Pickup basketball is a common recreational activity, both here in Indiana and nationwide. Courts at parks, gyms, and HOA communities across the Hoosier State are often bustling with activity by people of all age and skill levels. Many players use it as a way to stay in shape, improve their skills, or just have fun with friends and strangers. However, these games can often be a backdrop for injuries, ranging from mild to severe. If you or your loved one have been injured at a pickup basketball game in Indiana, you’ll need to be aware of the necessary steps to obtain compensation for medical bills, injuries, and damages.
As with most personal injury cases, filing a claim stemming from a pickup basketball game will center around liability. However, these incidents can pose complexities and challenges due to several factors that may come into play. Where the game was played (venue), the severity of the injury, premises liability laws, or intentional harm caused by another player can all potentially impact on how a case is litigated.
Another consideration is the concept of assumption of risk, which is a legal doctrine that can limit or prevent a person from recovering damages for injuries if they exposed themselves to a known risk. It’s commonly used as a defense by insurance companies and defendants in personal injury cases, especially in sports and recreational activities. It can come in the form of an explicit assumption of risk (e.g. signed liability waivers at a gym), or an implied assumption of risk (e.g. voluntarily participating in a high-contact sport). However, if negligence or intentional harm can be proven, this clause would typically not be applicable.
Injuries from pickup games can include sprains, dislocations, eye injuries, knee injuries, or head injuries, including concussions. Severe injuries can also occur from fighting or aggressive game play. If an accident occurs due to unsafe conditions on a court (like a broken hoop or slick surface), the property owner, whether it’s a city, school, or gym, could be liable under Indiana’s premises liability laws. If the injury was intentionally caused by another player, legal action against that individual may be warranted. However, this may not yield significant results if they lack the financial resources or net worth to compensate an injured party fully. If an injury by another player was deemed accidental, the assumption of risk clause may be applied.
Because of the numerous moving parts that can be involved in these types of cases, it’s imperative to retain an experienced personal injury lawyer who is familiar with premises liability cases, governmental immunity laws, and other factors that may apply when an injury occurs on a public or private basketball court.
If you or a loved one have been injured in a basketball game or other sporting activity, contact our law firm to discuss your legal options. Our attorneys have decades of combined experience fighting for our clients in various personal injury cases. We work on a contingency basis, meaning there is no cost to you unless we reach a settlement or jury verdict award on your behalf.
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