Who’s liable when a sporting injury results in a child's wrongful death?

Serious Injuries From Youth Sports

There are many benefits for children who play a youth sport. They may have higher self-esteem, are more responsible, and do better academically and socially than those not involved in sports. But even though youth sports come with benefits, but they also come with risks for injuries, head injuries, and sometimes death. These risks can often prevent a parent from allowing their child to play a sport.

The type of injury suffered depends on the sport being played. For example, a sport such as tackle football or basketball comes with risks for a concussion or head injury. A baseball player is at risk for getting hit by the ball, and those who run can be at risk for a heat-related injury. Those who suffer blows to the head from sports can develop chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Some types of serious injuries associated with youth sports are:

Concussion

Traumatic brain injury

Spinal cord injury

Sudden cardiac death

Liable Parties for a Wrongful Death Case

If your child suffered a fatal head injury while playing a youth sport and want to pursue a wrongful death claim, you will need to prove that there was negligence involved that contributed to the injury and death. Negligence could be due to:

A coach or adult in charge was not properly supervising the team or paying close attention when it was needed.
The child who was injured was not provided with proper safety equipment, or the equipment they were using was defective or damaged.
The child was not removed from the game after having signs of a concussion or injury.
There were dangerous conditions on the sports field or at the facility where the sport was being played.
There was bullying by other players that caused the injury.
The child was forced to train in hazardous conditions or was overtrained.
The child was not diagnosed properly when injured or was given improper medical advice by a doctor or medical professional.

Most schools require parents to sign a waiver of liability for their child to participate in a sport. This waiver releases certain parties from liability if injury occurs. However, these waivers are not always enforceable by law. Those that may be held liable for a youth sport injury or wrongful death can include one or more parties such as:

The school
The sports league or association
The coach or coaching staff
Another player who caused the injury
A medical professional

In order to determine who is at fault and what legal rights you have for a wrongful death claim, consult with an experienced attorney. They can help you understand the type of compensation you may be entitled to receive and what is needed to prove negligence. Filing a claim can also prevent this mistake from happening to someone else in the future. For a youth sports injury or wrongful death case, you may be able to recover compensation for:

Medical expenses
Funeral or burial expenses
Loss of future income
Punitive damages
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress

Who’s liable when a sporting injury results in a child's wrongful death?

Serious Injuries From Youth Sports

Meet Our Team

Liable Parties for a Wrongful Death Case

Has Your Loved One Died To The Negligence Of Others In Rhode Island?