What is the “doctrine of res ipsa loquitur” in sports injury cases?

The doctrine of res ipsa loquitur (Latin for “the thing speaks for itself”) is a legal concept that is applicable to a variety of areas of law, including sports injury cases. This concept was created as a way to help plaintiffs prove that negligence occurred in their case without having to provide evidence of exactly what happened. In Washington, the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur applies to sports injury cases. Under this doctrine, if a plaintiff can prove that an injury occurred due to negligence, this may be enough to satisfy the burden of proof for the Plaintiff’s case. The plaintiff must show three things: 1) that the injury was caused by an event that ordinarily does not occur in the absence of someone’s negligence, 2) that the injury was caused by an instrumentality under the control of the defendant, and 3) that the plaintiff was not responsible for the injury. When the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur applies, it means that the defendant’s negligence can be inferred without any direct evidence of negligence. This reduces the burden of proof on the plaintiff, as it eliminates the need for them to present evidence to prove the defendant was negligent. It is important to note that this doctrine does not always apply, and each case must be evaluated based on its own facts and circumstances.

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