Turner Field Accidents
Going to a ballgame with your family is a wholesome American pastime. Turner Field, home of the Atlanta Braves, is a stadium where fans can cheer on their favorite players and enjoy a fun-filled day with a hot dog and a cold beer. It isn’t a place where you’d expect disaster to occur.
Unfortunately, since it began operating in 1997, multiple fans have been injured and even killed at Turner Field. Grief over losing a loved one, permanent disability, severe financial distress, and other hardships can all be the result of ballpark accidents.
Attorney for Turner Field Accidents in Atlanta, GA
If you or someone you know has been injured or killed at Turner Field, one of the first steps in making a full recovery is to contact an Atlanta personal injury attorney. The Balams Firm has represented Georgia clients in personal injury cases arising from many different kinds of accidents.
The Balams Firm fights for maximum compensation for personal injury victims throughout the surrounding areas, in Marietta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Lawrenceville, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Duluth, Dunwoody, East Point, Norcross, Forest Park, Smyrna, Milton, Riverdale, Decatur, College Park, and elsewhere in Fulton County, Gwinnett County, Cobb County, DeKalb County and Clayton County. Call (404) 445-2005 for a free consultation today.
Overview of Turner Field Accident Law in Georgia
- Legal Standards for Turner Field Injuries
- Common Types of Accidents at Turner Field
- Additional Resources
Legal Standards for Turner Field Injuries
Injuries or deaths at another person’s or commercial entity’s property fall under what is known as premises liability. Owners of commercial establishments must make sure that people are protected from injury while on their premises. Most personal injury suits, including premises liability cases, use a standard called negligence. Under negligence, a defendant is liable if they owed a legal “duty” to you and “breached” that duty by taking, or failing to take, certain actions that resulted in an injury to you.
For example, a store might have a duty to make sure that the inventory on their shelves is properly secured and might breach that duty by poorly storing items so that they fell on top of you and broke your arm. Because actual application of this standard to unique cases is very complex, it is important to contact an experienced professional to assist you in moving forward.
It is very important to speak with a licensed attorney to make sure that you do not miss the deadline for filing a suit and forever forfeit your right to seek compensation for a personal injury or wrongful death. In general, these kinds of suits must be filed within two years of an injury or death as required by Georgia’s statute of limitations, but you should contact a lawyer to ensure that you do not miss your opportunity to be compensated for your injury.
Common Types of Accidents at Turner Field
Two of the most serious and common types of injuries at Turner Field are falls from upper-level seating areas and fans being struck by baseballs and broken bats, but many other kinds of injuries can take place, such as those caused by wet surfaces or defective stairs and floors.
Being struck with a baseball or bat can result in broken bones, missing teeth, stitches, disfigurement, concussions, long-term brain damage, and even death. In 2012, a family won a settlement after a 6-year-old girl was struck with a ball, resulting in traumatic brain injury and extensive fractures to her skull.
In many other states, courts apply the “Baseball Rule”, which states that baseball teams cannot be held liable as long as netting is provided and enough seats are offered behind the netting for anyone who wishes to purchase seats there. This rule is not in effect in Georgia, which makes it easier to effectively sue if you are struck with a ball or bat at Turner Field.
Falls from seating areas have caused numerous deaths and injuries at Turner Field. Although the stands do have guardrails to deter accidents, some lawsuits in Georgia have argued that the height of the guardrails may be too short and fall below industry standards. Some upper-level seating has caused fans to fall and sustain serious injuries. Even wrongful death has occurred from falls at major league stadiums. Over 20 deaths have resulted from falls at MLB ballparks since 1969.
Many people think that the victims are to blame for their accidents because they were not careful enough or should have caught or avoided the ball. This is not how the law works and you should still contact an experienced attorney even if you think you were partially at fault.
It is also common to blame the victim for being intoxicated, but stadiums have a duty to anticipate that some fans may be drinking at games and design their facilities accordingly. Being drunk will not prevent you from being compensated for your injury, though courts may weigh it as a factor in determining how much you are owed.
Even if you feel you should have been more careful or if your injuries seem minor, you may still be entitled to a substantial monetary award. The best way to understand the potential outcome of your particular case is to contact an experienced attorney.
Additional Resources
National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security – The NCS4 at the University of Mississippi investigates injuries and deaths at sports arenas. They try to learn about what can go wrong and develop best practices to increase safety. You can visit the site to learn more about accidents at sports arenas.
“Braves settle lawsuit over foul ball that injured 6-year-old girl”, Atlanta Journal-Constitution – Article about the Turner Field case referenced above. Show how serious accidents at Turner Field can be. The article also highlights the potential legal outcomes of these injuries.
Atlanta Lawyer for Turner Field Accidents
Accidents at Turner Field can result in serious injury or death, and you may be owed a substantial amount of money, including compensation for hospital bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other kinds of damages. Calculating the true cost of a personal injury is a complicated legal issue that must be handled by a licensed attorney to ensure that you get every last penny you are owed.
We have experience representing Georgia clients in cases involving many different kinds of injuries. Over the years we have gained the skill and knowledge needed to fight for maximum compensation for your accident. Call The Balams Firm at (404) 445-2005 for a free consultation today!
