Sports Injuries Require Experienced Lawyer

Sports Injuries Require Experienced Lawyer


A sports injury can have a devastating effect on an adult or child’s life and in the worse cases may lead to permanent disability. While a participant assumes certain risks when playing a sport, in some cases the school, the league, coach or equipment manufacturer may be held responsible.

At the personal injury law firm of Hacker Murphy, our lawyers help those who have suffered sports injuries due to the negligence of another party. From our offices based in Albany, we represent families throughout Upstate New York from Poughkeepsie to Utica to Saratoga Springs and beyond.

When Is the School, League or Coach Liable for a Sports Injury?

When an adult or child chooses to participate in a sport, it is important to understand that they assume the risks of injury inherent to the sport. For example, a baseball player may suffer an injury because he/she is hit by a pitch or a struck ball. In these cases, the injury is inherent to the sport and the injured player does not have a claim against the school, player or coach.

In some cases, however, injuries are not caused by risks inherent to the sport but by negligence. Examples of injuries caused by negligence:

  • A hole in an artificial playing surface causes the player to have a severe leg injury
  • You suffer a head injury due to a helmet failure
  • You are injured due to defective equipment
  • A football coach fails to provide water or proper care during periods of extreme heat, resulting in heat strokes

Our lawyers will evaluate your child’s personal injury case at no charge and let you know if we believe you have a case worth pursuing. While it’s not possible to undo a serious sports injury, we can seek compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Head Injury Attorneys Serving Schenectady and Upstate New York

Hacker Murphy also represents clients with the following injury cases: