When professional athletes suffer injuries that prevent them from playing their particular sport, the impact on their financial stability can be devastating. If the injury is the result of the negligence of somebody else, grounds to file a lawsuit may exist. Tennis star Eugenie Bouchard filed such a lawsuit that recently ended with a settlement agreement in a New York civil court. This came more than two years after she suffered a brain injury for which she blamed the United States Tennis Association.
According to court documents, the plaintiff took part in the 2015 U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows when she entered the locker room one evening and slipped on the floor that had just been cleaned. She claims to have suffered a concussion that led to her drop from number five on the WTA Rankings — after she was a Wimbledon finalist before the fall — to outside the top 100. Bouchard claims to have had to withdraw from many subsequent matches, and even retire in one match due to dizziness.
The plaintiff claims that the concussion she suffered has had long-term consequences and that her inability to compete since the incident has caused a significant drop in earnings. After deliberation, the jury found that the USTA 75 percent at fault. After negotiations that lasted for several hours following the verdict, an undisclosed settlement was reached.
Anyone in New York who suffers brain injury due to the negligence of another may have grounds to pursue financial relief. The most logical step might be to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney who can assess the circumstances and determine the best way forward. If there is a viable claim, the lawyer can assist in the ensuing proceedings to pursue recovery of financial and emotional damages sustained.
Source: vavel.com, “Eugenie Bouchard secures undisclosed settlement from USTA following 2015 fall“, Oliver Dickson Jefford, Feb. 24, 2018
