Kent County Sports Facility Injury Attorney: Unsafe Fields, Broken Bones

Sports are supposed to build strength—not break you. But when fields are cracked, courts are uneven, equipment is faulty, or supervision is nonexistent, what begins as a workout or a game can end in an ambulance.

These injuries aren’t just bad luck. They’re often the result of negligence.

Whether you’re a student-athlete, weekend warrior, or gym member, you have a right to a safe environment. In Kent County, too many facilities cut corners—failing to repair hazards, hire qualified staff, or comply with safety regulations. When they do, the risk isn’t just discomfort—it’s broken bones, concussions, spinal trauma, and permanent disability.

And under Michigan law, they can be held accountable.

You don’t have to absorb the cost of their carelessness. Medical bills, missed work, long-term rehabilitation—if a facility’s failure caused your injury, you may be entitled to significant compensation.

At Marko Law, we represent those who’ve been hurt when others fail to protect them. We investigate fast, collect evidence, and fight hard—because too many sports facilities hide behind waivers, red tape, and denial.

Legal Theories Behind Sports Facility Injury Claims

Premises Liability

Under Michigan’s premises liability law, the owner or operator of a sports facility owes a duty of care to anyone lawfully on the premises—whether that’s a paying gym member, a student-athlete, or a weekend league player.

• Invitees (e.g., paying guests, athletes) are owed the highest level of protection.
• Licensees (e.g., volunteers, guests) are still entitled to a reasonable duty of care.

Owners can be held liable if they knew—or should have known—about a hazardous condition and failed to fix it or warn people. Examples include:

• Loose floorboards or turf
• Cracked courts or sidewalks
• Exposed wiring, broken bleachers, or slippery surfaces

If you were hurt because of a dangerous condition on-site, you may have a premises liability claim.

Negligence

Sometimes the issue isn’t the condition of the facility—but how it’s operated. If a sports facility or staff fails to act with reasonable care, that’s negligence.

This includes:

• Failure to maintain or inspect equipment (e.g., broken weight machines or damaged mats)
• Lack of trained supervision—especially during youth sports or high-risk activities
• Failure to follow proper safety protocols (e.g., no CPR-trained staff, missing emergency exits)

Under Michigan law, you must prove:

1. The facility owed you a duty of care
2. They breached that duty
3. The breach caused your injury
4. You suffered real damages (medical bills, lost wages, pain, etc.)

Product Liability

Not every sports injury is caused by the facility itself. In some cases, the equipment fails. When that happens, manufacturers, suppliers, or retailers may be liable.

Common product liability issues include:

• Helmets that crack under normal use
• Treadmills with defective safety stops
• Collapsing basketball rims or broken benches

Under the Michigan Product Liability Act (MCL 600.2945–600.2949a), you may be able to sue based on:

• Design Defect: The product was inherently unsafe from the start
• Manufacturing Defect: A flaw occurred during production
• Failure to Warn: Instructions were unclear or missing

In these cases, you don’t have to prove negligence—just that the defect caused your injury.

Governmental Liability

If your injury occurred at a publicly-owned facility—such as a school gymnasium, municipal sports field, or city-run recreation center—different legal rules apply.

These entities are protected under the Governmental Tort Liability Act (MCL 691.1401 et seq), which sets strict procedures and limited windows for filing claims.

Key factors:

• You must file a notice of intent to sue within 120 days of the injury
• The government agency may assert immunity defenses, which can shield them from liability unless exceptions apply
• Claims must show the government failed in their statutory duties—such as building maintenance or public safety obligations

Despite the added hurdles, you may still have a valid claim, especially in cases involving known dangers or failure to follow safety laws. These cases require aggressive legal action and fast response.

Assumption of Risk and Waivers

Most sports facilities, leagues, and gyms require you to sign liability waivers before participating—but here’s the truth:

Michigan courts carefully evaluate these agreements, and they don’t automatically excuse a facility from responsibility. Here’s what you need to know:

• Waivers must be clear, unambiguous, and specifically worded to be enforceable
• They do not cover gross negligence, reckless behavior, or intentional harm
• If the language is vague or overly broad, it may be thrown out by the court
• Minors cannot legally waive their rights—and parents’ signatures may not always bind them

Evidence Needed to Support a Sports Injury Claim

Scene Photos & Videos

Visual evidence is powerful. Photos or video of the exact spot where the injury happened can:

• Document unsafe conditions—cracked turf, wet floors, broken equipment
• Show lack of warning signs or safety barriers
• Capture how the facility looked before any cover-up or repair

If available, we also seek surveillance footage, which is often overwritten quickly—so timing matters.

Maintenance Logs, Repair Records, or Inspections

We demand access to facility records that may show:

• How often inspections were done
• Whether past issues were flagged and ignored
• A pattern of negligent upkeep or budget-driven shortcuts

A lack of documentation or ignored maintenance schedules can point to systemic failure—and strengthen your claim.

Medical Records & Emergency Reports

To connect the dots between the unsafe condition and your injury, we gather:

• ER records, scans, and doctor evaluations
• Surgical or rehab notes
• Diagnosis of long-term damage (e.g., torn ligaments, head trauma)
• Emergency responder reports from the facility or 911 calls

These records anchor your claim in medical fact and help prove pain, recovery time, and prognosis.

Eyewitness or Staff Statements

Other athletes, coaches, or staff may have seen:

• The hazard before it caused harm
• The incident itself
• A pattern of similar issues

We track down and interview witnesses early—before memories fade or stories change. Their accounts validate your version of events and may contradict the facility’s denial.

Signed Waivers or Facility Contracts

If you signed a waiver or membership agreement, we analyze the fine print. These documents often include:

• Assumption of risk clauses
• Release of liability language
• Terms that may be unenforceable or overbroad under Michigan law

Expert Testimony

In complex injury cases, expert input can make or break a case. We work with:

• Athletic trainers to explain proper safety protocols
• Safety engineers to testify about facility design flaws
• Medical experts to describe how your injuries happened and what recovery looks like

Expert analysis gives your claim credibility in court and leverage in negotiation.

Damages You May Be Entitled to Under Michigan Law

Economic Damages

These are out-of-pocket financial losses you’ve suffered as a direct result of your injury. They’re measurable, provable—and fully recoverable.

• Emergency Medical Treatment: Ambulance rides, ER visits, imaging scans, and hospital stays
• Surgical & Long-Term Medical Care: Operations, physical therapy, specialist visits
• Rehabilitation & Mobility Aids: Braces, wheelchairs, crutches, or ongoing therapy
• Lost Wages: Paychecks missed while recovering
• Reduced Earning Capacity: If your injury affects your ability to return to your job or earn the same income

Non-Economic Damages

Some damage doesn’t show up on a bill—but it’s just as real. Non-economic damages compensate you for how the injury changed your life.

• Pain and Suffering: From physical pain to chronic discomfort
• Emotional Distress: Anxiety, depression, PTSD, or fear of returning to physical activity
• Loss of Enjoyment of Life: When your injury stops you from doing what you love—sports, work, parenting, or hobbies
• Scarring or Disfigurement: Especially in visible areas or for young athletes

Special Damages

Some injuries are so serious they affect not just the victim—but their family.

• Loss of Consortium: When a spouse or partner suffers due to changes in your physical or emotional capacity
• Wrongful Death: If a facility’s negligence leads to fatal injuries, surviving family members may pursue damages under MCL 600.2922 for funeral costs, loss of companionship, and more

When Negligence Enters the Game, Justice Must Follow

Broken bones. Torn ligaments. Lifelong pain. These aren’t just injuries—they’re the fallout of someone else’s failure to act. When schools, gyms, or sports complexes cut corners, the consequences land on you.

You shouldn’t have to pay the price for their negligence.

At Marko Law, we don’t just file paperwork—we build powerful cases designed to hold facilities accountable. We move fast to secure evidence, subpoena maintenance logs, confront insurance adjusters, and challenge liability waivers that don’t hold up in court.

Whether you were hurt on the field, in a gym, or at a city-run rec center, your rights matter—and we’re here to protect them.

Contact Marko Law for a Free Case Evaluation

Phone: +1-313-777-7777
Office: 220 W. Congress, 4th Floor, Detroit, MI 48226
Website: www.markolaw.com