When fans attend sporting events, they go to root their team on and be entertained.
A certain level of risk is assumed to the extent of which some injuries may occur that were not expected.
These stories will make you think twice about your safety when attending a sporting event.
10. Sabres Fan Loses Lawsuit After Being Hit by Plexiglass
After being hit by plexiglass attending a Buffalo Sabres playoff game, University of Buffalo Professor Bruce Jackson sued the Sabres for $300,000 for head and neck injuries suffered on May 19, 2007.
The Sabres successfully argued that the fans have to assume some of the risk when they attend a game.
The injury in question occurred after two players collided along the boards, which shattered the plexiglass.
Jackson complained of severe pain in his neck and had to be treated by a physical therapist for three months following the incident. He also claimed these were injuries that he had not been suffering from before.
9. Fan Injured in Stands by Ball Thrown From a Brawl
The Peoria Chiefs were playing a Class A Midwest League game against the Dayton Dragons.
Dragons manager Donnie Scott complained to the home plate umpire about hit batters against his team.
Chiefs interim manager Carmelo Martinez then came out to home plate and the two mangers started yelling at each other. When Martinez pushed Scott, it instigated a brawl that got out of control.
Eventually, Chiefs pitcher Julio Castillo attempted to throw the ball into Dayton's dugout, but missed and it wound up hitting a fan in the stands.
The fan, Chris McCarthy, was injured in the head by Castillo's throw. It hit him with such force, that the seams from the ball left a mark on his scalp.
Castillo was eventually sentenced to three years probation and 30 days in jail.
8. Unidentified Cubs Fan Injured by Flying Tire
An unidentified fan of the Chicago Cubs was injured just outside Wrigley Field after being struck by a flying tire.
Emergency crews treated the man just outside the Friendly Confines not long after he attended the game. The tire came from a car passing by Wrigley and according to witness Anthony Knox, "It got airborne and as it flew it hit him in the head."
NBC Chicago photographer Mike McGovern reported seeing blood all around the victim. He knew that he was alive when he saw him blink. Eventually, the man was taken on a stretcher to a local hospital.
Reportedly, a dark colored Infiniti was parked nearby without the front wheel on the driver's side. The driver was a man named Kossi Elou, and he was cited for driving an unsafe vehicle and driving without insurance.
7. Dodgers Fan Suffers Severe Facial Injuries From Exploding Bat
Over the last few baseball seasons, a quiet controversy has emerged.
How safe are maple bats?
They have exploded in players' hands and they shatter all over the place at a more frequent rate than the more traditional ash bats.
On April 25, Susan Rhodes attended a Dodgers game with friends. What happened to Rhodes that night was completely unexpected.
Todd Helton hit a single to center field and his bat shattered hitting Rhodes in the face. She did not realize what had happened until she regained consciousness. The last thing she remembered was a slam against her face and pain.
She suffered two jaw fractures and had to have a titanium plate and four screws inserted in her right side. She now has $7,000 in medical bills. She had her attorney contact the Dodgers about getting help with medical bills.
The adjuster from the Dodgers insurance company contacted Ms. Rhodes' attorney and said the Dodgers have no intention of helping her with medical costs.
The logic behind this is that every fan attending a baseball game assumes the risk of flying bats and balls just by being there.
She is not sure she will ever be able to recover back to her normal state.
6. Coca-Cola Slide at AT&T Park Is Alleged to Be Dangerous
The Coca-Cola bottle that sits just beyond the left field stands at AT&T Park in San Francisco has become one of baseball's most iconic symbols.
What isn't readily visible is that inside the bottle are viewing platforms and four slides. The two longer slides are 56 foot curving slides called The Guzzler.
What was designed as an attraction to enhance the fans' experience at AT&T Park has become a headache for the Giants.
According to a report by KGO in San Francisco, the Giants and Coca-Cola have had 55 people reportedly get hurt on the slide.
The Guzzler has failed two safety inspections and has not been modified since then. The most recent suit was filed against the team on April 12.
Chad Mello is suing the Giants for $6 million, alleging that he injured his left knee and ankle on the slide. According to many of the suits, most of the past injuries on the slide have been ankle or knee related.
Past settlements have included confidential arrangements in 2001, 2003, and another in 2008 in which a jury awarded $177,823.
5. Phillies Fan Tasered
When attending a baseball game, any fan that reads the back of his or her ticket stub will notice three basic tenants.
Information about rain outs, the responsibility a fan takes for balls and bats that wind up in the crowd, and that fans must never enter the playing field.
The Phillies website states that there can be no "interfering with a ball in play and throwing objects on or entering the playing field. Violators are subject to ejection and possible arrest."
Apparently, Steve Consalvi didn't read either the back of his stub or the Phillies website. Mr. Consalvi was struck by a taser after entering the playing field at the Phillies-St. Louis Cardinals game on May 3 at Citizens Bank Park.
He entered the playing field while the Cardinals were batting and the Phillies were in the field. He was then tasered by an officer in front of a packed house, which caused Mr. Consalvi to fall face first.
Although the incident wasn't televised, hundreds in attendance posted videos on numerous social media websites.
Mr. Consalvi was recently given 80 hours of community service and six months probation. He was also charged with trespassing, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.
4. Fan Injured by Stampede Fighting for Flying T-Shirts
Patricia Abato is suing the Nassau Coliseum and the Long Island Industrial Hockey League after being injured by a throng of fans that were attempting to get a free t-shirt that was shot into the crowd.
Ms. Abato claims she was knocked to the ground as a direct result of the t-shirt being tossed into the stands. She was attending a charity hockey game at Nassau at the time of her alleged injury.
3. Mets Fan Sues Team After 300-Pound Man Falls On Her
New York Mets fan Ellen Massey is suing the New York Mets and the Security Guards Union after a 300 pound man fell on her at Shea Stadium in 2007.
Ms. Massey alleges that the man in question, Timothy Cassidy, fell on her from a few rows above and crushed her. As a result of the incident, Ms. Massey suffered a broken vertebrae and had to have two rods inserted into her back.
Her suit claims that stadium personnel should have known Cassidy was getting too unruly. She also claims that vendors should have known about the possibility that Mr. Cassidy could eventually fall after drinking too much.
Later, the suit took an even stranger turn. Mr. Cassidy claims that he fell because he was pushed from behind by another fan, Eric Metzger. Mr. Metzger was reportedly upset because Mr. Cassidy was using his Blackberry during the game.
2. Flying Hot Dog Causes Severe Eye Injury at Kauffman Stadium
Most fans accept that there is some degree of danger in attending a baseball game, and there is a chance they might have to avoid foul balls or a lost bat in the stands.
John Coomer couldn't have imagined what would happen to him while attending a Kansas City Royals game on September 8, 2009.
Coomer was sitting in the sixth row when he was hit in the eye by a hot dog thrown by the Royals' mascot Sluggerrr.
Coomer claims in a lawsuit against the Royals that he suffered a detached retina, has developed cataracts in his eye, had to undergo two surgeries, has permanent vision impairment, and has the risk for future eye problems.
Coomer has filed a $25,000 lawsuit for the injuries sustained in the hot dog incident. Slugerrr is being accused of battery after climbing on top of the third base dugout.
The suit alleges that in addition to using an air gun to rocket the dogs into the stands, he also threw one behind his back, hitting Coomer.
The suit is also seeking damages from the team for its failure to adequately train Slugerrr on the proper way to throw the dogs. The suit says the mascot intentionally threw the hot dog, striking Coomer's face and causing the injuries.
1. German Soccer Fan Claims Ear Infection Caused by Vuvuzela
While attending a public viewing event in the Neuss, a suburb of Dusseldorf, Sven Wipperfurth was injured after a fan with a vuvuzela blasted it into his ear while standing next to him.
He had to take off work for his ear problems, and is on medication for a condition called tinnitus (constant ringing in the ears).
The vuvuzelas and their constant bee-like buzzing have been as much a part of the World Cup in South Africa as the pageantry and colors of the countries.
Players and coaches of more than a few of the World Cup teams have lobbied to FIFA officials on banning the Vuvuzelas. Wipperfurth claims that he suffered his ear damage when a fan blew the vuvuzela right into his ear after a goal by Germany's Lukas Podolski.
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