If you’ve been to an NHL game, you’ve probably seen the signs or heard the announcement warning fans to keep alert during play due to the possibility of a puck leaving the ice surface and flying into the stands. Unfortunately, accidents happen and its still possible for a fan to be injured by a puck which is exactly what happened in Vancouver.
According to CTV Vancouver, Wayne Chi was watching the Vancouver Canucks battle the Anaheim Ducks back in April of 2014 when a puck struck him in the head. Chi reportedly suffered injuries to his forehead, neck and back which resulted in headaches, nausea and dizziness.
Here’s the statement from the lawsuit:
These injuries have caused and continue to cause [Chi] pain, suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, permanent physical disability, loss of physical, mental and emotional health, and loss of earnings.
The lawsuit claims that the Canucks were negligent:
It alleges they failed to properly inspect the arena for “hazards which could present a danger,” or to provide adequate warnings about the risks of attending games.
CTV Vancouver notes that the Canucks do have a warning online and on the back of tickets which reads:
PUCKS FLYING INTO SPECTATOR AREAS CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY. BE ALERT WHEN IN SPECTATOR AREAS.
No one wants to see a fan injured at a sporting event. However, some risk is assumed by the fan when attending a game. Fans at Major League Baseball games assume a similar risk. There’s always a chance a puck or a ball could enter the seating area even with safety nets in place, which is why the risk is not only mentioned on tickets, but also mentioned on signs in the arena and usually stated on the scoreboard.
We’re not lawyers, but if the statements are in place it’s probably going to be pretty difficult to prove that the Canucks didn’t warn of the risk of attending a game.
We’re also not doctors, but Chi’s symptoms kind of sound like ones from a lingering concussion, which is kind of ironic all things considered.
