New Texas Law Seeks To Reduce High School Head Injuries
As a Tarrant County child injury lawyer I am happy that Texas is adopting new rules in an attempt to reduce the number of serious head injuries sustained in high school sporting activities. Currently, if a high school athlete suffers a blow to the head they must stay on the sidelines for at least 15 minutes. If they show no symptoms of concussion within that time, they are allowed to return to play. Starting August 1, that will change and players will be required to sit out for a day at minimum and may only return to action after being cleared by a licensed medical professional.
Knowing how serious head injuries can be, I think this is a great idea. In activities such as football, cheerleading and soccer, concussions and brain damage pose an enormous risk to athletes who bump their heads while participating in their sport. Concussions are the most common type of head injury and can range in severity. Symptoms can include memory loss and even seizures or coma.
In addition to the new head injury guidelines, a house bill is also seeking to end the traditional practice of passing down junior varsity football helmets. The reason is that as the equipment gets older and more worn, it offers far less protection to the wearer (similar to recommendations that motorcyclists and bicyclists replace their helmets following a crash). The new law would require schools to regularly recondition football helmets that have been used for 10 years or more, and to replace helmets that have been in use for 16 years.
Mark Anderson is a personal injury and wrongful death attorney who has served the people of Dallas, Fort Worth and the surrounding area for 20 years. If you or a loved one have been hurt due to someone else’s negligence, the Anderson Law Firm offers free, no obligation consultations to help you understand your legal rights and whether you might be entitled to any compensation. To schedule a meeting, call toll free at 800-354-6275 or contact us online.
