The highly competitive, physically demanding, adrenalin fuelled world of sport attracts large numbers of willing participants putting their minds, bodies and spirits on the line for the enjoyment of the game. Participation in any sport, at any level carries with it a risk of injury and when that injury is caused by the negligence of another person, you may be entitled to claim compensation.
The world’s most dangerous sports
From baseball to base jumping, there is always a level of danger involved with the majority of physical sports. In the search for thrills and physical excellence, sportsmen risk serious or even fatal injury, particularly when participating in some of the world’s most dangerous sports. It is difficult to rank sports on the basis of danger and sports governing bodies will, quite rightly, be quick to defend the safety of their sport. The following sporting pursuits could be considered for inclusion amongst others on a list of the world’s most dangerous:
• Bull riding
The rodeo sport that involves trying to stay mounted on a bull for as long as possible whilst the 100kg bull tries to buck the rider off. It has been described as the “most dangerous 8 seconds in sports”.
• Rugby
15 burley players on 2 opposing teams smashing, tackling and scrumming against each other for 80 minutes.
• Motor racing
Cars hurtling around a track at speeds in excess of 175mph, accidents are almost guaranteed.
• Big wave surfing
Surfers are towed or paddle into waves of at a minimum height of20 foot, risking being pulled under the water, strong currents and being smashed by your own surfboard whilst trying to ride waves up to 100 feet tall.
• Cycling
From extreme mountain biking and road racing to riding your push bike to the local shop, cycling has its dangers.
• Base jumping
For those who are simply not challenged enough by jumping 15,000 feet out of a plane, jumping from cliffs and man made base stations is apparently more appealing. Base is an acronym for the objects people jump off: buildings, antennas (towers), spans (bridges) and earth (cliffs, canyons, gorges).
• Boxing
A contact sport where the participant’s sole aim is to knock out the opponent.
• Motorbike racing
Hurtling around a track on a motorbike at excessive speeds. The Isle of Man Tourist Trophy is considered one of the most dangerous races on earth, ridden at average speeds of 120 mph through a town on public roads with hedges, stone walls and buildings along the 37 mile course with 250 corners.
• Horse riding
Is challenging and requires a good deal of athleticism and control of the horse. The most common cause of injury is getting trampled on by the horse.
• Football
Football should be included simply due to the large number of injuries and fatalities in this sport although this may in part be due to higher numbers of players.
There are many more sports that have not made this list but could be considered dangerous, including scuba diving, skiing, zorbing and luge road running to name a few.
Claiming compensation for sports injuries
Competitors taking part in sport owe a duty of care to other players and spectators to ensure they take reasonable care not to cause injury to others. Additionally, if you have suffered an injury at a sports facility you may have a claim against the operator, for example in the case of a badly maintained facility or if your injury has been caused by using defective sports equipment. Furthermore, referees and umpires have a duty to protect players from injury.
In order to claim compensation, your injury must have been sustained as a direct result of someone else’s negligence and happened within the last 3 years. In order to establish a valid claim you will need to prove that you were owed a duty of care, that duty was breached and that caused your injury. Any witnesses to the injury, including other players or a referee will assist your case. You will also need medical evidence describing the nature and extent of your injury and the prognosis for recovery.
One of the main issues with claiming compensation for a sports injury is the fact that many injuries are an inevitable part of playing sport. It is sometimes difficult to prove that the injury sustained was as a result of an accident rather than just part of the game. Depending on the circumstances of your case, expert and witness evidence may assist in this regard.
Legal advice
At Russell Worth Solicitors we specialise in personal injury claims. If you have suffered an injury as a result of an accident at work that was not your fault and would like a free claim assessment, please call us now on 0800 028 2060 or complete our Online Claim Assessment.
