Basketball Injury

[Noonie63]

(California)

Two weeks ago I was playing basketball with my friends. I am a girl and I play with all guys who are at least 5'11. I was under the goal going for the rebound when my teammate's elbow came down in my mouth, causing my front right tooth to be pushed back and which then chipped the adjacent right tooth. I still have very little feeling in the front tooth due to nerve damage. It cost me $80 for the x-ray. $175 to put a white feeling in the chipped tooth. I was given two options as far as getting my teeth realigned. Which are : 1.Get a retainer which will realign the tooth that was pushed back ($710). Or 2. get full mouth braces to correct my entire mouth (recommended by the ortho) ($2,500-$5700). The guy who caused the injury said he could only afford to give me $350. Which I agreed to. However now that it has come time to collect the money, he stopped returning my phone calls. I don't want to sue him because we are supposed to be friends, but he is not taking care of what he promised to. Further more I do not know if I could sue him for anything because it was an accident that happened while playing a game. Does anyone have any suggestions? Or can anyone give me any advise?


Thanks

[justalayman]

I would think this would fall under "assumed risk" and the other guy has no liability. You engaged in a behavior that is known for causing injuries and the guy apparetly did nothing intentionally.

I'm not an attorney so you might hold on for others.

[Noonie63]

yeah. Thats what I thought.

[stephenk]

I broke my right collarbone when a good friend and I both went for the ball. He fell toward the ball and I was undercut and landed on my shoulder.

Guess what? It is not negligence on my friend's part. It is all part of the game.

If you do decide to continue playing ball, wear a mouthpiece.

[BelizeBreeze]

Originally Posted by Noonie63

(California)

Two weeks ago I was playing basketball with my friends. I am a girl and I play with all guys who are at least 5'11. I was under the goal going for the rebound when my teammate's elbow came down in my mouth, causing my front right tooth to be pushed back and which then chipped the adjacent right tooth. I still have very little feeling in the front tooth due to nerve damage. It cost me $80 for the x-ray. $175 to put a white feeling in the chipped tooth. I was given two options as far as getting my teeth realigned. Which are : 1.Get a retainer which will realign the tooth that was pushed back ($710). Or 2. get full mouth braces to correct my entire mouth (recommended by the ortho) ($2,500-$5700). The guy who caused the injury said he could only afford to give me $350. Which I agreed to. However now that it has come time to collect the money, he stopped returning my phone calls. I don't want to sue him because we are supposed to be friends, but he is not taking care of what he promised to. Further more I do not know if I could sue him for anything because it was an accident that happened while playing a game. Does anyone have any suggestions? Or can anyone give me any advise?


Thanks

Yep. If you can't play with the big dogs, stay on the porch.

At 6'4" I have played/coached basketball since 9th grade. That is more years than you've been alive. With a combined 14 injuries and 11 surgeries. it ain't for little folk.

[Noonie63]

Originally Posted by BelizeBreeze

Yep. If you can't play with the big dogs, stay on the porch.

At 6'4" I have played/coached basketball since 9th grade. That is more years than you've been alive. With a combined 14 injuries and 11 surgeries. it ain't for little folk.

Are you one of those old men that love to jump in conversations with "Back when I was little...."? I have been playing all my life, mostly with guys. I have played with my high school team, YMCA team, and two traveling teams all in the same time in one season. Every team I have played on I have been starting point. I have been injured one other time. People who play well rarely get injured. "It ain't for little folk." Are you sure? Sounds to me like a 6'4 man who has been injured 14 times and has had 11 surgeries is the one that should not be stepping on the court.

[BelizeBreeze]

Originally Posted by Noonie63

Are you one of those old men that love to jump in conversations with "Back when I was little...."? I have been playing all my life, mostly with guys. I have played with my high school team, YMCA team, and two traveling teams all in the same time in one season. Every team I have played on I have been starting point. I have been injured one other time. People who play well rarely get injured. "It ain't for little folk." Are you sure? Sounds to me like a 6'4 man who has been injured 14 times and has had 11 surgeries is the one that should not be stepping on the court.

I'm not here whinning like a little puppy though, you are. Why don't you take some of that attitude into an attorney's office and plop down $500. Then you'll get an opinion you can live with. I'll continue living my life and you continue living your fantasy.

[Noonie63]

Originally Posted by BelizeBreeze

I'm not here whinning like a little puppy though, you are. Why don't you take some of that attitude into an attorney's office and plop down $500. Then you'll get an opinion you can live with. I'll continue living my life and you continue living your fantasy.

Here is the definition of whining in seem you know everything: a long, high-pitched complaining cry; a feeble or petulant complaint.

I asked a simple question and got a simple answer and said okay.... then you showed up with your belittlement. So please why don't you tell me just why kind of fantasy am I living? You seem bitter for some reason. Did I offend you with my question or something? If so, then that is your own problem. But seriously don't try to make me feel stupid for taking an elbow to the mouth and wondering if the person who elbowed me is liable.

[BelizeBreeze]

Originally Posted by Noonie63

Here is the definition of whining in seem you know everything: a long, high-pitched complaining cry; a feeble or petulant complaint.

I asked a simple question and got a simple answer and said okay.... then you showed up with your belittlement. So please why don't you tell me just why kind of fantasy am I living? You seem bitter for some reason. Did I offend you with my question or something? If so, then that is your own problem. But seriously don't try to make me feel stupid for taking an elbow to the mouth and wondering if the person who elbowed me is liable.

You provide all the proof Anyone needs to establish a case of whining. If you were not here looking for the answer you WANT, you would have left when told you have no case based on assumed liability, no matter who came here afterwards.

But you continue whinning about this and that.

I played and coached basketball for 30 years, both on the college level and semi-pro level in Europe and anyone who came to me like you are here would have found splinters in their ass for a long time.

[barry1817]

Originally Posted by Noonie63

Are you one of those old men that love to jump in conversations with "Back when I was little...."? I have been playing all my life, mostly with guys. I have played with my high school team, YMCA team, and two traveling teams all in the same time in one season. Every team I have played on I have been starting point. I have been injured one other time. People who play well rarely get injured. "It ain't for little folk." Are you sure? Sounds to me like a 6'4 man who has been injured 14 times and has had 11 surgeries is the one that should not be stepping on the court.

I am surprised that a person that has been playing for so long failed to take the precaution of having a mouth guard prior to playing.

As to people playing well rarely getting injured, that is nonsense. Well trained, highly successful players get injured all the time. Lamar Odom and Wade are currently injured from playing with shoulder damage that is serious, but a result of playing.

I am amazed that more injuries to the mouth and eyes don't occur with the risks that so many people take on the court that could be avoided.

I would thank the person for the offer to pay, tell him to forget it, and get on with it. I wonder if this happened in an all women's game if the player would have been offering to pay, or if this was an all men's game if the offer would have been made. I highly doubt it.

I commend you for playing in a much more competitive arena that challenges your game, but expect that unless this was a deliberate act, you don't pursue it.

[email]Barry1817@aol.com[/email]