Basketball and football also are close behind

• New analysis finds cycling, basketball, and football lead the nation in ER-treated sports injuries
• Cycling alone sent more than 450,000 riders to the hospital in 2024, a 12% increase from the previous year
• Legal experts warn youth and amateur leagues often fail to protect participants from liability risks

Cycling has officially become Americas most dangerous sport, according to a new study by Florida-based Anidjar & Levine Personal Injury Lawyers. The two-year analysis found that cyclists suffered 859,696 emergency room-treated injuries in 2023 and 2024more than any other sport.

The firms researchers combined total injury counts, year-over-year changes, and injury rates per 100,000 participants to develop a Sports Danger Score. Cyclings score of 88.22 put it well ahead of basketball and football, which ranked second and third.

The data show cycling injuries climbed from 405,688 in 2023 to more than 454,000 in 2024, a 12% increase. With an injury rate of 133 per 100,000 riders, the sports risks stem from collisions, high-speed falls, and limited physical protection.

Cycling presents unique legal challenges because incidents often involve multiple parties, from motorists to municipalities responsible for road conditions, said Marc Anidjar, founding senior partner of the firm. Riders need to understand their rights and the liability landscape, especially when infrastructure fails to provide adequate safety measures.

Basketball and football also rank high

Basketball placed second on the danger list, with 718,168 total injuries over the two-year span. The sports injury rate of 113 per 100,000 participants reflects its fast pace and frequent player contact. Injuries jumped 16% year-over-year, from 332,391 in 2023 to 385,777 in 2024.

In organized basketball, from youth leagues to adult recreational programs, the question of liability often centers on supervision and facility maintenance, Anidjar said. Determining whether proper safety protocols were followed becomes the key legal question.

Football, long known for its physical toll, ranked third with 581,828 injuries and a Sports Danger Score of 67.12. It also recorded the largest growth among the top three sportsinjuries surged 21% between 2023 and 2024.

Football organizations, particularly at the youth and high school levels, face increasing scrutiny over concussion protocols and equipment standards, Anidjar noted. The question isnt just whether injuries happen, but whether organizers took reasonable steps to prevent them.

Soccer and skating round out top five

Soccer ranked fourth with 478,184 injuries, up 25% from 2023. Skating, which includes skateboarding, roller skating, and scooter use, rounded out the top five with 660,544 injuriesa 27% rise in one year. Both sports had relatively lower injury rates per participant but showed rapid growth in overall ER visits.

Recreational leagues and public facilities often operate with minimal oversight and unclear liability, said Anidjar. Waivers dont always hold up in court if a facility was poorly maintained or supervision was inadequate.

Legal protections often fall short

Anidjar warned that many amateur and youth sports organizations lack adequate safety standards, insurance, and legal compliance. Liability and safety regulations vary widely across sports, he said. Informed consent requires more than a signatureparticipants need to understand the specific risks and what happens if they get hurt.

He added that organizations must ensure proper equipment, qualified supervision, and adherence to established safety rules. When these elements are missing, legal liability becomes a very real concern.

The top 10 most dangerous sports in America

Methodology

The analysis used data from the National Safety Councils Injury Facts database for 2023 and 2024, focusing on emergency department-treated sports injuries. The Sports Danger Score combined total injuries, annual changes, and injury rates per 100,000 participants, with a higher score indicating greater risk.

Credit: Data and analysis courtesy of Anidjar & Levine Personal Injury Lawyers.

The state is investigating consumer complaints of delays and underpayments

• County opens investigation into alleged delays and underpayments after Januarys devastating wildfires
• Probe focuses on possible violations of Californias Unfair Competition Law
• State Farm denies wrongdoing, says it has paid nearly $5 billion on 13,500 claims

Los Angeles County has opened an investigation into State Farms handling of insurance claims stemming from the catastrophic L.A. wildfires in January. Ordered by the Board of Supervisors, the probe zeroes in on potential violations of Californias Unfair Competition Law, following consumer complaints of delays, underpayments and denials of legitimate claims, according to a county announcement.

County Counsel has formally notified State Farm that it must immediately cease any unlawful or unfair business practices and bring its operations into full compliance with state law.

Concerns heightened by rate hikes, consumer survey

State Farm, Californias largest homeowners insurer, recently secured approval for a 17% rate increase after reporting billions of dollars in wildfire-related losses. The company subsequently raised its rate request again in May amid a broader pullback from writing new policies in the state.

The county pointed to findings from an October 2025 Embold Research survey, conducted for the nonprofit Department of Angels, showing State Farm customers reported worse experiences than policyholders with other insurers. Respondents cited higher levels of claim denials, lowball estimates, poor communication, and frequent reassignment of adjusters. The survey also warned of the growing urgency to resolve claims as displacement-cost coverage approaches expiration for many survivors.

State Farm pushes back

In a statement, a State Farm spokesperson questioned the purpose of the inquiry but said the insurer remains focused on helping customers recover.

The goals of this investigation are unclear but what is clear is that it will be another distraction from our ongoing work in California to help our customers recover from this tragedy, the spokesperson said. State Farm is committed to paying customers what theyre owed. Were handling over 13,500 claims and have paid almost $5 billion to California customers affected by the January wildfires. Nearly 200 Claims professionals are still on the ground, supported by teams nationwide, helping customers recover.

Watchdog group calls probe vital

Consumer Watchdog hailed the county action as overdue, saying it reflects widespread frustrations among wildfire victims.

Many wildfire survivors have been waiting for nearly a year for help that hasnt come, said Carmen Balber, the groups executive director. Weve received voluminous complaints from consumers that their insurersincluding State Farmhave delayed, tried to underpay, or outright denied their claims. The Countys investigation finally gives fire victims a chance at real accountability and relief.

Wildfires intensify pressure on insurance system

The January wildfires destroyed roughly 11,000 homes and further strained Californias already fragile homeowners insurance market. In a separate dispute tied to the fires, several survivors have urged Gov. Gavin Newsom to request the resignation of Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, criticizing reforms Lara advanced to stabilize the insurance sector.

What to do if you're affected

If your State Farm (or other insurer) wildfire claim is delayed or underpaid

1. Document everything
Keep copies of all correspondence, estimates, adjuster notes, receipts, photos, and itemized losses. Note dates and names of adjusters assigned.

2. Request a detailed written explanation
Insurers must provide the specific reason for any denial, delay, or low payout. California law requires clarity not vague language.

3. Ask for a second inspection or re-estimate
You have the right to request a new adjuster and a fresh review, especially if adjusters have rotated or estimates appear inconsistent.

4. File a complaint with the California Department of Insurance
If progress stalls, submit a complaint online. DOI can intervene and often accelerates claims.

5. Contact L.A. Countys consumer protection offices
Given the new investigation, the county is actively collecting complaints. Documentation may become part of the inquiry.

6. Do not let coverage deadlines lapse
Additional living expense (ALE) coverage typically expires 1224 months post-disaster. Track dates closely and request extensions in writing.

7. Consult a public adjuster or attorney if needed
If the gap between damage and payout is large, outside experts can help build a stronger claim file.

Avoiding wildfire-claims pitfalls

How to avoid the most common insurance hurdles

Be proactive early:
Start your claim immediately and upload photos before debris removal.

Insist on a single point of contact:
Multiple adjusters create inconsistency request one assigned adjuster.

Dont take the first estimate at face value:
Initial numbers are often low. Provide independent contractor estimates to push for accuracy.

Track ALE spending carefully:
Overages typically arent reimbursed; keep receipts and stay within your policy limits.

Ask for policy documents in full:
Many homeowners still dont receive the complete policy with endorsements unless they request it.

Push back tactfully but firmly:
California law protects consumers. If something feels off, ask for clarification in writing.

From hotel housekeeping to loyalty points, heres where the cuts are hiding

• Companies arent just shrinking products, theyre shrinking service too less housekeeping, weaker rewards, and more chatbots for the same (or higher) price

• Hotels, customer support, and loyalty programs are big offenders: fewer cleanings, harder-to-reach humans, and points that suddenly buy a lot less

• Your move: check policies before you buy, screenshot promises, and dont hesitate to ask for credits, bonus points, or to downgrade/cancel when service is cut

Everyones been yelling about shrinkflation for the last few years. The cereal box is smaller. The chips bag is mostly air. The ice cream pint is mysteriously 14 ounces now.

But companies arent just shrinking the product, theyre now also shrinking the service that used to come with it.

In other words, youre paying the same price (or more), but:

• Your hotel room doesnt get cleaned every day.
• Your loyalty points suddenly dont go as far.
• Trying to getsupport now means dealing with a chatbot in an attempt to talk to a human, followed by a 30-minute hold.

Lets call it service shrinkflation, some might call it skimpflation, and its becoming a big part of why you feel like youre getting less for your money, even when the price technically hasnt changed.

Lets walk through where its happening, how to spot it, and what you can realistically do when a company gives you less than what you thought you paid for.

Hotels: same nightly rate, less housekeeping

If youve stayed in a hotel recently and wondered, Wait, do they not clean rooms every day anymore? or Why are there only twoclean towels in the bathroom?, youre not imagining it.

This phenomenon seemed to really kickin gear after the pandemic when hotels started shifting away from the automatic daily housekeeping service. Forbes reported that Hilton was one of the first to institute on request housekeeping, meaning your room was only cleaned daily if you specifically asked for it.

Hotels often call the reduced housekeeping bit more sustainable or gives guests more flexibility. Those may be partially true, but there's noarguing the major cost savings for hotels. Savings theytake advantage of without any discounts or reduced nightly rates for you.

How this hits you:

• When youre only staying for a night or two, and you dont get an automatic refresh of towels, your trash is not removed, and toiletries are not checked or refilled.
• You now need to call the front desk to request stuff that used to be standard.
• And the big one, you pay a higher nightly rate (especially in popular cities) while getting less service than pre-2020.

What you can do:

• Look for their housekeeping policy before you book so you know what youre getting. They often bury the policy in their amenities or FAQ section.
• If daily housekeeping is important to you, clearly request it when youre checking in. Theyll either offer it for free, or for a small fee, at which point you can decide if you want it.
• If the hotel advertised daily cleaning when you booked your room, but didnt follow through on it, youre on very solid ground to ask for a partial credit when you check out. Dont be afraid to hold their feet to the fire since they didnt hold up their end of the bargain.

Customer support: more bots, fewer humans

Companies are pouring more money into AI and automated customer service, and not always in a way that feels helpful.

Consulting firms like McKinsey have pointed out that AI-enabled customer service can reduce cost and improve satisfaction when its done well. Newer stats suggest that by the middle of this decade, roughly half of all customer service cases will be handled by AI tools.

Theseall might sound like positives, until youre stuck dealing with an AI bot who has no idea what youre talking about or how to help you.

The service shrinkflation version is where support is redesigned almost entirely around cost-cutting, often at the expenseof the customers overall experience.

• Phone numbers tend to disappear or are hidden several clicks deep.
• Chatbots keep you in an endless loop and make it hard to reach a person.
• Live agents are handling more contacts per hour, which can mean rushed or superficial support when you actually reach a human.

From the consumer's standpoint, this definitely feels like: Im paying for the same product or membership, but its way harder to get help when something goes wrong.

What you can do:

• Document the promise. If a company advertises 24/7 live support or priority access, screenshot that when you sign up.
• Use the magic words: Can you escalate me to a supervisor? or Can I please speak with a live agent? Be sure to get the agents name and case number.
• If the support level is dramatically below what was promised, its reasonable to ask for a fee credit, a free month, or to cancel without penalty.

Loyalty programs: your points quietly buy less

Service shrinkflation is really obvious with many loyalty programs. Youll often see scenarios where the annual fee stays the same, your spending stays the same, but the reward changes, almost always for the worst.

Airlines

Just this year, Qantas announced changes to its Frequent Flyer program that required passengers to have more points needed to take advantage of certain rewards. For example, on some international routes, business and first-class seats would require about 20% more points than before, with even higher fees on top of that.

Qantas argued that the changes would let them release more reward seats overall. But from the consumers point of view, the math is simple, you now need way more points for the same trip.

Coffee and fast food rewards

In the U.S., Dunkin is in the middle of another overhaul to its rewards program. Starting this past October, the reward points they required for some of their more popular items jumped significantly.

And theyre hoping you dont notice. But the increase is so significant its hard not to. For example, a regular coffee jumped from 500 points needed to 600, and some specialty drinks now require nearly twice as many points as before.

Loyal Dunkin fans are already venting on social media and message boards about needing to spend significantly more before they can redeem a free drink.

What this looks like in practice:

• Nothing has changed, same app, same brand, and the same spending habits.
• The rewards program now requires more visits from you to earn the same free item.
• New expiration rules that wipe out points sooner if youre not constantly active. Starbucks is famous for this with their monthly expiring stars.

Youre not imagining it and the program didnt go away, but the value sure did.

What you can do:

• Take screenshots of reward charts or How it works pages when you sign up so you know where youre starting from.
• When you notice a program has gotten worse, try asking customer service for a one-time courtesy exception (bonus points, fee waiver, or if they can honor the old system just once more).
• If you have to pay annual fee, or if a paid membership is tied to a loyalty program that just got slashed, I think you can fairly argue that its no longer what you signed up for and ask to downgrade or cancel without penalty.

Officials voice optimism that the system can recover quickly

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The FAA has frozen planned flight reductions at 6%, halting increases previously slated to reach 10%.

• Air traffic controller staffing has improved sharply, with callouts declining from 81 on Nov. 8 to just 4 on Nov. 12.

• The FAA says safety remains the top priority and will continue monitoring system performance hour by hour.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is moving to limit travel chaos heading into the Thanksgiving holiday, the busiest travel time of the year. The FAA has issued a new emergency order freezing flight reductions at their current 6% level, citing a rapid improvement in air traffic controller staffing. The move pauses previously planned cutbacks that would have raised reductions to 8% and then 10%.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the hold will remain in effect as safety teams evaluate whether the national airspace system can resume normal operations.

Sharp drop in controller callouts

The FAA reports that staffing triggersa metric used to monitor shortages at air traffic facilitieshave fallen dramatically over the past several days.

• Nov. 8: 81 triggers

• Nov. 11: 11 triggers

• Nov. 12: 4 triggers

The agency attributes the improvement to the federal governments reopening and the restoration of backpay for controllers, many of whom had been working without compensation throughout the shutdown.

These strong staffing levels suggest a further ramp-up in flight reductions is unnecessary to keep the traveling public safe, the FAA said.

Safety first

Duffy emphasized that the new pause reflects both data and caution.

President Trumps message has been heard loud and clear: controllers will be made whole quickly, Duffy said. The FAA safety team is encouraged to see our air traffic control staffing surge, and they feel comfortable with pausing the reduction schedule to give us time to review the airspace.

Bedford echoed the priority on safety over scheduling.

Our top priority at the FAA is, and always will be, safety, he said. Well continue to monitor system performance hour by hour, and we wont hesitate to make further adjustments if needed.

Restrictions still apply across aviation sectors

While the freeze prevents additional cuts to commercial flights, other temporary restrictions remain in place, including limitations on:

• Certain general aviation operations at 12 airports

• Visual flight rule (VFR) approaches at facilities still experiencing staffing triggers

• Commercial space launches and reentries, now restricted to 10 p.m.6 a.m. local time

• Parachute operations and aerial photo missions near affected facilities

The list of 40 high-impact airports subject to the order remains unchanged. Major hubs such as Atlanta (ATL), Chicago OHare (ORD), Los Angeles (LAX), New York JFK (JFK), Newark (EWR), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), and Miami (MIA) are all included.

What this means for travelers

For now, consumers may see fewer delays than expected, as the FAAs freeze prevents additional flight cuts. But normal operations have not yet fully resumed, and the agency cautions that adjustments could still occur if staffing levels fluctuate.

Travelers flying through one of the 40 impacted airports should continue to:

• Monitor airline alerts

• Watch for schedule changes

• Plan for possible backups during peak travel periods

The FAA said it will base future decisions strictly on staffing data and overall system strain, with public safety as its guiding principle.

That could lower the cost of some food products

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The Trump administration is preparing to exempt certain imported food products from tariffs in a bid to reduce grocery-store costs for American consumers.

• Under the plan, tariffs would be lifted on selected items that are not grown or produced in sufficient quantity in the United States, such as coffee, bananas and other tropical fruits.

• The move is part of a broader effort by the administration to ease inflationary pressures on food prices and respond to rising consumer cost-of-living concerns ahead of upcoming elections.

Food inflation has been a persistent pain point for consumers, perhaps exacerbated by tariffs on imported food products. In a shift in trade policy, the Trump administration has begun drafting exemptions to existing tariffs on some imported food items as part of a larger strategy to bring down escalating grocery prices for U.S. households.

The effort signals a recalibration of the administrations earlier trade posture, where sweeping reciprocal tariffs were imposed to address trade imbalances.

According to published reports, the exemption list will focus on goods that are either not produced domestically at a meaningful scale or for which domestic supply is unable to keep pace with demand. Among the products mentioned are coffee beans, bananas, and other tropical fruits imported from Latin American and Caribbean producers.

The legal basis for the change lies in an executive-order framework issued in September, which established a Potential Tariff Adjustments for Aligned Partners (PTAAP) annex. That annex explicitly allows for tariff reductions on certain agricultural products not grown or produced in sufficient quantity in the United States to meet domestic demand.

Why now?

Food prices have become a political flashpoint. With inflation on the minds of voters, the administration is trying to show tangible cost-of-living relief. A senior official told reporters that while removing tariffs doesnt change the weather in Ecuador, it could have a price effect for American consumers.

Trade groups representing food and beverage manufacturers had been lobbying for such relief for months. They have argued that blanket tariffs on imported ingredients are unnecessarily driving up costs for domestic processing and retail.

For example, a March letter from the Consumer Brands Association noted that inputs such as cocoa, coffee and tropical fruits cannot realistically be sourced entirely in the U.S. and urged targeted and carefully calibrated removal of tariffs.

The specifics

Though the plan is still being finalized, a few key points have been made public:

• The exemptions will apply only to select products, not broad categories of imports. For example, the U.S. is planning to scrap tariffs on bananas and coffee from countries such as Ecuador.

• The broader reciprocal tariff regime remains in place, meaning many imported goods still face tariffs of 10 % to 15 % from the four nations named in the framework.

• The exemption list will be officially tied to trade framework deals. Only when trading partners commit to specified terms (such as opening markets to U.S. goods, or not imposing digital services taxes) will tariffs for the listed food products be reduced or removed.

Reactions and implications

Retailers and consumers: If retailers pass on the cost savings, shoppers may see modest reductions in prices of items like bananas, coffee and other imported fruits. Analysts caution that the effect may be gradual and dependent on supply-chain dynamics. Some retailers may delay absorption of the savings.

Domestic producers: Farm and food-processing interests in the U.S. are watching closely. While relief for imports may ease input costs, some U.S. producers argue that broad tariff relief could erode competitiveness for domestic suppliers. Congress may face pressure from both sides.

Trade policy watchers: The exemption pivot may signal a more nuanced trade policy from the administration one that retains pressure on trade imbalances via tariffs, while carving out relief where consumer pain is acute. Some observers view this as a pragmatic adjustment; others caution that it exposes the administration to criticisms of inconsistency or of abandoning its tougher-tariff rhetoric.

What to watch

• The complete list of products eligible for exemption: which foods and agricultural goods make the cut, and under what conditions.

• The timetable for implementation: when will the exemptions take effect, and will they require congressional notification or review?

• Retail price pass-through: whether and how much of the tariff relief is reflected in lower prices at the grocery checkout or whether other cost pressures dilute the benefit.

• Trade partner responses: how countries like Ecuador, Argentina, Guatemala and El Salvador respond and whether they reciprocate with favorable access for U.S. goods.