When you’re watching your favorite Florida team, you know that injuries come with the territory. Players get hurt sometimes, and the team just has to find a way to recover and keep rolling.
You’re probably not expecting yourself to be injured, though. Unfortunately, it does happen sometimes.
Below, we’re going to share stories of sports venue injuries so that you can be prepared in case you or someone you loved does get hurt while watching the game.
Incidents of Fan Injuries at Sporting Events
These frightening stories of fan injuries and deaths may convince you to protect yourself against harm at sporting events.
1970
A 14-year-old boy is hit on the head by a foul ball during a Los Angeles Dodgers game. He died only four days after the injury.
1998
Three spectators were killed when a wheel flew off a crashed vehicle at the Michigan International Speedway.
1999
Three people died and eight were injured after a crash threw debris into the crowd at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
2002
A 13-year-old girl died after a hockey puck hit her in the face during a Columbus Blue Jackets game.
2008
A woman experienced facial injuries when the shards of a broken maple baseball bat hit her during a Dodgers game.
2009
Seven people were injured by a car wreck at the Talladega Speedway.
2010
A woman was struck on the temple by a foul ball in a San Angelo Colts game, and she died one day afterward.
2011
One woman died while she reached for a foul ball at a Texas Rangers game.
2013
Even though she was behind a safety net, a woman was struck in the face during a Blackhawks hockey game.
2015
A woman was struck in the head by shattered bat fragments at a Boston Red Sox game and remained in the hospital for several days with serious injuries.
Weather Risks at Sporting Events
Thunderstorms during outdoor sporting events can present significant hazards to fans. Here are several incidents where weather posed a threat:
In 2008, a tornado struck the Georgia Dome during the Southeast Conference basketball tournament.
In 2009, strong winds at a Dallas Cowboys training facility caused a tent to collapse, which resulted in several injuries.
In 2010, the roof of the Minneapolis Metrodome collapsed due to the weight of the snow covering it. Fortunately, the Vikings were not playing when the incident happened.
In 2013, the Denver Broncos postponed their season opener due to thunderstorms that produced lightning.
Premises Liability for Sports Venue Injuries
Who is responsible if you are injured during a sporting event? The details of your case will determine the party or parties who can be held liable for any injuries you may have experienced.
When you set foot in a sports arena, the property owner has a duty to provide a safe space for you. This duty is known as premises liability. If you experience an injury due to negligence of the property owner, you may have grounds for a premises liability lawsuit.
Injuries that may occur at sporting events could include the following:
- Slip and fall injuries
- Injuries due to flying objects
- Injuries due to falling objects
The property owner is responsible to fix any foreseeable hazards, post warnings of potential hazards, and correct hazards in a reasonable time frame as they occur.
If you decide to file a premises liability lawsuit, contact a skilled Florida personal injury attorney for help today. We can assist you in determining whether you qualify for financial compensation.
About the Author:
Andrew Winston is a partner at the personal injury law firm of Winston Law. For over 20 years, he has successfully represented countless people in all kinds of personal injury cases, with a particular focus on child injury, legal malpractice, and premises liability. He has been recognized for excellence in the representation of injured clients by admission to the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, is AV Preeminent Rated by the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, enjoys a 10.0 rating by AVVO as a Top Personal Injury Attorney, has been selected as a Florida “SuperLawyer” from 2011-2017 – an honor reserved for the top 5% of lawyers in the state – and was voted to Florida Trend’s ”Legal Elite” and as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Florida and one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the Miami area for 2015, 2016, and 2017.
