The biggest night in football is nearly here. For fans, Super Bowl Sunday means trash talking with your buddies, snacks, beer, zany commercials, endless highlights and, of course, the Big Game. You'll watch the game ensconced in the comfort of your comfy easy chair, but dozens of high school fans will watch from their wheelchairs. One in 100,000 high school football players suffers a serious, paralyzing spinal cord personal injury and hundreds more suffer serious concussions that result in permanent disability or degenerative brain disease.
The serious personal injury suffered on the field by a pro football player gets a lot of press. When Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook was struck in the head and knocked unconscious during the Washington game, Philly fans were horrified. A second concussion in San Diego was even more frightening, placing Westbrook at risk for long-term brain damage. Recent research linking concussions to degenerative brain disease has drawn attention to what the press is calling pro football's concussion crisis . Some argue that pro players are paid to take such risks, but what of the 140,000 concussions suffered every year by children who play football in Pop Warner leagues or on school teams? And what of the spinal cord injuries that paralyze some of those kids?
Former football players who have experienced debilitating injuries and parents caring for children forever damaged by football injuries have been working to raise public consciousness about the dangers of playing football. Medical experts say that young Philadelphia players with their still developing bodies are at greater risk than adults for serious personal injury while playing football. Parents of injured athletes charge that inadequate or improper training, overly aggressive coaching, lack of immediate medical attention, and lack of trainers and ambulances at games contribute to the severity of personal injuries suffered by Philadelphia children on the football field.
If your child is injured playing sports, a Philadelphia personal injury lawyer may be able to help you recover funds needed to pay for medical expenses and care for your child.
