Focused On Helping Brain Injury Victims And Their Families

Child injury leads to $7.1 million verdict

On Behalf of | Apr 12, 2018 | Child Injuries

For many students in New York, football is a way of life. For them, their lives center around practice and games. Unfortunately, as recent news stories indicate, the sport carries many risks. In fact, a result lawsuit indicates that football can cause a serious child injury, especially if injuries aren’t quickly recognized.

The lawsuit centered on an injury suffered by a then 14-year-old boy in a game in Oct. 2013. According to reports, one of the teen’s teammates noticed that something was not right with the young man, but when he told his concerns to his coach, he was “shushed.” Ten to 15 minutes later, a teammate noticed that the teen had vomited.

The coach, who had reportedly been trained on how to recognize concussions, asked the young man a series of questions, which he answered all correctly. However, he indicated that he had a headache. The judge in the case questioned whether additional medical help should have been called because the teen reported having a headache, even though he had answered the questions correctly.

However, he called the boy’s parents instead; his father reported that his son was covered in vomit when he arrived. He was diagnosed with a subdural hematoma and a concussion after his father transported him to the emergency room, and he underwent his first of many surgeries the next day. According to court papers, the young man went from being a successful student athlete to being unable to breathe on his own or walk. The school district recently settled the lawsuit filed against it for $7.1 million.

Unfortunately, what might seem like a minor head injury could have significant long-term consequences, making it necessary to respond to any signs immediately. As a result of the child injury, this teenager missed a year of school and may not be able to get his driver’s license because of ongoing vision issues. Often, families in New York are left wondering how they will be able to afford the necessary treatment following such an injury. As a result, they may choose to file a personal injury lawsuit if they believe negligence played a role; a successfully presented lawsuit could result in a financial award.

Source: sandiegouniontribune.com, “Student awarded $7 million in lawsuit for football brain injury“, Gary Warth, April 6, 2018