Defective Sports Equipment can Cause TBIs

Many people in Florida regularly enjoy sports and other recreational activities on a regular basis. Participation in athletic competitions and events can be an excellent way to exercise and meet people with similar interests. In addition, sports play an essential role in childhood development for many individuals, teaching them valuable lessons such as teamwork, problem solving, physical skills, and the importance of physical fitness.

Unfortunately, participation in sports and other athletic activities also exposes people to the risk of serious physical injury including traumatic brain injury¹ (TBI). In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports² that sports and recreation-related injuries were responsible for nearly 250,000 children being treated in emergency departments around the country for injuries that included a TBI or concussion diagnosis. When TBIs are caused by the negligence of others, victims can often recover compensation for their medical expenses, lost income, physical and emotional pain and suffering, loss of quality of life, and other associated losses. Consequently, anyone who has sustained a TBI in a sports-related accident should discuss their options with an experienced attorney as soon as possible. To schedule a free consultation with one of our Tampa TBI attorneys, call the Dolman Law Group today at 727-451-6900.

What is TBI and how can defective sports equipment cause one?

Traumatic brain injuries occur when trauma to the head causes a change in the way that the brain normally functions. The types of head trauma that has the potential to result in a TBI include those that involve actual physical contact with the head and those that simply involve a jolt. As a result, a TBI can be sustained in an accident in which a person’s head never actually came into contact with another object, as can occur in a collision between two athletes. The symptoms of a TBI can include the following:

Varying degrees of consciousness
Dizziness
Nausea
Headache
Sensitivity to light and sound
Ringing in the ears
Problems with memory
Blurry vision
Headache
Disorientation

TBIs are extremely serious injuries, so it is important for anyone who suspects that they or someone around them has sustained a TBI to contact a medical professional as soon as possible.

Sports equipment is an essential part to participation in many sports. For example, skates are required to play hockey, just as a batting helmet is required to play baseball. When these pieces of equipment are defectively designed or manufactured and these defects cause injury, victims can often recover for their injuries from the party or parties responsible for providing them with the defective equipment. Examples of the kinds of equipment that have the potential to cause TBIs include the following:

Helmets
Footwear
Protective gear such as wrist guards or kneepads
Padding
Golf clubs
Rollerblades
Scooters
Skis and snowboards
Baseball catcher’s equipment

When these and other kinds of sports equipment are defective, the consequences can be extremely serious. Fortunately, Florida products liability law allows people who are injured by defective consumer products to recover for their injuries in many products. Because these kinds of claims can be extremely complicated and highly contested, it is important for victims and their families to consult with an experienced Florida attorney as soon as possible.

Contact a Tampa Bay traumatic brain injury attorney today to schedule a free case evaluation

When defective sports equipment causes serious injury such as a traumatic brain injury, victims are often able to recover significant compensation for their losses. In many instances, proving that an injury was caused or made worse by faulty equipment requires a significant investment of resources, so it generally recommended for anyone who has been involved in a sport-related accident to discuss the incident with an experienced Tampa TBI lawyer. The Dolman Law Group has been assisting people injured by the negligence of others recover since 2009 and works hard to ensure that each client we represent gets the full value of their claim. Send us an email through our online contact form or call us at 727-451-6900 to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys today.

Dolman Law Group
800 North Belcher Road
Tampa, FL 33756
727-451-6900

https://www.dolmanlaw.com/legal-services/brain-injury-attorneys/

References:

¹ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/traumatic-brain-injury/basics/definition/con-20029302
² http://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/get_the_facts.html