Participating in sports comes with a certain amount of risk. Athletes commonly break bones and suffer from sprains, strains, and other injuries. Even though some of these injuries are preventable, others are not to blame for the injury. However, some preventable sports injuries occur because of negligence
If you or your child has suffered a sports-related injury, Missouri law permits you to seek compensation for damages related to your injury from the responsible party. The experienced St. Louis sports injury lawyers at Bruning Law Firm can evaluate your claim and determine your eligibility to file a personal injury lawsuit to recover compensation for your sports injuries.
We have decades of experience helping victims of negligence fight for compensation after suffering injuries. We understand the physical pain and mental distress of a serious injury. We are here to help while you focus on healing.
Why Choose Bruning Law Firm?
The skilled St. Louis lawyers at Bruning Law Firm have advocated for the injured for over 35 years. They have obtained millions of dollars in damages for clients from settlements and jury awards because of their dedication to client service and advocacy.
Members of Bruning Law firm have received national recognition for their professional excellence and these prestigious organizations invited us to join them:
- Super Lawyers
- The National Trial Lawyers Association
- Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum
Bruning Law Firm has the knowledge and resources to fight insurance companies for their clients while providing personalized attention to their clients. As a family law firm, our legal team naturally treats our clients like family. If you or your child has suffered sports injuries, you must focus on rehabilitation and regaining as much of your lost function as possible.
While you recover from your injuries, let a skilled lawyer advocate for you and fight to recover damages for your St. Louis sports injuries.
Contact Bruning Law Firm online or call us at (314) 735-8100 to tell us about your sports injuries and learn about the best path to recover damages for your circumstances. Our office is conveniently located in downtown St. Louis, only a block from America’s Center Convention Complex on Washington Avenue. If visiting our office does not work for your schedule or lifestyle or your injuries prevent you from traveling, we also offer convenient virtual consultations and meetings.
St. Louis Sports Injury Compensation
Missouri law permits victims of negligence to bring a lawsuit against the responsible party to seek compensation for damages related to your sports injury. Sports injuries include various types and different levels of harm, so no two claims look the same. However, many personal injury claims, including those involving sports accidents, include the same or similar types of compensation.
If you win your case, you could receive compensation for:
- Medical expenses, including an ambulance ride to the nearest emergency room, emergency treatment, X-ray, CT scans, MRI, surgery, medication, and follow-up doctor visits
- Estimated future medical expenses when a sports injury does not fully heal and requires ongoing treatment
- Rehabilitation expenses, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, behavioral therapy, and other treatments that help athletes face the physical and emotional struggles related to their sports injuries
- Lost wages from missing work because of an injury especially important for paid athletes
- Lost earning capacity for those who suffer permanent injuries, especially common among teen athletes who suffer injuries
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of consortium with a spouse, if applicable
Factors that impact the amount of compensation you could receive from your St. Louis sports injury claim include:
- The nature and severity of your sports injury
- Your total economic loss, including medical bills and lost wages
- Your long-term prognosis
- Insurance policy limits
An experienced St. Louis lawyer from Bruning Law Firm can review your claim, advise you on which damages apply, and give you an idea of what factors will impact the compensation you could receive if you win your case.
Statute of Limitations in St. Louis Sports Injury Cases
Missouri law provides five years for victims of negligence to bring a lawsuit against the party allegedly responsible for their injuries. Taking action early is key to recovering the maximum compensation for injuries. If you wait too long, you could miss out on the chance to recover damages. Missouri’s statute of limitations is much longer than other states, but this does not mean you should wait to consult with an attorney.
The sooner you get a lawyer involved in your case, the sooner they can begin investigating your claim and injuries. As time passes, witness statements are difficult to come by, or witnesses do not recall the situation. Similarly, valuable paperwork, video evidence, and photo evidence of your sports injury might be harder to obtain. It is best to meet with a lawyer as soon as possible, so they can begin working on your case and advise you on the best course of action as you recover from your injuries.
If a child or another loved one died due to a sports injury, you could be eligible to recover damages by filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party. However, you need to bring the suit within three years of the date of death. Your St. Louis sports injury lawyer can answer additional questions about wrongful death lawsuits related to sports injuries.
Possible Defendants in a St. Louis Sports Injury Claim
Depending on the situation, one or more parties might be responsible for the negligence that led to a preventable sports injury.
Examples include:
- Coaches. If a coach pushes an athlete beyond their skill level, forces them to return to active play too soon, does not adequately supervise youth athletes, or allows rough or illegal play, you might hold them liable for damages related to sports injuries.
- Sports league. You can hold adult and youth sports leagues liable for damages from a sports injury if they do not provide proper safety equipment, adequate medical attention to injured athletes, allow dangerous conditions on a field or in a sports facility, or encourage rough play.
- Equipment manufacturers. Sports equipment manufacturers must produce and market products safe for their intended use. Manufacturers that sell defective sports equipment could be liable for damages in a civil lawsuit if the defect causes injury to an athlete.
- Other athletes. Other players who carelessly or intentionally cause harm to someone during or after gameplay can be liable for damages related to the sports injury.
Your attorney will review your case and advise you on who you should name as a defendant in your St. Louis sports injury claim.
Types of Sports Injuries
Athletes can suffer many sports injuries that might lead to a personal injury lawsuit. Head trauma and concussions are the most frequently reported sports injuries, especially in high-contact sports like football, hockey, and martial arts. The CDC reports that youth tackle football players are 15 times more likely to experience a head trauma than flag football players during practice and 23 times more likely during a game.
Examples of other serious injuries that often require the guidance of an experienced sports injury lawyer include:
- Fractures
- Soft tissue injuries, especially those that require surgery like a torn ACL or hamstring
- Joint injuries, especially knees, shoulders, and ankles
- Internal injuries
- Dental injuries
- Neck injuries
- Back and spinal cord injuries
Fighting the Insurance Company After a St. Louis Sports Injury
If you file a sports injury claim, you must deal with an insurance company. The type of coverage depends on where the sports injury occurred and who is responsible. Regardless of the insurance carrier, they will use every tactic possible to deny or devalue your claim, even when their policyholder is obviously at fault.
Get our St. Louis sports injury lawyers in your corner. Experienced lawyers anticipate insurance company tactics and protect clients from actions to deny them compensation related to their injuries.
Once you file a claim, the insurance carrier will assign an adjuster to your case to review the facts and decide what action to take. If they cannot deny your claim, they will take whatever measures to reduce the amount they have to pay. You can expect them to request a recorded statement and a signed waiver to release your medical records.
Your lawyer will ensure the insurance company only gets the information they need. For example, they do not need a recorded statement, which they will try to use against you. Nor do they need your entire medical history; they only need medical records relevant to your sports injury.
Evaluating Early Settlement Offers
Making an early settlement offer is another way insurance companies reduce their payout on sports injury claims. They make an offer large enough to attract injured athletes to accept, but typically much less than the actual value of a claim. It is best to let a lawyer review any settlement offers you receive from an insurance company.
Although these offers bring short-term financial relief, they can leave you without the money you need for care.
Once you accept an offer, you give up your right to seek compensation in the future for the same injury. You must know the full scope of your sports injuries and have a reasonably certain idea of your long-term prognosis from your doctor before signing anything.
What Should You Do After a St. Louis Sports Injury?
We assume you have already been to the doctor and started a treatment plan to recover from your sports injury. Aside from hiring a sports injury lawyer to advocate for you, the single best thing you can do to preserve the value of your claim is to follow your doctor's orders. Any deviation from the treatment plan gives the other side ammunition to argue that your injuries are not healing as they should because you have not followed the plan.
Other things you should do after a St. Louis sports injury include:
- Keep proof of economic loss. The value of your claim heavily depends on your economic losses from your sports injury. Keep all medical bills and any receipts associated with your treatment. For example, if you have to buy a knee brace, pay for crutches, or purchase anything related to your injury, hold on to your receipt. Your paystubs also prove economic loss. If you are a parent who has missed work because of a child with a sports injury, you should also keep track of lost income or paid time off you had to use to care for your child.
- Keep a daily journal. You need to be able to convey to your lawyer the physical and emotional challenges you have faced from your injuries. Part of your claim’s value comes from how your injuries have impacted your life, typically referred to as non-economic loss. Keep a daily journal as you heal and record your thoughts, feelings, difficulties, etc.
- Save photographic evidence. If you have any pictures or videos from the event that led to your sports injury or any other relevant photographic evidence, save them and make a copy for your lawyer.
It is always better to save too much and write too much. Your lawyer can review the information and documents you provide and advise you on what is relevant to your claim.
Have You Sustained a Sports Injury? Contact Bruning Law Firm Today
If you or your child have suffered a sports injury in St. Louis, let Bruning Law Firm advocate for you. Submit your case for review online or call us at (314) 735-8100 to discuss the details of your injury during a free consultation. Our dedicated team is here to help you through this difficult time. We understand the challenges you face after a serious sports injury.
The Bruning Law Firm
The Bruning Law Firm, St. Louis Office
Address: 555 Washington Ave Ste 600A,St Louis, MO 63101
Phone: (314) 735-8100
Client Testimonial
"When other law firms failed me. Bruning Law Firm came through for me. They did a great job and were able to get me more compensation than I expected. Couldn't be more pleased. Truly glad these folks were there for me. Took care of everything. Truly pleased. Tthank you Ryan and Alice." - Joseph F.
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
February 2020
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