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    Injured at a Baseball Game? Here’s Who You Can Sue

    Baseball has always been one of America’s favorite pastimes. Whether you like to go with your friends or enjoy taking the whole family, it’s usually a fun time for everyone. Unfortunately, there’s always a chance that you could get injured at a baseball game.

    Perhaps you get hit with a foul ball. Or you may fall while walking up or down the stadium steps. If something like this happens to you, there’s a good chance you may be entitled to damages. Of course, the only way to know for sure is to talk to a Philadelphia personal injury attorney.

    When it comes to suing a baseball team or stadium owner, there is a lot involved. Here, we will discuss what the challenges are as well as how our Philly injury lawyers will work to overcome them. If you still have questions or concerns about your own potential claim, contact our office. We will be more than happy to schedule your free, initial consultation. 

    Close to 5,000 People Have Been Injured at a Baseball Game in the Last Ten Years

    Since 2012, more than 4,500 people have been injured while attending a baseball game. This is an estimate given that only four teams reported their actual injuries. Of the four that provided data, there have been more than 850 injuries over the last ten years. The actual numbers could be much higher.

    Sadly, many of the people who have been injured (or killed) have been children. For those who survived their injuries, many were left disabled or disfigured. For example, in two specific cases, the people were struck by a foul ball and lost an eye. It is one thing to argue that these people assumed the risk. However, nobody should have to worry about losing an eye or dying when they go to watch a baseball game.

    Your Philly Injury Lawyer Will Have to Overcome the Baseball Rule

    One of the reasons it is so hard to win a case against a baseball team is because of something called the “Baseball Rule.” This rule was established over a century ago. The rule essentially states that people know that they could get hit by a baseball if they attend a game.

    Therefore, they assume the risk. Over the years, the rule has been limited somewhat. Baseball stadiums are now required to provide netting in the areas more likely to receive a foul ball. If somebody chooses to buy tickets for a seat in an unprotected area, they accept the risk of getting injured. 

    As the number of foul ball injuries increased, some teams voluntarily added extra protection. For example, in 2016, Freddy Galves of the Philadelphia Phillies hit a line drive that ended up hitting a little girl in the face. Shortly thereafter, the team and managers of Citizen’s Bank Park decided to extend their netting to the elbows of the field. The hope was that by adding extra netting, they could prevent further injuries of this sort.

    The Defendant Will Argue That You Assumed the Risk

    Even when the injuries you receive have nothing to do with a foul ball, the defendants in this type of case will argue that you assumed the risk. This means that your Philadelphia personal injury attorney will have to demonstrate more than mere negligence.

    Typically, as long as your attorney can prove that the defendant didn’t fulfill a duty they owed you, they could prove liability. However, with an assumption of the risk case, your Philly injury lawyer will have to go a step further. They will need to demonstrate that the stadium owners or management was aware of a risk and chose not to protect you from it. 

    There are also cases where your injuries arose from ordinary negligence. For example, if you trip on the stairs leading to and from your seats, you may have a claim for damages. The same is true if you are injured in some other way on stadium property. Your attorney will demand that you receive compensation for any injuries you suffer. 

    You May Also Have to Name More Than One Party in Your Lawsuit

    It’s important to understand that your Philadelphia personal injury attorney may need to sue more than one party. Obviously, you would want to name the owner of the stadium in your lawsuit. You would also name the insurance company that handles their general liability insurance. Regardless of the type of accident or injury you suffer, your lawyer would have to name these two parties.

    In addition to the owner and their insurance carrier, your Philly injury lawyer may also need to name other parties. For example, if you were knocked over by the person selling beer in the seating areas, you would need to name their employer in your lawsuit.

    These people usually work for an outside company that is contracted by the stadium to work their events. Similarly, if you were burned somehow at one of the concessions on the promenade, your Philadelphia personal injury attorney would need to name that company as well. 

    Trust That Your Philly Injury Lawyer Will Fight to Get You the Compensation You Deserve

    We wish we could say that everyone who is hurt at a baseball game walks away with damages. However, suing a baseball stadium is a lot harder then suing a regular defendant. It’s not always enough that your Philly injury lawyer can prove negligence. Given the special rules that protect baseball teams and stadium owners from liability, it may take a lot more than that.

    The good news is that our Philadelphia personal injury attorneys are very familiar with the “baseball rule.” They also keep abreast of the new developments surrounding the issue of protective netting at baseball games. They may be able to overcome the special challenges associated with a lawsuit against teams like the Philadelphia Phillies. 

    We suggest you call today so you can schedule your free, initial consultation. We think it’s a good idea to sit down with a potential client before we make any decisions about representation. It also gives you the chance to see if you really want to hire a Philly injury lawyer. Since the consultation is free, you may as well take advantage of the opportunity.

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