Injury Lawyer

With summer coming to an end, middle school and high school football fans eagerly anticipate the coming season. Players, parents, and coaches all take these games seriously, and it is not uncommon to see major hits which could result in serious personal injuries. With as many as 2.5 million American children, primarily boys ages 5 to 13, playing tackle football each year, it is important for parents to be aware of the risks and the steps they need to take to keep their children safe.

The High Risks of Head Injuries from Tackle Football

Head injuries among pro-football players have been a hot topic over recent years, and there are increasing concerns about the permanent damages these injuries could cause in young players.

According to HealthResearchFunding.org, concussion rates for children under age 19 who play tackle football have doubled over the last decade, most occurring during practices. A child who has helmet to helmet contact with another player can suffer a concussion. If this concussion is left undiagnosed and untreated, the child can suffer permanent brain damage.

Even if young players don’t receive actual concussions blows to the head, repeated blows – also referred to as subconcussive hits – can still cause serious damage. The primary concern is that head injuries suffered by these young players due to hard tackles could set the stage for permanent disabilities. Repeated blows to the head suffered throughout a football player’s career could lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative condition resulting in memory loss, decreased cognitive function, violent moods, and other serious personality changes.

Protecting Student Athletes Against Head Injuries

There have been multiple communities across the country that have tried to pass laws with the goal of protecting children from football head injuries. While many parents have shown support for these laws, there are often far too many detractors from fans and coaches, and many of these proposed laws never pass. What these proposed laws have done is helped raise awareness about the issue and the steps needed to help protect young athletes:

•     Requiring football players to wear helmets all times during practice or play.
•     Requiring schools to regularly upgrade safety gear.
•     Holding coaching staff responsible for removing team members who are overly aggressive.
•     Removing students with suspected head injuries from play and not allowing them to return without being cleared by a doctor.

Reach Out to Us Today for Help

Head injuries can have significant impacts on your child’s long-term health and development. When these injuries occur, coaches, schools, and sports program administrators may be held liable for the damages your child suffers. To discuss how you can hold them accountable in a claim, call a brain injury law firm, such as Barry P. Goldberg, to meet with an experienced brain injury attorney and request a consultation today.