It’s that time of year – when the football season is underway and people spend their Sundays cheering for the Atlanta Falcons. There’s nothing like watching a game live. You and your buddies carpool to the football stadium hours before the game starts. You tailgate for a few hours in the parking lot. Then, you head into the stadium to watch your team crush their opponent.
For most people, a day at the stadium means food, fun and, hopefully, a win for their team. Unfortunately, for others, it can be a nightmare. Hundreds of people get hurt every year at NFL stadiums. While a lot of this can be blamed on too much alcohol, there are innocent fans who get hurt all the time.
Naturally, if this happens to you or your loved one, the first thing you’re going to ask is – can I sue the stadium? It doesn’t seem fair that someone would pay to watch a football game and end up in the emergency room. That’s why personal injury lawyers in Atlanta are there – to help people who think they’ve been injured at the hands of another.
What Kind of Injuries Can Happen at a Football Game?
If you’ve ever been to a Falcons game, you know that all sorts of things can happen. From the moment you park your car, you are the mercy of the crowds. You’re also at the mercy of the stadium. Once you walk through the stadium doors, anything can happen.
Some of the most common injuries and accidents that can happen at a football game include:
- You’re assaulted by a rowdy fan rooting for the other team (or even your own team!)
- You fall down the steps and get hurt
- You’re hit in the head by someone selling concessions
- Your chair is broken and you fall and get hurt
- You are knocked down in a crowd and sustain a traumatic brain injury
If any of these things happen, you’re going to need a good personal injury lawyer in Atlanta. If you sustain physical injuries while at the stadium, someone should be held responsible. The questions is – who will that be?
Who Is Liable for Your Injuries?
The hard part about these types of cases is determining who is responsible for your injuries. It’s easy to say it’s the people who own or manage the stadium. They have deep pockets. And, it’s tempting to think that they should be able to control everything that happens at their arena.
However, there are a lot of things that stadium management really can’t control. For example, if you get highly intoxicated and fall, is that the stadium owner’s fault? Probably not. However, if you’re injured because of something within management’s control, the stadium may be liable.
In order to collect damages, your Atlanta personal injury attorney will have to prove negligence on the part of the stadium management. In order to prove negligence, you need to demonstrate the following:
- Management owed you a duty of care – This is obvious. To a certain extent, stadium management owes all guests a duty of care. They need to make sure their premises are clean and safe. They also have to provide adequate security to ensure that their guests aren’t harmed by other visitors.
- They breached this duty of care – If management does something to breach their duty of care, you may have a claim against them. For example, if they don’t have secure railings along the upper deck seating, you could fall and get seriously injured.
- You have to suffer an injury – If you aren’t hurt, you can’t file suit. You need to suffer actual damages in order to recover.
- Your injuries were caused by their breach – You have to prove that you wouldn’t have been injured had the defendant exercised their duty of care. In other words, in the example above, if you fall over the railing because you were trying to climb the fence, the stadium won’t be liable.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Lawyer in Atlanta
If you or your loved one are hurt while at an NFL game, you should call an experienced personal injury lawyer in Atlanta. They can review your case and let you know if you have a valid claim. They can also let you know what your case may be worth.
Call Ted A. Greve & Associates today and schedule your free initial consultation. It gives you a chance to sit down with a skilled attorney so they can answer any questions you may have. The consultation is free and you pay nothing until you settle your case.
