Liability in motorsport spectator injuries: 4 things to know

Motorsports are exciting to watch. But even as a spectator, one can get involved in an accident. Such sporting events typically take all the necessary precautions to ensure that attendees of the event are not put in harm’s way. But what happens when one or a few people get hurt at the event? Who is held liable?

This article will highlight what you need to know if someone was injured at a motorsport event. 

1. Teams And Facilities Can Be Held Liable 

Accidents on the race track have resulted in many fatalities, including one during the Indianapolis 500. A mechanical difficulty caused a projectile to hit a spectator in the head, who succumbed to severe head trauma and blood loss. Parties who won the lawsuit proved that the competing teams and the facilities could not provide adequate spectator protection.   

Sporting venues back then were using the Baseball Rule loophole against liability. The Baseball Rule is a legal concept responsible for limiting the duties of baseball venues to protect sporting fans. Players could hit a foul ball and fly to the stands toward the spectators, but it was assumed that attendees were aware of the associated danger of watching baseball. It is a doctrine that various sporting events have adopted, including motorsport venues.  

But the court may side with injured spectators if proven that their safety was neglected. Organizers, participants, venue owners, and sporting teams could take responsibility for injuries and wrongful deaths if negligence by the parties does not account for the risks that spectators presumably accepted. Spectators injured in motorsports events should seek someone to consult with to gain more insight regarding their case or possible lawsuit and if they have a chance.  

2. What Lawsuits Need To Succeed 

Sports spectator injuries will revolve around negligence principles. The court will also ask the following questions: 

• Is the spectator aware and understands the risks of attending the sporting event? 
• Does the patron know the apparent danger and still risk watching the event? 
• Could there have been any additional measures that the venue could’ve added at a reasonable cost that won’t interfere with visibility? 
• Is the danger obvious enough that the venue’s owner didn’t feel they had an obligation to protect spectators?  

The injured party must be able to bring attention to the defendant who breached their duty and that they owe the spectator duty of reasonable…