Sporting injury claims

If you were injured in an accident while taking part in sport or exercise, you may be able to make a sports injury claim. We’ve been handling personal injury claims for four decades, so we can advise whether you have a case.

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Reviewed by

Angela Dobbs

Partner, Head of Personal Injury

Last Updated

14th July 2026

Can I make a sporting injury claim?

You can make a sports injury compensation claim if you were injured while taking part in sport or exercise because another person or organisation failed to take reasonable care.

Common reasons for sports injury claims include injuries caused by: playing surfaces; faulty equipment; poor supervision; unsafe conduct; poor organisation; horse riding or snow sports.

Your solicitor’s first job is to identify who failed in their duty of care to you. That might be a sports club, event organiser, instructor, venue, equipment provider, or another participant. They then bring your claim against them.

There are legal time limits for sports injury claims, so contact us as soon as you can, even if you believe you were partly responsible for the accident. Contact us online for a free initial assessment.

Example of a sporting injury claim

Imagine you attend an organised climbing event and your climbing equipment fails. If we can argue the equipment failure is caused by poor maintenance, causing you to fall and hurt yourself, you may be entitled to make a claim.

Common sporting injury claims we support

Expertise you can trust

9/10 clients would recommend us
APIL Accredited Experts
4000+ client outcomes achieved in the last 12 months

What compensation can help with

Man with tattooed arm in wheelchair holding a tennis racket on an indoor court

Recovering lost income and covering future care

How much compensation you get for your sports injury depends on how severe it was and the impact it has on you personally and professionally.

It might be useful to retain receipts for associated costs, salary records, treatment invoices, and travel records – but our team can support you when gathering evidence.

A successful sporting injury claim could fund:

Follow-up appointments and treatment for your injury
Psychological support and counselling for the anxiety and distress caused
Loss of earnings if your injury has affected your ability to work
Travel costs related to hospital appointments and treatment
Care and assistance costs if your daily life has been significantly affected
General damages for pain, suffering and loss of amenity

Understanding the potential value

In one recent case, one client, an adult riding-school pupil, was thrown from her horse during a lesson. We proved the level of harm she had suffered and the lack of reasonable care taken by the riding school, leading to a substantial award. The potential value of sporting injury claim compensation depends on the severity of the injury and the recovery time.

Understanding general and special damages

There are two parts to a compensation award: general and special. General compensation is payment for your pain, suffering and loss of amenity. Your solicitor will calculate what they believe your case is worth. Minor injuries you recover from quickly pay out less than more serious injuries. On top of your general compensation is special compensation. This covers you for costs relating to your accident, like lost wages, home or car adaptations, and treatment costs the NHS doesn’t pay for.

Specialist sporting injury claim solicitors

We’ve represented clients in sports injury compensation claims since 1987.

Why choose Fletchers for your sporting injury claim

We’ve recovered millions of pounds for clients for over forty years. We will put that experience to work when managing your sporting injury claim. Our personal injury specialists have been recognised by legal directories such as Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 - so you can be assured you’re in the best possible hands.

Expertise you can rely on

Lexcel accredited by the Law Society
Solicitors accredited by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL)
Ranked by Chambers and the Legal 500
Recognised with national personal injury awards
A trusted partner of the Spinal Injuries Association
We work on a ‘No win, No Fee’ basis

You’re not alone

We’re here to help you throughout your claim

A sporting injury affects more than just your physical health. It stops you from doing the sport or exercise you enjoy while you’re recovering, which is especially frustrating when the injury was not your fault.

A serious injury can also keep you out of work and leave you out of pocket. Leaning on friends and family while you get better can be especially difficult when you’re used to being independent.

When you’re feeling like this, the idea of complicating life further by bringing a compensation claim may feel like the last thing you need. But speak to our other clients who were in the same situation, and they’ll tell you that taking that step was worth it. Many say that getting their compensation was a key milestone on their journey because they felt justice had been done.

We take care of everything. We’ll keep you up to date with how your claim is progressing. We’ll handle the paperwork and speak to everyone involved so you can get on with your recovery.

Happy amputee doing exercises for upper body strength on exercise machine at gym.

Rehabilitation support

We go beyond legal advice to support you, not just your case, making sure the right care and practical help are in place throughout the compensation claim process.

A message from our Rehabilitation and Wellbeing Team

We work alongside Fletchers Solicitors’ legal experts – listening carefully to your needs, helping you understand what support is available and creating a personalised recovery plan.

Led by rehabilitation manager Julie Chorlton, we bring together expertise across healthcare, therapy and welfare support, and can help arrange access to treatment and financial support. We also work with accredited mental health professionals, giving you and your family access to counselling quickly.

OUR REHABILITATION & WELLBEING TEAM

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FAQs about supermarket accident claims

Can I claim for a sporting injury?

You may be able to claim for a sporting injury if it was the fault of another person or organisation that had a duty of care to you. That could be a supplier who sold you faulty equipment or a personal trainer who pushed you beyond a safe limit. Tell us what happened to you and we’ll let you know whether you have grounds to claim.

How long after a sporting injury can I make a claim?

You have up to three years to make the claim from the date of the accident or the date when you realised the accident had caused your injury.

There are some exceptions to the three-year rule, but you should check with a solicitor to see if they apply to you.

How long does a sporting injury claim take?

Minor and less severe sports injuries can settle in months if the other party admits liability. However, it may take up to two or three years for more complex cases to resolve, especially when the other party doesn’t accept liability.

How to start a sporting injury claim?

Start by contacting Fletchers for a free initial assessment. We’ll let you know if you have a viable claim after you tell us about the accident, who was involved, and the effect it’s had on your life.

Do sporting injury claims go to court?

Some claims may involve going to court if the other side denies liability or they won’t agree on a settlement value. In most cases, we negotiate the settlement value with the other party, meaning we won’t need a judge to secure your compensation.