Injuries at Competitive Events: What Safety Standards and Liability Apply?

On June 28, 2025, tragedy struck at Mammoth Lakes when 16-year-old motocross prodigy Aidan Zingg, a standout racer from Hemet on Kawasaki’s Team Green, crashed during a turn in the Mammoth Mountain MX invitational. He was run over by multiple riders and remained unconscious for two laps before officials finally halted the race. The paddock fell silent, replaced by grief and urgent questions: What must organizers do to keep riders safe, and who is legally responsible when tragedy strikes? 

If you’ve ever wondered, “Can families sue when a competitor is hurt due to poor safety at an event?”, here’s what every parent, athlete, and organizer need to know. 

What Duty of Care Do Organizers Owe Participants?

Competitive events aren’t inherently dangerous, but they do carry risks. Organizers are legally obligated to manage those risks. Whether it’s a community soccer game, a cheerleading competition, or a multi-day endurance race, hosts owe participants a duty of care. This includes: 

• Ensuring the venue or playing field meets safety standards (e.g., level surfaces, proper lighting, fencing) 

• Providing trained medical staff and emergency response protocols 

• Communicating clear rules and hazard warnings to athletes and spectators 

• Enforcing age, experience, or equipment requirements to reduce foreseeable harm 

In sports like motocross or football, where injury risk is higher, those standards are even stricter and often defined by governing bodies like the AMA or NFHS. 

Failure to meet these standards can be considered negligence. In extreme cases, it can be considered gross negligence, which may allow for punitive damages in civil court. 

“When race organizers cut back on safety, it’s not just a money decision,” says attorney Stephen Lockard. “They’re taking chances with real people’s lives. And when something goes wrong, the law is there to hold them responsible. Someone didn’t take basic safety seriously, and a kid paid the price.” 

Can Families File Claims Against Hosts for Poor Safety Measures?

Yes. Families have the right to pursue wrongful-death or serious injury claims when they can show lapses in duty of care by an event host. Potential defendants might include: 

• The event promoter or organizer 

• The facility owner or school district 

• Governing bodies like USA Gymnastics, AYSO, or race sanctioning organizations 

• Third-party vendors providing equipment, medical services, or security 

These cases aren’t limited to high-speed sports. Legal claims have been filed over collapses during cheerleading stunts, missed concussions in school football, heatstroke during summer track meets, and cardiac arrest incidents with no AED or trained staff present. 

“These wrongful death cases aren’t about putting a price on heartbreak,” says Lockard. “They’re one of the only ways to bring real accountability into the open. When someone dies because safety was treated like an afterthought, the law is how we pull back the curtain and make sure no one can hide behind a waiver or a flashy sponsor logo. If you’re inviting families into risky environments, you’d better be able to prove you took every precaution.” 

Claims may seek compensation for funeral costs, future lost income, loss of companionship, medical expenses, and emotional suffering. If negligence is egregious, punitive damages may apply. 

What Factors Indicate Organizer Negligence?

Red flags include: 

• Lack of on-site EMTs or first responders 

• Inadequate supervision or coach training 

• Unsafe playing fields, race courses, or staging areas 

• Poor crowd control or emergency egress 

• Ignored complaints about overheating, faulty gear, or bullying 

• Delays in medical response or failure to call 911 promptly 

In Aidan Zingg’s case, the delay in stopping the race – despite a clearly incapacitated rider – may raise serious questions about event management. 

What Should Families Do If a Loved One Is Hurt at a Competitive Event?

Whether it’s motocross or middle school basketball, take immediate steps to preserve evidence and protect your rights: 

1. Secure footage or recordings from attendees, surveillance, or official race video 
2. Get medical records and document any delays in care 
3. Interview witnesses – other athletes, coaches, medics, or event staff 
4. Request injury reports from the venue, league, or sanctioning body 
5. Consult with an attorney experienced in personal injury or wrongful-death litigation involving organized sports 

The Path to Accountability

Nothing can undo the loss of a talented young rider like Aidan Zingg, but families deserve answers and support. 

“I’ve seen what happens in the aftermath of a preventable death,” Lockard explains. “It leaves a silence that shouldn’t exist. What makes it worse is knowing it didn’t have to happen. The law can’t undo the damage or rewind the clock, but it can force real changes going forward. These cases exist to send a message: safety isn’t optional, especially when kids are involved. ‘We didn’t think it would happen’ doesn’t cut it.” 

If your child or loved one was injured or killed at a sporting or competitive event, call J&Y Law at (424) 453-2310 . We’ll review your case and answer your questions for free. 

You don’t have to face this alone. Together we can make sure no other family experiences the same heartbreak due to preventable errors.