Utah Considers Brain Injury Law to Reduce Concussions in Youth Athletes

March 09, 2011

As sports headlines regularly remind us, full protection against brain injuries for athletes who play football, baseball, hockey and other high contact sports may never be achieved. But many states around the country have recently required high school athletic programs to implement head injury policies that reliably identify concussion victims and closely monitor their return to action.

A bill currently before the Utah House of Representatives would require youth sports groups to adopt policies that require removal of any young athlete suspected of sustaining a concussion or other traumatic head injury. Official medical clearance would be required before any child could return to play.

The dangers of undiagnosed or under-diagnosed head injuries cannot be overstated, whether they are the result of a sports injury, bike accident, motor vehicle accident or a criminal assault. The risks are even greater for injury victims in their teens or younger with rapidly developing brains. An athlete who sustains a second trauma too soon after the first faces serious risks of a traumatic brain injury with lasting effects.

If the Utah Protection of Athletes With Head Injuries Act passes in its current form, amateur sports organizations will be required by statute to inform parents and athletes about the group's head injury policy and obtain parental consent for participation. The group would also have a duty to remove any child with a suspected concussion or head injury.

Utah Personal Injury Lawyers Assess Medical Facts and Legal Rights

Requiring Utah high school and other amateur athletic programs to enforce head injury policies is a wise step. One of the most difficult aspects of brain injuries is the slow and inconsistent presentation of symptoms in many patients, and assessment by a licensed health care provider will prevent the chance of re-injury in many cases. But when the first incident results in a traumatic brain injury, the injured person's prospects for full medical recovery must be considered.

Protecting the long term medical needs and financial interests of traumatic brain injury victims is one of the most challenging aspects of personal injury litigation. Families who have questions about their legal rights can learn about various sources of compensation for medical expenses, lost income and other damages in an initial consultation with an experienced Utah brain injury attorney.

Article provided by Rasmussen & Miner
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