Articles Posted in Injuries to Children & Minors

Injuries to children can be terrifying for parents. Even a birthday party or a block party can present unexpected dangers while children are having fun. Recently, the Chicago Tribune reported on a study about an increase in bounce house injuries among children across America.

The study can be found in the journal Pediatrics. It found that the number of United States bounce house injuries to children increased by fifteen times between 1995-2010. Between 2008-2010, injuries doubled. In 2010, one American child was injured every 46 minutes while bouncing in a bounce house. The Ohio pediatrician who conducted the study is also president of the Child Injury Prevention Alliance and he noted that when this type of increase occurs in public health, it’s called an epidemic.

Hospital ERs around the country see about 30 children a day for concussions, broken bones, sprains, and cuts related to bounce house accidents. Most of these are the result of children colliding with other children as they bounce.
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Following the tragic suicide of a number of famous former professional football players, traumatic brain injuries have been increasingly making headlines in Chicago and elsewhere. As many as 3.8 million brain injuries are reportedly caused by playing sports every year across the United States. In addition, an estimated 300,000 victims are young athletes who are not playing the sport in a professional capacity.

A head injury may cause short or long-term loss of memory, headaches, loss of brain function, depression, and other symptoms. Too often, the symptoms associated with a traumatic brain injury are not easy to recognize. In response, a team of researchers from the Notre Dame University’s Computer Science and Engineering Department have reportedly developed a new technology designed to aid doctors in determining whether an injured athlete or other individual has sustained a concussion. The program is allegedly capable of analyzing speech patterns to determine in real time whether the speaker likely sustained a head injury. It is also designed to be used on a small, easy to transport computer tablet or smartphone so results can be obtained anywhere.

According to one of the technology’s creators, Professor Christian Poellabauer, nearly 90 percent of concussions go undiagnosed. He stated the portable technology has the ability to transform health care and may potentially reduce the overall impact of head injuries. Although the program may make the diagnosis of concussions easier in the future, the new technology is now being tested further with the assistance of James Moriarity, Notre Dame’s Chief Sports Medicine Physician.

Many high school athletes in Illinois and elsewhere suffer dangerous head injuries every year. Since 2011, all school boards in our state are required to adopt a concussion policy that complies with Illinois High School Association (IHSA) guidelines. In addition, the IHSA must provide all Illinois school districts with educational materials regarding the risks associated with concussions and other head injuries in children. Each school board’s current head injury policy must be provided in writing to student athletes prior to any participation in a school sporting event. This notice must also be signed by both parents and the athlete.

Sadly, a seemingly mild concussion may cause devastating and lifelong injuries for your son or daughter. Traumatic brain injuries in children are often caused by unexpected accidents as well as participation in sporting events. The victim of a brain injury may be eligible to receive compensation for any resulting disability, their medical costs, pain and suffering, and other damages. If your minor child suffered a preventable concussion or other head injury, you are advised to discuss your rights with a quality personal injury lawyer.
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For the first time, researchers have reportedly identified signs of brain damage in living former National Football League (NFL) players. The research is currently being hailed as a positive step towards identifying Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in patients who have suffered a concussion or other head trauma. According to Dr. Julian Bailes, Co-Director of NorthShore Neurological Institute in Evanston and study Co-Author, the discovery may assist physicians with improving CTE treatment in the future.

As part of a study recently published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, brain scans were allegedly performed on five former NFL football players using a patented imaging tool. Each of the former players sustained at least one concussion during his football career. In addition, the age of the players ranged from 45 to 73. The scans reportedly revealed an abnormal protein that causes CTE existed in each player’s brain. The protein purportedly causes dementia, depression, and memory loss by strangling brain cells. Prior to the research study, CTE could only be identified post-mortem.

Dr. Gary W. Small, Lead Study Author and Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA, said the research may be used to identify preventative CTE treatments in the future. Although the results are only preliminary, researchers are hopeful that the information may be used to monitor current NFL players for signs of CTE before the disease takes hold. The tragic disease became highly publicized after the unfortunate suicide of former Chicago Bears defensive back Dave Duerson and others.

Although this research study focused on the effect of concussions received while playing professional football, many high school athletes also suffer dangerous head injuries. Since 2011, all school boards in Illinois must adopt a concussion policy that complies with Illinois High School Association (IHSA) guidelines. Additionally, the IHSA must provide all Illinois school districts with educational materials regarding the risks associated with head injuries in children. A school board’s current head injury policy must be provided in writing and signed by both parents and student athletes prior to participation in any school sporting event.

Even a mild concussion can cause lifelong injuries for your son or daughter. Traumatic brain injuries in children may be caused by unexpected accidents as well as sporting events. Head injuries often cause dizziness, headaches, confusion, double vision, and mood swings. The victim of a traumatic brain injury may be entitled to compensation for any resulting disability, the cost of their medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages. If your minor child suffered a preventable head injury, you should discuss your rights with a skilled personal injury attorney.
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According to data collected by District 97 schools, 106 head injuries were experienced by area students while at school in 2011. Of those, the district classified only six injuries as one that required further medical treatment or evaluation. Most student injuries reportedly occurred in school gymnasiums, on playgrounds, and in cafeterias. The report was compiled in response to head injury concerns voiced by a group of parents whose children attend Irving school.

Last May, a group of parents reportedly gathered information from nurses who worked at the school using a Freedom of Information Act request. After compiling the data, the parents reported their findings to the District 97 school board. According to the parents, 7.5 out every 100 students at Irving Elementary School suffered a head injury while on the property. Most of the injuries allegedly occurred on an asphalt surface the Parent Teacher Organization has reportedly attempted to have removed for many years.

In response, District 97 Superintendent Albert Roberts stated he would investigate student head injuries obtained while at school. Although the school’s data is allegedly similar to that prepared by the group of parents, Roberts said most of the head injuries reported were minor and the vast majority of District 97 students have not suffered a head injury while at school. Still, he maintained that even one avoidable child injury is too many.

The District 97 school board is reportedly considering the removal of much of the asphalt on the Irving playground. A proposed soccer field will reportedly be installed in its place. At this time, the playground at another school, Longfellow Elementary, is scheduled to receive a renovation at the end of the current school year. According to the district’s report, Longfellow had the highest rate of child head injuries sustained while on the playground in the 5,800 student school district.

Since 2011, all school boards in Illinois are required to adopt a concussion policy in compliance with Illinois High School Association (IHSA) guidelines. In addition, the IHSA must provide all school districts, including elementary schools, with educational materials regarding the risks associated with youth head injuries. A school board’s head injury policy must also be provided in written format and signed by both parents and student athletes prior to participation in a school sporting event.

Even a seemingly mild concussion can be devastating and should always be taken seriously. Traumatic brain injuries in minors are often caused by pedestrian, car, and bicycle accidents as well as sporting events. Head injuries may cause dizziness, confusion, headaches, double vision, and mood swings. The victim of a traumatic brain injury that was caused by someone else may be eligible to recover compensation for any resulting disability, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and other damages. If your child received any type of preventable head injury, you should discuss your rights with a qualified personal injury lawyer.
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When many people think of cheerleading, they picture young women cheering and waving pom-poms on the sidelines at athletic events. In recent years, however, cheering has become an increasingly demanding and potentially dangerous activity. Human pyramids as well as tossing and flipping young girls in the air can be hazardous. Over the last 20 years, the number of cheer-related injuries has allegedly risen dramatically. Consequently, a number of pediatricians in Illinois and throughout the nation reportedly believe cheering should be considered a sport in order to improve the safety of its participants.

In October, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy statement in the Journal of Pediatrics that advocated for cheerleading to be designated a sport. According to the physicians, better supervision, practice time limits, more qualified coaches, and other safety rules would be required if the activity were deemed a sport. The policy also states cheerleaders should be required to undergo a physical prior to joining a cheer squad and conditioning exercises should be required.

According to the author of the policy, Dr. Cynthia LaBella, most people are unaware of the evolution cheerleading has undergone in the last several decades. Participants often experience sprains, torn ligaments and tendons, broken bones, head injuries, and neck injuries. LaBella stated although injuries in other sports generally outnumber those experienced by high school cheerleaders, the rate for catastrophic injuries like skull fractures and paralyzing spinal cord injuries is higher in cheerleaders. Unfortunately, a significant injury such as a concussion may be easily overlooked by untrained coaches.

According to data cited in the American Academy of Pediatrics policy, there are more than 3 million cheerleaders over age six in the United States. In 2011, nearly 37,000 cheerleaders between the ages of six and 22 reportedly visited an emergency room as a result of a cheer-related injury. Consumer Product Safety Commission data shows that number has risen fourfold since 1980.

The Illinois High School Association reportedly now deems competitive cheerleading a sport. This means some level of safety and oversight is provided for high school cheer squad participants. Still, a cheerleading participant may be unexpectedly and catastrophically injured at any time. Oftentimes, injuries result from inadequately trained cheerleaders and coaches. A severe head, neck, or spinal cord injury can affect a cheer participant’s ability to think, walk, or even move their limbs. Even a seemingly mild concussion may impair a victim’s cognitive abilities for life. If your child was hurt while cheering, a skilled personal injury lawyer can explain your options for recovery.
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Penn State was hit with $60 million in fines, a four-year suspension from post-season play and was forced to vacate 112 victories over the 14 years since officials first failed to act on allegations that convicted child molester Gary Sandusky was a pedophile.

Many are calling it the most severe sanctions ever handed out in college athletics. As Sports Illustrated put it, the NCAA sentenced Penn State to a slow death, rather than the death penalty. The so-called “death penalty” was given to Southern Methodist University in 1987, when the entire football team was forced to sit out a year of competition. That case involved a slush fund used to pay players for a decade.Our Chicago sex abuse attorneys see this as a cautionary tale. Children must be believed and protected. Organizations that fail to protect from abuse must be held accountable, whether the Catholic Church or a storied university.

In this case, the allegations are that Coach Paterno, University President Graham Spanier, Senior Vice President Gary Schultz. and Athletic Director Tim Curley failed in their obligation to protect children from Sandusky. The vacated games are for the 1998-2011 seasons; 1998 is when officials at Penn State first learned of allegations of abuse against Sandusky.

Curley and Schultz are facing perjury charges in connection with their grand jury testimony.

Cries that the NCAA acted out of bounds, or acted too quickly, should fall on deaf ears. One is the health and safety of a defenseless child. The other is a game played on Saturday afternoons. The argument is that the NCAA’s business is ensuring that college sports remain apart from professional sports. Some Penn State supporters feel the sanctioning body lacks jurisdiction to punish members for off-field, non-player related issues.

Sandusky was convicted in criminal court on 45 counts of criminal sex abuse. Many of his crimes occurred at Penn State facilities as Sandusky had virtually unlimited use of university facilities long after he retired from coaching. We wrote last week on our Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog when the university’s independent report was released. The report found university officials had ample evidence of sex abuse — including attacks on children in the football locker room showers in 1998 and 2001.

Both the head of the university and the head of the football program had adequate information to warrant thorough investigation of crimes against children. And they both failed to respond adequately, erring on the side of protecting the reputation of the university, rather than doing everything possible to ensure children are not subjected to criminal sex abuse.

How long it takes Penn State’s historic football program to recover is largely a secondary question. The recovery of abused children is paramount.

SMU has not been as competitive since it served its sanctions in 1987-88. Penn State’s penalties also include 20 fewer scholarships a year for the next four years, so it will be nearly a decade before those classes are graduated. And, in the near term, the NCAA has given current Penn State players the right to transfer to a different school. The Big Ten has also announced Penn State will forgo $13 million in revenue over the course of the four-year suspension. The expected loss of ticket revenue will push the real cost of Penn State’s total financial penalty well north of $100 million.

The Chicago Tribune reports other historic sanctions include the two-year ban levied against the Southwestern Louisiana basketball program in 1973. The Kentucky basketball program was given a season-long suspension 1952, after players were arrested for taking payments from gamblers in a point-shaving scandal.

Penn State officials are vowing to heal, and to build a university that always puts first the needs and safety of children. The $73 million in NCAA and Big Ten fines will go to fund programs aimed at child welfare and preventing child abuse.
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