Can I File a Lawsuit if My Child is Injured on a Poorly Maintained Soccer Field?

 Posted on May 09, 2023 in Personal Injury

Sports activities are important to keep kids healthy and for them to learn about teamwork. However, sports injuries are a reality. In California, when you play sports you are required to sign a waiver thereby assuming the risk of harm. So, if your child is injured while playing soccer you cannot sue the company or the player responsible. But what if the soccer field has gopher holes that can easily twist a player’s ankle or snap a knee? A recent study found that a top reason for soccer player injuries is inadequate sports facilities with soccer athletes suffering the highest rate of injuries. If you have suffered a personal injury due to an improperly maintained field you may have a premises liability case and Tahmazian Law Firm, P.C. can help.

School Fields

A school has a duty of care to provide athletes with well-maintained facilities. If a soccer field has any holes in the field that could cause an athlete to trip or worse, break an ankle, it is the obligation of the school to quickly fill those holes. Premises liability laws apply to property owners, business owners, and public parks. The laws are in place so that owners adhere to a legal duty of care and ensure that the premises are safe.

Park Fields and Who Bears Responsibility?

When it comes to public parks it is the responsibility of federal, state, and local government officials to properly maintain those parks depending on who has jurisdiction, to ensure the safety of public park visitors. When a government agency fails to uphold its responsibility to keep park visitors safe, it may be considered negligent. If injuries occur, you may receive compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. You will need to file a claim which can be complicated without the proper legal guidance. Government entities may be entitled to immunity from lawsuits unless certain procedures are followed. Some legal steps must first be taken.

Then you will have to demonstrate that the injury resulted from negligence. In other words, you will have to show that the person or entity in charge of the park knew or should have known about a hazard and did nothing to protect you from it.

Statute of Limitations

If you were busy dealing with the injury of your child, chances are you have not had time to grasp the legal options at your reach. But as medical bills continue to mount you may reconsider things and realize that you should pursue legal action against those responsible for maintaining the soccer field that caused serious injury to your child. The personal injury statute of limitations in California is two years. This means that you have two years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit. The statute of limitations begins to run on the date your child was injured so it is imperative that you act now.

Contact a California Premises Liability Injury Lawyer

If your child has been injured as a result of a poorly maintained field, call an experienced Los Angeles premises liability injury attorney. [title]] has more than 30 years of legal experience and will fight to try to make sure a negligent property owner is held responsible for your damages. Call 818-242-8201 for a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8125505/

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=2062&ChapterID=58

https://extension.psu.edu/turf-management-athletic-field-conditions-and-injuries-in-high-school-football