Serious lawsuits and injuries can happen in your sports organization.
Ask yourself: Are you fully protected?
Our sports insurance clients file a large number of small to medium sized claims. But, we often hear “horror stories” about serious lawsuits and injuries. Besides being an insurance advisor, I am also an attorney and I know how these “horror stories” can turn into fear and worry. Will you be sued? How will you pay the medical bills?
I wanted to share these cases with you so that you will have a better understanding of some of the risks that you may face in the running of a sports organization. Below are descriptions of actual cases from our clients, including insurance carrier payment amounts.
General Liability Lawsuits
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- Youth camper near drowning incident in swimming pool resulting in brain injury. TX $3,387,832
- Assistant coach was struck in the face by a pitched baseball while warming up the pitcher. FL $1,001,857
- Youth football player died from heat stroke. GA $1,000,000
- Alleged defamation against a league vendor. VA $388,417
- Bleacher collapse with multiple injuries. LA $362,825
- Child’s arm caught under tire after falling off parade float. NC $345,050
- Spectator was struck in the jaw by an overthrown ball while standing in the spectator area. Player who threw the ball was warming up outside of the playing field. LA $326,212
- Coach accused of inappropriate conduct with minor. AL $321,000
- Player drowned in a lake while on a team picnic outing. SC $319,403
- Batted ball travelled through netting in L Screen hitting coach. LA $198,823
- Spectator hit in head by line drive while standing in line. SC $196,614
- Sponsor signage blocked view resulting in auto fatality. FL $119,867
- Concession stand worker injured back. CT $174,794
- Youth football player tackled by opposing player. MD $141,658
- Player ran out of bounds and stepped in hole fracturing elbow. CA $89,996
- Parent sued for defamation. CA $84,610
- Children swinging on gate knock another child down. TX $82,572
- Child sustained injuries after his arm went through a glass window. FL $77,200
- Player driven into 1st down marker, fracturing arm. CT $75,000
- Spectator behind batting cage hit in head by ball. FL $75,000
- Roughhousing during team outing resulting in fractured elbow. NY $65,855
- Parent fell in hole while walking between fields. FL $65,000
- Spectator suffered dislocated elbow after being struck when strong winds blew a tent over. NJ $62,346
- Spectator fractured both ankles after stepping in a washed out grassy area. TN $41,781
- Baseball player was hit in mouth by bat of another player while in on-deck circle. FL $41,908
- Spectator suffered leg laceration from metal bolt protruding from bleachers. RI $40,000
- Spectator was hit in the head by a thrown ball during warm-ups resulting in head fracture and blood clot. MS $31,300
- Coach was struck by baseball by one of the players from another team while coach was leaving the field. LA $13,898
- Player injured while playing in creek. TN $20,000
- Spectator fell off the grandstand and suffered head injury. SC $4,487
- Youth football player was scolded by coach, humiliated, and forced to quit the team. CA $19,626
- Infant was struck in head by foul ball. FL $5,000
- Coach was observing tryouts from bleachers and caught foot and fell tearing ACL. NJ $12,906
- While sliding into third base, claimant suffered laceration to lower leg. OH $15,829
- Scorekeeper hit in head by foul ball resulting in concussion. MS $6,249
- Spectator hit in face by baseball bat that flew out of batter’s hand. SC $5,078
- Person injured when pinned between scoreboard table and golf cart. MS $50,000
- Driver’s vision obscured by signage, kills passerby when making turn. FL $119,867
- Children injured in bleacher collapse. LA $81,000
- Children climbing on statue at awards banquet damage water fountain. IL $4,789
- Spectator amputates finger while playing on swinging gate. IL $41,739
- Parent lacerated head after tripping on uneven walkway to field. PA $25,514
- Football equipment fell on minor. MI $271,464
- Child fell through bleachers. CA $136,670
- Spectators tripped and fell walking to restroom. CT $135,000
- Trip and fall injury to participant. IL 134,956
Directors & Officers Liability Lawsuits
- Alleged race discrimination for not allowing a team to join a football league resulted in no judgment or settlement being paid but in legal fees. WV $24,715
- Alleged race discrimination for not allowing a team to join a baseball league resulted in no judgment or settlement being paid but in legal fees. MS $28,912
Volunteer Thefts – Crime Policy
- President of baseball league took money from league funds and did not repay. FL $3,230
- Director in charge of special projects took funds from BBQ and candy sales. TX $5,861
Equipment Losses – Equipment Policy
Water damage to uniforms and equipment. MI $57,547- Fire damaged equipment and baseball items. NY $62,380
- Theft of bleachers, coffee machine, concession stand damaged. MO $11,790
- Theft of football equipment. CA $28,918
- Storage trailer broken into and uniforms stolen. PA $37,688
Injuries – Accident Policy
- Running back fractured femur. CT $58,241
- Defensive back fractured shoulder during practice. $55,750
- Player injured in charter bus accident. TN $46,150
- Running back tackled resulting in knee injury. TN $31,997
- Cheerleader fell and fractured forearm. FL $25,333
- Player fractured leg sliding into 3rd base. $15,866
- Softball player fractured leg sliding into home base. MS $69,398
- Player in dugout hit in head by foul ball. FL $81,320
- Player’s face injured during practice when no helmets were worn. FL $99,263
- Assistant coach struck in face by pitched baseball while warming up pitcher. FL $104,000
- Base runner suffered tendon/ligament damage to knee as a result of contact with home plate while sliding. TX $16,953
- Infielder suffered fractured nose as a result of being struck by a thrown ball. LA $13,266
- Pitcher suffered a fractured elbow as a result of being hit by a batted ball. NC $10,497
- Base runner suffered a knee injury as a result of sliding foot first into a fixed base. TX $9,495
- Youth football player was tackled and femur fractured when player fell on him. OH $18,218
- Youth basketball player injured knee. TX $17,159
- Adult soccer player suffered detached retina. CA $19,522
- Adult soccer player suffered ACL tear. NV $18,872
- Player breaks arm in fight during football game. OK $63,567
You should be concerned. But, there is a solution.
The insurance programs offered by Sadler & Company provide superior protection at the lowest possible cost. Click on the “Get a Quote” button on the navigation bar at the top of this page for an instant online quote.
