Spring time in Texas often includes stadiums full of screaming fans, cheering on local children taking part in elementary and high school sporting events. From soccer to baseball, track and field, lacrosse and more, parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents and neighbors often come out to enjoy rooting for their favorite teams. All that fun comes to a screeching halt when a child athlete gets injured.
Even in practice sessions, many children suffer severe brain injuries and other bodily harm that may not only cut their future athletic goals short but can change their lives forever. Traumatic brain injury is not always immediately apparent after an on-field collision or some other sports accident occurs. In fact, sometimes symptoms don’t present themselves for weeks.
Recognizing a problem when you see one
If you’re uncertain as to whether your son or daughter has suffered a brain injury, it might help to review the most common signs that some form of cranial injury has occurred. Here is a basic list of symptoms:
- Inability to speak at all or trouble forming words
- Bodily paralysis
- Abrupt changes in personality (moodiness or emotional outbursts)
- Lethargy (extreme fatigue, apparent malaise)
- Difficulty arousing from sleep
- Perseveration (repeating a word, phrase or action)
- Visual or hearing problems
- Small motor function problems
- Cognitive problems (can’t process what’s been said or follow simple instructions)
Your child may exhibit one or more of these or additional symptoms in the immediate aftermath of a sports accident, or you may not notice any problems until some time later. Of crucial importance in either situation is seeking appropriate medical attention. Beyond that, however, other questions may arise that need to be answered, such as whether another person’s negligence was a causal factor in your child’s injury.
Seeking recovery of your losses
The physical recovery process for a brain injury can be lengthy and stressful. Sadly, many children never fully recover and remain in need of daily living assistance for the rest of their lives. As you help your child reach as full a recovery as possible, you may face tremendous financial burdens and other serious challenges. There’s support available for parents of minor children who have suffered athletic injury because of someone’s negligence.
There’s obviously a certain amount of personal risk involved when playing any type of sport. However, coaches, school administrators, athletic directors, etc., are all responsible for keeping your child as safe as possible during practices and all official events. A personal injury attorney can clarify the law governing such matters and steer you in the right direction if you choose to file a claim in court on behalf of your child.