Sports have long been popular amongst young students and there is no sign that this is going to change in the near future. While most parents understand that their children are at risk for scrapes and bruises, or even a broken bone in extreme cases, they do not expect their child to be the victim of a football head injury that could change their life.
That said, this is becoming more and more common. Who is at fault? Is it the player? Their parents? Or the football coach? Keep reading to find out who we can be found at fault and then contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 if you have questions or want to request a free legal consultation.
The First Step is Determining Why the Injury Occurred
Not every football collision leads to injury and most injuries are not serious. If there is a serious head injury, it must be determined if it was caused or exasperated by inadequate protective gear, not enough supervision, or something else that may be the fault of another party.
The law states that those involved in conducting school or recreational athletic events have a “legal duty of care.” This means that it is their job to take reasonable steps to protect their young athletes and that if their athletes do suffer an injury, immediate medical care must be provided.
More About “Legal Duty of Care”
What does it mean for the athletic program to have “legal duty of care?” There is a protocol that the California legal system expects those involved to follow. It includes ensuring that student-athletes have adequate training, that they understand the rules, that they understand appropriate behavior, and that they know the risks.
Legal duty of care also requires that appropriate protective gear is provided (including helmets and mouthguards), that those in charge make an effort to match athletes with those of similar heights, weights, sizes, and skills, that there is proper supervision, that first-aid supplies are available, and that injured players are not put back into the game if there is a likelihood that doing so would aggravate the injury.
Many Injuries in Football Games Are Not Cause of a Lawsuit
The fact of the matter is that most injuries that occur in a youth sports league are not grounds for a lawsuit. However, if a person in a position of authority does not do their job to protect the athletes in their care, they should be held responsible. Neither the youth athlete nor their parents should be the only ones to bear the burden – especially in financial terms.
If your student-athlete has suffered a brain injury then we recommend you contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. The first consultation is free of charge and we can provide the answers to the questions you have. Call now to learn more.
