Going to a baseball game is supposed to be fun. Unfortunately, there are times when negligence can get in the way and you get hurt while at a ball game. While some injuries are mild and result from honest mistakes, there are plenty of times when this isn’t the case.
At John Foy & Associates, we’ve been helping accident victims for more than 20 years. We understand how to go up against even the biggest companies, including the insurance companies that represent major sports teams and venues. Our Atlanta personal injury attorneys can help.
Understanding Modified Comparative Negligence
When going to sporting events like baseball, most people know and accept that there is some risk involved. However, this doesn’t excuse Truist Park management from shrugging their shoulders if someone gets hurt in their stadium.
They may try to use Georgia’s modified comparative negligence rule which states that you can only be less than 50% responsible for your accident to file a claim. In doing so, they can state that there’s a reasonable expectation of danger and that you can’t hold them accountable.
Don’t ever let the insurance company or those responsible for your injury convince you that your case isn’t worth fighting for. You can fight back against their counter-claims by hiring a strong lawyer to assist you in negotiating a fair settlement.
Get the strong arm
How to Know If You Have a Valid Claim
The only way to be sure is to get a professional legal opinion. We make this as easy as possible by providing a free, in-depth consultation. Our Truist Park accident and injury attorneys can come to you, or you can come to our office. We can inform you of all the legal options available for your case.
No matter what you do, don’t be quick to blame yourself for your injury. We see fans do this too often. You may think you should have caught the ball, or that it was your fault you slipped on the stairs, but the law disagrees. You have a right to enjoy a baseball game without risk of injury, and stadiums are supposed to be designed to make sure that’s possible. Never blame yourself.
Alcohol Consumption May Affect Your Claim
Truist Park sells alcoholic beverages, and many fans enjoy them during the game. You have the same rights to a financial recovery whether you were drinking or not. Just like a bar or restaurant, a stadium is supposed to anticipate that some customers may be “buzzed,” and provide a safe environment for everybody. Drinking does not mean your accident is your fault.
However, the courts may look at your case differently if you were intoxicated. The best way to decide how to proceed with your case, and how the courts might view it, is to discuss what happened with your lawyer.
Most Common Injuries at Truist Park
Any kind of injury could qualify for financial recovery, but there are two types of accidents that are most common:
- Falling
- Being hit with a baseball
- Both can cause serious injuries but in very different ways
A stray baseball can hit the stands at very high speeds, potentially causing a head injury or even serious brain damage. A ball can also injure the face, arms, fingers, or hands as a fan tries to catch it or shield themselves.
Falling accidents are most dangerous when someone falls over a guardrail from an upper level of the stadium. This is a sadly common occurrence at all baseball stadiums, with 24 people having fallen to their deaths in Major League ballparks since the late 1960s.
Many falling slip and fall accidents at Truist Park are much less dramatic but equally serious. For example, simply slipping and falling on the stadium stairs can lead to a broken ankle, broken arms, head injury, or other serious conditions.
Stray Baseball Injuries Are Serious
These injuries can be life-threatening and are among the most common baseball injuries. Fans have been struck not only by balls but by fragments of broken bats as well. This has led to injuries including:
- Wounds that require stitches
- Concussions
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Fractured skulls
- Eye injuries
- Broken jaws
- Missing teeth
Most baseball fields do use netting to protect some areas of seating from foul balls. But the netting shields a relatively narrow area, and there are hundreds of seats in areas that foul balls can hit, with no protection at all.
Statute of Limitations for Injuries at Truist Park
The courts in Atlanta follow strict timelines set by state and federal law. If you were injured at Truist Park, you have up to two years to file your claim under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) § 9-3-33.
However, there are many cases where the timeline may be much shorter. Don’t wait too long to get started on your claim. Doing so makes it harder for you to win financial compensation. Do not risk missing your chance to win a fair settlement for your damages and talk to a lawyer right away.
Talk to a Truist Park Accident and Injury Lawyer for Free
If you or someone you love was hurt at Truist Park, you have rights. Let the Truist Park accident and injury lawyers at John Foy & Associates help you today. We’ve been helping personal injury victims for more than 20 years. We charge you nothing unless we win you money.
Call us or fill out our online contact form and get your free consultation today.
(404) 400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
