Can Parents Sue a Gym, Summer Camp, or Other Athletics Program When a Child is Injured During a Sports Related Activity?

It is certainly an important part of childhood for most children to participate in some sports related activity.  From football to cheerleading to gymnastics to soccer and all sports in between and beyond, youth sports and related activities help make our children more active and better rounded as they mature and head out into the world beyond high school.   For some children especially those in elementary and pre-school, participation in sports related activities can and do lead to serious personal injuries.  Are there inherent risks any time that a child participates in an activity or sports related practice, game, or exhibition?  The simple answer to this question is “Yes”.  However, there are two questions that should be answered when evaluating a potential case involving a sports related activity:

It was recently reported that a lawsuit was filed in New Orleans, Louisiana regarding an injury that took place at a gym.   A minor child, with no prior experience as a gymnast, was asked to do a certain maneuver on the high balance beam. While attempting the maneuver, she fell off of the high beam and fractured her leg.  The parents, through the services of Personal Injury Lawyer, filed a lawsuit against the gym alleging that the gym failed to provide adequate instruction, supervision, and spotting of the child.   According to the lawsuit filed, the injuries were both foreseeable and preventable.  See Parents File Lawsuit Against New Orleans, Louisiana Gym.   Of course, the gym has every right to defend the case and hire its own attorney do so.   Another central theme to these cases is safety.   Were the proper safety measures put in place to prevent personal injuries from taking place?  In many such cases, expert witnesses are called in to provide opinions and information regarding the industry and standards that should be put in place.   Because of the complexity of these cases and the need for experts both as to liability and damages (medical providers), a parent should reach out and contact a Child Injury Lawyer for advice, consultation, and legal representation.

The book titled – The ABCs of Child Injury – Legal Rights of the Injured Child – What Every Parent Should Know – has chapters on Day Care Injuries, School Injuries, Playground Injuries, Sports Related Injuries, and other topics. You can get this book for free at The ABCs of Child Injury.