The Risks of Skateboarding
From the young to the young at heart, sports can be a great way for people of all ages to exercise while concurrently serving as a form of entertainment. All sports carry the potential for injury. However, some sports are more dangerous than others – and skateboarding falls under this umbrella. One of the biggest reasons why skateboarding can be so dangerous is that those participating in it often do so on communal areas such as sidewalks and even roads. For this reason, when injuries occur they can be especially tragic.
According to the South Florida Sun Sentinel, a 15-year-old boy was recently killed after he was struck by a vehicle in a skateboarding accident in Fort Lauderdale. A police spokeswoman told reporters that the driver of the car that hit the boy has not yet been identified. While police were reportedly not planning to charge the driver in the crash with a crime, the family of the victim in this case and others in similar situations have every right to pursue a civil lawsuit against negligent responsible parties.
How Often Do Skateboarding Injuries Happen?
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has estimated over 98,000 people were treated in hospital emergency rooms for skateboarding-related injuries in just the year 2017. Perhaps unsurprisingly in lieu of the demographics the sport is popular among, the overwhelming majority of these injuries occurred to young males who were between the ages of 15 and 24.
What Kinds of Injuries Can Result From Skateboarding Accidents?
- Cuts, bruises and lacerations
- Fractures and broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Temporary or permanent paralysis
- In the worst cases, even death
Why Can Skateboarding Accidents Lead to Such Tragic Results?
Unlike when one car hits another, skateboards offer little to no protection in terms of a physical barrier surrounding the rider. Additionally, while the bulk of skateboard riders probably understand that they should wear helmets, many riders don’t bother with this potentially lifesaving protective gear that can also protect one of the most compromised areas – the head. Therefore, skateboard riders are an especially vulnerable group of accident victims.
Should I Contact an Attorney?
In many circumstances, yes. Tragically, one of the biggest threats to skateboard riders is a factor they have no control over – the negligent or reckless behavior of drivers that can result in horrible skateboarding injuries. If you or your loved one has been hurt because of another person, you deserve fair compensation. Additionally, you should understand that you may also be entitled to compensation from a manufacturer if you are injured because of a manufacturing or design defect in your skateboard or helmets. Either way, you should reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney as quickly as possible to preserve your rights.
Let Us Help You Today
Then allow us to help. Contact the experienced Orlando personal injury attorneys of The Pendas Law Firm today and we will help you recover the compensation you are entitled to.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Fort Myers, Daytona, Jacksonville, and Bradenton areas.
Resource:
sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-ne-fort-lauderdale-teen-killed-20190331-story.html
https://www.pendaslaw.com/lifeguard-duties-and-responsibility/
