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What to Do Immediately After a Sports Injury: Legal Steps

By Katrina Elsey

Published In: Personal Injury

Sports injuries can happen to anyone, whether you’re playing competitively, training at a club, or simply enjoying sport in your free time. While many injuries are just part of being active, sometimes they happen because of negligence. If your injury was caused by poor supervision, unsafe facilities, or a lack of proper medical support, you may be able to make a claim.

sports injury footballer

Knowing what to do in the moments and days after an injury can make a real difference, both to your recovery and to protecting your legal rights. At Switalskis, we’re here to guide you through every stage of that journey.

Get medical help straight away

Your health always comes first. If you’ve suffered a serious injury, seek emergency treatment immediately. For less urgent injuries, make an appointment with your GP or visit a walk-in centre. Having a medical record of your injury is not only important for your recovery, but also provides valuable evidence if you later decide to bring a claim.

Report what happened

If your injury took place during organised sport, let the coach, club, or facility manager know as soon as possible. Ask for the details to be recorded in their accident book and, if you can, keep a copy for your records. This helps to establish what happened and when.

Collect Evidence

Where it’s safe and possible to do so, try to gather information that could support your claim:

·         Take photos of the area and anything that may have contributed to your injury, such as faulty equipment or unsafe surfaces.

·         Ask witnesses for their names and contact details.

·         Keep receipts for any medical treatment, travel costs or other expenses linked to your injury.

This can help build a stronger case if you decide to pursue a sports injury claim.

Understand who may be responsible

Who is legally responsible for a sports injury depends on the circumstances. Responsibility could rest with:

·         A coach or club, if they failed to provide proper training or supervision.

·         The facility owner, if the playing surface or equipment was unsafe.

·         Another player, if their reckless behaviour caused your injury.

Speaking with a solicitor who specialises in sports injury claims can help you understand where liability may lie and what your next steps should be.

Get advice from a specialist solicitor

If you believe your injury was caused by negligence, it’s important to get advice as soon as possible. A specialist solicitor can assess the strength of your claim, explain your options clearly, and guide you through the process.

At Switalskis, we have experience helping people secure compensation to cover medical treatment, rehabilitation, lost earnings and, where needed, long-term care.

Why acting quickly matters

Taking early legal steps can make the claims process easier. It ensures evidence is preserved and helps you avoid missing strict time limits for bringing a claim. In most personal injury cases, you have three years from the date of the accident, but it’s best to seek advice as soon as you can.

How Switalskis can support you

We understand that a sports injury can affect much more than your physical health. It can impact your work, your independence, and your wellbeing. Our team is here to listen, support you through your recovery, and help you move forward with confidence.

If you’ve been injured while playing sport and believe negligence was involved, we’re here to help you explore your options.

Find out how Switalskis can help you

Call Switalskis today on 0800 1380 458 . Alternatively, contact us through the website to learn more.

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Katrina has over 25 years’ experience in the legal sector. She is a Senior Associate Personal Injury Manager in the Personal Injury department.

Senior Associate Personal Injury Manager

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