Cross-country track. Football. Soccer. Tennis. All are among the most popular fall sports with athletes at all competition levels. Playing a fall sport can be a great way to engage in a physical activity for all ages. It’s also a common way to get injured.

Whether you’re playing a team sport in your high school athletics program, or you’re a star in the pro leagues, you can get injured at any time. All it takes is one wrong collision on the football field or a fall during a hurdle event at a track meet to leave you with serious injuries that can affect you for the rest of your life.

No one likes to think about getting hurt playing a sport they love. If the unthinkable happens, you have the right to seek fair compensation for your pain and suffering. Contacting a personal injury attorney in Albuquerque is an important first step.

Where do sports-related injuries happen?

Some sports are more prone than others to provide the perfect atmosphere for sports injuries. Any sport that provides an opportunity for players to collide – football, lacrosse, soccer – are among the highest-risk activities.

Football players accept the risk of serious head and neck injuries every time they go out onto the field. In recent years, the list of former NFL players diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has grown. The degenerative brain disease can happen to football players who suffer repeated blows to the head.

Soccer players also are at an increased risk for the kinds of injuries that happen when players crash into one another at top speed on the field. Broken bones, concussions and wrist fractures are among the most common soccer injuries.

Cheerleading is an often-overlooked fall sport that can lead to some devastating injuries. The sport has evolved in recent years to include more than just rooting for the home team from the sidelines. Most cheer teams compete in skills competitions that require risky physical routines that can lead to concussions, broken bones, and other injuries.

What kinds of injuries happen in fall sports?

No matter what kind of fall sport you choose, most share a common list of possible injuries you can experience. Concussions top the list of fall sport injuries, especially for athletes who play football, soccer, and lacrosse. Even cheerleaders who fall while executing flips, lifts, and pyramid mounts can suffer a blow to the head.

Concussions can sometimes take a day or two to become apparent. Watch for these signs and symptoms if you’ve had a collision with another player or hit your head from a fall:

• Confusion and disorientation.
• Fatigue.
• Head and eye pain from bright light.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Ringing in the ears.

Fractures also happen while playing fall sports. Maybe you got kicked in the face while covering the net in soccer. Or someone accidentally cracked you with their stick during a particularly physical game of field hockey. Fractures can cause severe and lasting pain and suffering.

Strains and sprains also are common in fall sports. If you twist your ankle during a landing on the way down from an epic catch on the football field, you’re going to end up with a sprain that requires medical attention. Even the most in-shape athletes can experience muscle strain from overuse.

Does assumption of risk affect my lawsuit?  

When you choose to play a fall sport, you assume a certain risk of injury. Called assumption of risk, it can prevent you from suing for some injuries you experience during the normal course of a sporting event. However, there are some exceptions.

Intent to injure

Sometimes athletes get heated during play. Poor sports can engage in dirty plays with injury in mind. If another player intentionally injures you, a personal injury lawsuit can be filed to recover the costs of medical treatment and ongoing pain and suffering.

Negligent coaching

Athletic coaches are supposed to guide you during play, providing advice on the best way to play your position. Just like some poor sport players, sometimes coaches put players in dangerous situations because they want to win the game. If this happens, and you become injured, you may have a personal injury case.

Product liability

Fall sports come with all kinds of equipment designed to protect athletes while they play the game. Under New Mexico products liability law, designers and manufacturers of defective products can be held liable for injuries from using their product. For instance, some older football helmets manufacturers have been sued for failing to prevent brain injuries in football players.

Seeking help for fall sports injuries

If you’re unsure whether your fall sports injury falls under assumption of risk, the best way to clarify is to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney in Albuquerque. An attorney well-versed in personal injury law in New Mexico knows what evidence you need to support your case.

For a free consultation with the team at Cameron & Russell, call 505-218-7844 or contact us online.