Clark University student suing over crew team practices
A Clark University student, Brennan Ross, recently sued the school after suffering injuries sustained while training for the rowing team; Ross describes the injuries as debilitating and life changing. He is suing both the school and the coach, along with several former teammates.
The case comes after the New Hampshire resident was injured and in pain during crew practice, but was forced to continue to work, even after informing the coach of his pain levels. According to the Telegraph, the training included over 100 jump squats in a 5-minute period and a 5km rowing session; Ross continued to experience extreme discomfort and eventually sought medical attention.
Doctors at Exeter Hospital diagnosed Ross with “severe rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury,” which he feels is directly related to the overexertion and overtraining incident. Surgery was required, and resulted in a painful recovery period with additional complications. Both Brennan Ross and his parents have incurred significant costs related to his surgery and injury.
The lawsuit against Clark University and the other defendants accuses them of negligence, unsafe training practices and hazing of new team members. While the suit does not specify a specific dollar amount, the family has already spent almost $30,000 on treatment and care and are estimating his loss earnings potential at $500,000.
Sports injuries can have devastating consequences
The Clark University case shines a light on the potential harm that can occur in a sports program or training environment; you don’t have to be on the Crew team to sustain a significant injury or be impacted by a neglectful staff.
Other sports, including baseball, basketball and football can cause traumatic injury with devastating consequences, particularly if the coach or staff does not respond appropriately to player complaints or injury reports. Athletes don’t have to be in college to sustain lifelong injuries during training; elementary, middle and high school students can be significantly injured due to negligence as well.
Even the NFL is under fire for concussion injuries; in 2013, about 5,000 retired players joined a class action suit related to concussions and head injury while training or playing in the league. The cost for the settlement could be as high as $1 billion. The league stands accused of underplaying the risk that players face while training and playing the game; traumatic brain injury related to repeated impact caused long-term, irreversible injury to the professional athletes included in the settlement.
What do After a Sports or Training Injury
From professional athletes to school children, training for a sport under an undertrained or negligent coach can have a catastrophic impact on your health and wellbeing. It’s important to be aware of the role that the organization or school must play in informing players about the risks of training and the potential negligence that could result from overtraining, hazing or overworking players.
- Record the details: If you or your child has been forced to continue training after reporting an injury, make specific notes about the incident, including what happened, the witnesses and the outcome.
- Report the incident: Report what happened to the school or organization to document the incident.
- Seek out medical treatment: Brennan Ross’s case involved the overworking of the thigh muscles, but resulted in kidney damage due to rhabdomyolysis. Seeking out medical treatment can ensure you are getting the proper care and document your claim as well.
- See an attorney: If the school is not taking responsibility for your child’s injuries, it is time to seek out professional help and explore your options.
If you or your child has been injured while training or participating in a sport, a personal injury attorney can help you get the information you need about your potential case. Never accept a settlement or sign an agreement without seeking professional advice first; some injuries have far reaching implications on your health, wellbeing and livelihood and you deserve to be compensated accordingly.
How we can Help
Our personal injury team understands sports injuries and the role that a school, coach or even teammates can have in an injury case. Contact us if you or a loved one has been injured while practicing or competing;we’re here to make sure you are treated fairly by the organization and their insurance company.
