Posted on 14 Jun 2023
Not just a game: know your rights if you’ve been injured playing sport
By Slater and Gordon
There’s no doubt Australians love their sport, and some of our favourites are played in wintertime such as rugby, AFL, and soccer.
While sport benefits our health, wellbeing, communities and economy, we know it can come with a varying risk of injury.
Sadly, many Australians are injured each year and the road to recovery can be complex—and that includes seeking compensation.
If you are injured you’ll want to know how to access help as quickly and simply to help you get your life back on track as soon as possible.
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The impact of sporting injuries in Australia
While the odd sprain or niggle is often seen as a ‘rite of passage’ with many sports, what happens if you suffer a more serious injury?
In 2019–20, about 52,300 sports injuries led to a hospital stay in Australia.
Whether you’re going down the ski slopes, or taking a specky, the repercussions of sporting injury can be huge both emotionally and financially.
Medical bills can mount, and if you need to take time off work, you may be significantly out of pocket.
This is why seeking compensation is so important. If you or a loved one has been injured while playing sport, including even if you were only partly at fault, make sure you know your rights and entitlements to get the support needed to move towards a better future.
Playing sports or activities with higher risk
There are some sports more dangerous than others—football codes and snow sports in the top ten of sports that lead to hospitalisation in 2019-20.
When taking part in sports, including ones that are classified as high-risk or adventurous, unfortunately, there’s an expectation to accept accidents that may occur. But that’s not to say you’re not able to claim compensation if you are eligible.
Even if you are seriously injured from a legal rugby tackle or being hit by a football.
Most of us understand it’s a risk we take with this kind of sport. Even though it may not seem like you can potentially claim compensation, it is possible. That is why it is important to talk to a lawyer to explore your potential options.
There are also ‘adventure’ sports to consider like snowboarding or ariel skiing that involve more obvious, extreme risks. These examples also do have the option for you to discuss potential compensation.
Who can claim for compensation
If you’ve been injured while playing sport or an activity, the best way to find out if you’re eligible to claim compensation and benefits is to seek expert legal advice.
You may be able to claim compensation if you are:
- a professional athlete
- an amateur athlete
- a university, college or school student,
- an employee injured in a sporting event organised by work
A public liability lawyer experienced in sporting injuries claims should be able to assess your individual situation and provide clear, direct advice about your circumstances and advise whether your claim is eligible for potential compensation.
Learn more about making a compensation claim when injured during sports or a recreational activity
Heading out and unsure what to do when injured?
We’ve created this handy resource for you.
The contents of this blog post are considered accurate as at the date of publication. However the applicable laws may be subject to change, thereby affecting the accuracy of the article. The information contained in this blog post is of a general nature only and is not specific to anyone’s personal circumstances. Please seek legal advice before acting on any of the information contained in this post.