As more and more students join in on school sports, many are suffering from serious and even debilitating injuries.

Children are susceptible to injuries no matter if they are playing contact sports or engaged in non-contact sports.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that nearly 30 million adolescents participate in youth sports in the U.S. It is also estimated that more than 1.24 million of these children under 19 participating in sports were taken to the emergency department for sports-related injuries.

Sports injuries may be considered acute or chronic. Acute injuries occur suddenly, for example, when a football player suffers a concussion after a hard hit. Chronic injuries occur over time, for example, a tennis player may develop tendonitis.

Some of the most common types of injuries children suffer include:

  • Concussion
  • Sprains and strains
  • Dislocations
  • Fractures
  • Cuts, bruises, scrapes

According to SAFE KIDS, football, basketball, soccer and baseball were most often linked to serious injuries. Thousands of young girls also suffer serious injuries while cheerleading. About five percent of sports-related concussions involve children under the age of seven.

Preventing injuries is something that parents, coaches and schools must do together. From keeping children properly hydrated to ensuring that safety equipment is still in good condition, the safety of our children must come first.

Unfortunately, negligent coaching, faulty equipment and improper training are often a cause of sports-related injuries. Younger athletes often take longer to heal from injuries as they are still growing while repeated injuries can prevent children from continuing to play sports into adulthood.

If your child has been hurt as a result of negligence, contact the personal injury lawyers at Goldberg Finnegan, we can help you determine your legal options.