Bentonville Sports Attorneys

Representing Arkansas Athletes, Coaches, and Managers

Collegiate and professional sports offer exciting and potentially lucrative opportunities to players, coaches, and managers. Many of these athletic professionals wisely retain seasoned legal advocates familiar with the intricacies of sports law to ensure they are compensated appropriately, resolve disputes, and protect their interests when they are avoidably injured.

Our team at Potts Law Firm frequently operates in this area of the law and is committed to offering a sophisticated level of legal support and guidance. Our Bentonville sports lawyers have over 250 years of combined legal experience and are well-versed in how to effectively navigate the problems specific to this industry. We tailor our services to your unique needs and will always fight for the best possible outcome, no matter the nature or complexity of the situation.

If you are a sports industry professional seeking legal representation, we encourage you to call (479) 323-3738 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation. Same-day appointments are available, and we provide our services in English and Spanish.

Types of Sports Law Cases We Handle

Whether they are on or off the field, the typical athletic professional will need an attorney who is familiar with multiple areas of the law. Otherwise, they will need to engage multiple lawyers to handle different types of legal problems. Potts Law Firm is equipped to assist with all of your sports law needs, and we frequently support collegiate and professional athletes, coaches, managers, and agents.

Our Bentonville sports attorneys can represent you in matters involving:

• Contracts. When you are exploring a new opportunity with an athletic organization or club, you need someone on your side who is looking out for your best interests. We can prepare, review, and negotiate employment agreements to ensure you understand and are satisfied with their terms. It is extremely important to have a contract lawyer who specifically understands the types of provisions and issues that are relevant to sports law, and you should assume your current or prospective employer has retained their own legal team. We are also prepared to assist with breach of contract disputes should any conflicts develop.
• Employment Disputes. Sports employment matters tend to involve an athletic professional’s entrance into or exit from an organization or club. They may also involve allegations of discrimination, wrongful termination, or unpaid wages. We understand how to strategically approach these disputes and will always work to facilitate a swift, favorable outcome.
• Personal Injury Claims. Playing a sport at the collegiate or professional level comes with an unavoidable risk of injury, especially in high-contact sports like football. This means that you do not necessarily have the grounds to seek compensation when you suffer a serious injury during play, even if it temporarily or permanently prevents you from playing in the future. You may have a product liability claim if you were injured because of defective equipment (such as an inadequately designed helmet) or a premises liability claim if you were hurt due to a negligently maintained athletic facility. You can also potentially take legal action against a coach or athletic organization that pressures you to return to play before your existing injuries have fully healed if the premature return triggers additional harm. Liability in these cases tends to be extremely complex, but we can ascertain whether you have a strong claim.

How Long do I Have to File a Claim?

Again, keep in mind that you may not be entitled to damages if you were injured during “normal play.” If you sustained a sports injury under qualifying circumstances, you may be able to take legal action against the party that is liable for your injuries. You must start the legal process before the state’s statute of limitations expires. Otherwise, you will be barred from recovering any compensation, so do not wait to reach out to Potts Law Firm if you think you may have a case.

In Arkansas, you typically have three years from the date you were injured to file a claim for a qualifying sports injury. If you had existing sports injuries sustained during normal play but were pressured to return to play before you completely recovered, the clock would not start ticking until you experienced an additional injury that would form the basis of the lawsuit.

If you sustained a sports injury outside of normal play, give us a call at (479) 323-3738 or contact us online to discuss your situation and explore your legal options.