There are many different ways in which injuries can occur at or near a baseball event. By attending a baseball game, spectators must assume some level of reasonable risk.
However, other instances may qualify as injuries caused by negligence. If your baseball injuries are the responsibility of another party, they may owe you compensation for the costs and losses you experience.
To determine who could be legally at fault for your physical and financial damages, make sure to speak with a knowledgeable tort lawyer. The Morgan and Morgan litigators have years of experience with personal injuries occurring in the context of baseball.
Hit by an MLB Baseball
One of the most common instances in which people experience baseball injuries is being hit by a stray ball. If you have been injured by a foul ball at a Major League Baseball (MLB) game, you may wonder if you can file a legal claim for damages.
The MLB presumes that those fans watching baseball games understand the inherent risks of attendance. In many cases, some of the potential hazards of attending a baseball game are written on MLB ticket stubs.
This is intended to protect the franchise owners from potential premises liability lawsuits. Also, most courts around the country adhere to a standard known as the “Baseball Rule.”
Most tort claims rely on the concept of a “duty of care.” In most instances, property owners have a duty of care to provide a reasonably safe environment for their customers and visitors.
The “Baseball Rule” places this duty on the attendees of MLB games. In other words, it is often the responsibility of fans to avoid becoming injured while attending a game.
This rule is especially relevant when fans sit in areas of the park without protective netting between themselves and the field. Many baseball stadiums have netting directly behind home plate. Because of the protection that this netting provides, some baseball parks are extending the netting to other seating areas.
Even with the “Baseball Rule” in play, courts may decide that a foul ball injury is the responsibility of the MLB. Because of this, it is critical to speak with a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer regarding your baseball injuries.
In cases where the victim bears some of the responsibility for their foul ball injury, they may be able to recover a portion of the cost of their injuries. This will depend on the laws and statutes in the state where your accident took place.
Some of the circumstances that might qualify as negligence on the part of park owners include:
- Failing to meet federal requirements for safety netting
- Failing to repair or maintain safety netting
- Not making required repairs to the seats or building
- Not providing attendees with protection in high-risk seats
If you have suffered baseball injuries after being struck with a foul ball, speak with one of the attorneys at Morgan and Morgan.
Slip and Fall Baseball Park Accidents
While baseball fans need to assume some level of reasonable risk when attending games, other types of accidents are the result of negligence. One of the most common baseball injuries occurs when fans experience falling accidents on the stadium’s premises.
If you have attended a baseball game and been injured in a falling accident at the stadium, you have the right to pursue a legal claim. There are many circumstances that could result in a slip and fall accident at a baseball stadium.
Some of the most common factors that might result in a falling accident are:
- A wet or slippery surface without proper signage
- Cracked or broken paved walkways
- Cracked or broken stadium steps
- Paths obscured by debris
- Cables stretched across pathways
Baseball fans do not need to assume the risk of slipping and falling when coming to watch a game. Following a falling accident injury, victims can pursue a premises liability claim to attempt to recover the costs of the damage.
To file a successful slip and fall lawsuit after your injury, make sure to hire an attorney with plenty of experience in this type of claim. The most complex element of premises liability cases is proving fault.
To prove that another party is responsible for the costs and losses from your slip and fall injury, you will need to show that they were “negligent.” The legal concept of “negligence” consists of four distinct elements.
Claimants in slip and fall cases must show:
- The property owner owed them a duty of care
- The property owner failed to fulfill their duty
- The failure of duty caused the falling accident
- The accident resulted in actual harm
The tort attorneys at Morgan and Morgan will review the facts of your falling accident case and help you prove negligence. If the property owners did not provide a reasonably safe environment in the baseball park, you have the right to pursue compensation for the resulting harm.