Common Accidents That Happen During College Sports

By participating in college sports, athletes can enhance their physical fitness, learn teamwork, and hone their skills—but they also put themselves at risk. To mitigate these risks, students, parents, and coaches should understand the common accidents that can occur during collegiate athletics and what to do if an injury does occur.

Though the exact accidents look different from person to person, our legal team sees certain injury cases more often than we see others. Some are minor—but some severe instances require medical intervention and lead to long-term consequences.

• Concussions: Student athletes in high-contact sports like football, soccer, and basketball can sustain a concussion in a freak accident. Possible symptoms include headaches, dizziness, confusion, or even sporadic loss of consciousness and long-term effects on cognitive function.
• Sprains and Strains: Sprains (which involve the overuse of ligaments) and strains (dealing with the muscles and tendons) usually occur in sports with sudden movements, like jumping or pivoting. So athletes playing basketball, soccer, and tennis—all activities that involve quick changes of direction—are at higher risk.
• Fractures: Athletes who compete in sports with a risk of falling and impact, like wrestling and gymnastics, are more likely to sustain fractures and broken bones. These injuries require immediate medical attention and, usually, a long recovery period.
• Dislocations: Though not as severe as a broken bone, a joint dislocation in the shoulders, knees, and fingers can cause significant pain. Usually, dislocations require the help of a medical professional.
• Overuse Injuries: Sports-related injuries do not need to be acute or sudden. Overuse injuries, like stress fractures and tendonitis in sports like running and swimming, can start minor and get progressively more severe over time.

How Do College Sports Accidents Happen?

But not all athletes suffer from sports-related injuries—so what are the common denominators? Usually, cases involve a combination of the following factors:

• Inadequate Training and Supervision: When coaches and school administration fail to provide proper training and supervision, they endanger their student-athletes. Coaches need to teach their athletes how to compete safely and continually ensure their students are not putting themselves or others at risk.
• Poor Playing Conditions: If the time has eroded a soccer field or the cleaning staff has not maintained the basketball court—among other hazards—these poor playing conditions can put student-athletes at risk of injury. The school’s administration must perform regular safety inspections to minimize this risk.
• Intense Competition and Overexertion: College sports are competitive, which can lead to overexertion and injuries. Coaches and administration must promote a balance between competitiveness and safety.
• Lack of Proper Equipment: Outdated or faulty equipment can increase the risk of injury—especially in high-contact sports. The school administration must ensure that all equipment is up-to-date and meets the relevant safety standards.

What Should You Do If You Are Injured in a College Sports Accident?

If you or a loved one sustained a college sports-related injury, our personal injury lawyers at Lombardi and Lombardi, P.A. can help provide relief. We know how severe and painful these injuries can be and how comforting it is to have an attorney by your side through it all. We have helped secure over $400 million in client settlements and verdicts. With our over 35 years of experience, we will investigate the facts, identify the responsible parties, and hold them accountable for your sports-related accident.

Monmouth County Personal Injury Lawyers at Lombardi and Lombardi, P.A. Advocate for College Athletes

College sports should be a rewarding, enjoyable, and injury-free experience. If you or your student-athlete has been injured in a college sports accident, our Monmouth County personal injury lawyers at Lombardi & Lombardi, P.A. can help.

Call us at 732-906-1500 or complete our online form. We are located in Brick, Freehold, Point Pleasant, and Edison, New Jersey and serve clients throughout the state. We offer a free consultation to evaluate your case.