cord injury. Examples of common causes of sports injuries include:

• Improper padding or inadequate helmets that result in injuries to the head, neck or back, causing trauma to the spinal cord
• Inadequate training of a coach. If a coach sends an injured player back into a game when the player needed additional medical attention, that player’s injury could become worse.
• Poorly trained coaches or teachers who require athletes, students or participants to do more than they are capable of doing, resulting a serious injury

There are many types of spinal cord injuries that can result from a sports-related incident including paraplegia, quadriplegia, anterior cord syndrome, and posterior cord syndrome. While some spinal cord injuries cause paralysis, paralysis is not the only symptom of an injury to the spinal cord. Other symptoms include:

• Pressure or pain in the back, head or neck
• Poor coordination
• Difficulty walking
• Tingling or numbness in the hands, fingers, feet or toes
• Bladder or bowel problems
• Difficulty in breathing
• Muscle spasticity

Victims of spinal cord injuries face significant medical expenses including fees associated with emergency room treatment, the hospital stay, treatment by doctors, physical therapy, assistive equipment, and medication. To make matters worse, while you are recovering you will not be able to work and earn an income to pay for your medical expenses and support your family.

Fortunately, if your spinal cord injury was due to the accidental or intentional act of another person, under New York law you have the right to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim. You may be able to recover both past and future medical expenses including hospital bills, expenses for surgery, rehabilitation fees, and fees for prescription medication. You may also be able to recover the cost of assistive equipment such as a wheelchair as well as modifications to your home to make it accessible. Furthermore, you may be able to recover both lost wages, loss of future earning capacity and pain and suffering.

Nowadays, before participating in almost any type of sports activity, athletes are required to sign release forms that purport to release the governing body of the team of legal liability in the event of an injury. Such forms are also common when people use the equipment and facilities at ski resorts, beaches, and bike tracks. However, such forms are not legally binding in all cases. For example, if the terms of the release are unfair or if the actions of the company were grossly negligent or reckless, then the company may still be legally liable for damages.

If you suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of participating in a sporting activities, contact our legal team as it is important you speak with an experienced attorney who understands both the legal issues associated with personal injury cases as well as the medical issues associated with spinal cord injuries and other serious injuries such as a brain injury. That staff at Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC is experienced in representing clients who have suffered sports injuries as well as those injured in car accidents, in construction accidents, as well as in other types of accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case.