Q: Can a college athlete sue for a personal injury sustained at practice? When a child goes off to college, fear of an accident, injury, or sickness is a real worry. The degree of worry may depend in part on the kinds of risks that are inherent in the student’s particular lifestyle. Athletes are, by nature of their participation in competitive sports, at an increased risk of injury as opposed to those not engaged in such activities. And with contact sports, the risk is highest. But that doesn’t mean that by participating they assume the risk of all injuries they may sustain. Despite the inherent risk of sport, athletes can be injured by the reckless, negligent, or intentional acts of others. That may include opposing players on the field or court. Or even a player’s own coach or teammate. Take the case against a Syracuse University Women’s Lacrosse Coach by a former SU Women’s Lacrosse player. The player filed a personal injury lawsuit recently stemming from an incident in October 2013 wherein the player was hit in the head by a ball thrown by the coach during a practice, causing her to sustain a concussion injury. Although she reportedly did play in games during the 2013, 2015, and 2016 seasons, the player claims that she continues to suffer from “concussion-related issues". The personal injury suit alleges that the coach was negligent and/or reckless at the time of the incident and that his actions resulted in the player’s personal injury. The amount of the damages sought is unspecified. Each case is different and requires a thorough investigation of the facts in order to determine the nature, extent, and cause of the injuries. No details were available in the SU case, but factors to consider in determining if the coach was reckless or negligent would include the circumstances surrounding the pass that hit the player, how the player was treated at the time and after the injury, and the specifics and severity of the “concussion-related issues" from which she is suffering. If you or a loved one has been injured by the actions of someone else, you may be entitled to compensation. Damages may include recovering money for medical bills, expected future medical bills and treatment or therapy, lost wages, and even pain and suffering, depending on the circumstances of your particular case. Call the New York City personal injury law firm of Jaroslawicz & Jaros at 800.269.2780 for a free consultation or contact us here.