rancho bernardo personal injury - Walton Law Firm

Should Youth Tackle Football Be Banned to Prevent Concussions?

North County Injury Lawyers — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 10:45:37 GMT

Children and young adults can sustain traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in various ways, from motor vehicle collisions and bicycle accidents to recreational activities and sports. TBIs and concussions, in particular, are notably dangerous because they can have long-term consequences, especially when kids sustain multiple concussions. While TBIs in various types of accidents are always preventable (meaning that they can be avoided if all parties drive safely and avoid negligent behaviors), many safety advocates emphasize that there is a clear way to prevent concussions in youth sports: ban tackle football. Recently, there was a legislative effort in California to ban tackle football for children under the age of 12, which was ultimately rejected.

Should younger kids be able to play tackle football? Data from the CDC suggests that it is especially dangerous. Our Rancho Bernardo personal injury attorneys can tell you more.

Proposed Legislation to Ban Tackle Football in California

California legislators put forward a proposal to ban tackle football in California for kids under the age of 12, but Governor Gavin Newson indicated he would not sign it if it came to his desk, making clear that the bill would fail. But what did the legislators intend to do, and would this type of law reduce brain injuries among youth athletes?

The proposal aimed to “gradually ban tackle football for children under 12 by 2029,” according to ESPN, and it cleared an initial legislative committee after it was put forward. The author of the proposal, Kevin McCarty, issued a written statement indicating that he would not push the proposal forward without support from the governor, but said: “I do look forward to the Governor’s invitation to work on ways to better protect our youngest athletes and keep them safe from repetitive head hits which can cause chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).” The governor promised to improve safety in youth football “while ensuring parents have the freedom to decide which sports are most appropriate for their children.”

Getting the Facts About Tackle Football and Youth Athletes

The proposal intended to have younger kids play flag football at least until the age of 12 in order to avoid concussions, including repetitive concussions, given that head impacts continue to occur with frequency among teen football players. Indeed, a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes that there is an urgent need for new efforts to prevent head impacts in youth tackle football. One of the ways of reducing head impacts is, according to the study, to switch to flag football.

The CDC study, which was published in the peer-reviewed journal Sports Health, revealed that kids between the ages of 6 and 14 who play tackle football suffer “15 times more head impacts than flag football athletes during a practice or game.” In addition, kids who play tackle football experience “23 times more high-magnitude head impacts” compared with flag football players. During a given season, youth football players in tackle football sustain a mediation of 378 head impacts for each athlete, compared with a median of 8 head impacts for each athlete in flag football. In sum, the study revealed that flag football could be an alternative to tackle football for younger athletes to reduce concussion rates.

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Rancho Bernado

If your child sustained a brain injury, it is important to reach out to a lawyer for assistance. An experienced Rancho Bernardo personal injury attorney at our firm can assess your case and discuss your options for filing a claim. Contact the Walton Law Firm to get started.

Seat Belts and Rancho Bernardo Injuries: What You Should Know

North County Injury Lawyers — Sat, 20 Mar 2021 01:38:25 GMT

Whether you are involved in a motor vehicle collision in Rancho Bernardo or elsewhere in Southern California, you may already know just how important seat belts are to preventing serious and fatal injuries. Yet many vehicle occupants still do not buckle up, especially when they are sitting in the back seat of a car or SUV. A recent article in Bankrate addresses the history of seat belts and motor vehicle safety and considers who far we have come by 2021. We want to discuss some of those considerations with you here and to urge you to seek advice from a Rancho Bernardo car accident attorney if you need help filing a claim for financial compensation.

Long History of Motor Vehicles and Limited Seat Belt Use

According to the Bankrate article, seat belts have been around for much longer than you might think. To be sure, this safety device actually dates back to the 19th century—long before a majority of Americans owned any kind of vehicle—yet they have not been used as widely as many safety advocates would like. Indeed, by 1980, only about 10% of Americans reported that they wore seat belts when driving a car or occupying a passenger seat in a vehicle. Those numbers improved significantly in the late twentieth century and into the twenty-first century. By 2019, just over 90% of Americans report that they wear a seat belt whether driving or riding in an automobile.

Yet that number still leaves about 10% of the American population, and those people make up a startling number of the vehicle accident fatalities reported in recent years. Indeed, data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that more than 37,000 people were killed in motor vehicle collisions in 2017, and approximately 50% of those people who sustained deadly injuries were not wearing a seat belt. The NHTSA predicts that more than 2,500 of those people would have survived the collision if they had buckled up as recommended.

Seat Belts Save Lives

It is critical to know that seat belts do save lives, and it is essential to buckle up. According to the NHTSA, between the years 1960 and 2012, seat belts saved nearly 330,000 lives in motor vehicle collisions. That figure does not even take into account the effects of improved safety devices and tools in automobiles, such as airbags, anti-lock brakes, and electronic stability control.

Studies suggest that seat belts can reduce the risk of death in a collision for front seat occupants by about 45%, and that seat belts in the front seat can reduce the risk of a serious nonfatal injury by about 50%. Younger Americans aged 34 and under are less likely than older drivers and vehicle occupants. Accordingly, future safety initiatives may benefit from focusing on motorists and occupants in that age group, according to Bankrate.

Contact a Rancho Bernardo Auto Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one sustained serious injuries in a motor vehicle collision, you should seek advice from our Rancho Bernardo car accident attorneys about filing a claim for compensation. Contact the Walton Law Firm to learn more about how we can assist you with your lawsuit.

How Much Time do I Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit in Rancho Bernardo?

North County Injury Lawyers — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 15:05:38 GMT

After a serious injury in a Rancho Bernardo accident, it can be difficult to think about anything beyond the physical and financial repercussions of your injury. You are likely scheduling medical appointments for treatment or surgery, and trying to recover physically from your injury. At the same time, you are likely having trouble paying your bills if your injury has prevented you from working. You may be thinking about filing a claim for compensation, but you might be putting it off until your injuries heal enough for you to begin focusing on a complex insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit. Yet it is critical to keep in mind that you will only have a certain amount of time to file your lawsuit.

The amount of time you have to file a claim is known as the statute of limitations, and it can vary depending upon the type of injury you have suffered and the identity of the responsible party. We want to provide you with more information about the statute of limitations in personal injury claims in California, and to urge you to seek advice from a Rancho Bernardo personal injury lawyer as soon as you can.

Most Personal Injury Claims Will Need to be Filed Within Two Years

A majority of personal injury claims in California must be filed within two years from the date of the injury. For example, if you suffered a serious injury in a car accident or sustained injuries in a slip and fall accident, you will need to file a personal injury lawsuit within two years from the date you suffered your injury. However, the time limit can be much shorter if you need to file a claim against a government agency.

Government Agency Claims Must be Filed Much Faster

Sometimes accidents result from a government employee’s negligence while that person is working. For example, a car crash might have been caused by a government worker in California, or an injury might have occurred on government property. Depending upon the specific facts of your case, you may be required to file your claim with the government agency within six months’ time. The timetable for your lawsuit will depend upon the type of claim.

Some Medical Malpractice Cases Have an Extended Statute of Limitations

Some types of medical malpractice cases have a slightly longer statute of limitations. In cases where a person did not discover an injury right away, then a lawsuit must be filed within one year from the date the patient discovered (or reasonably should have discovered) the injury.

When Time Runs Out, Your Claim can Become Time-Barred

Under California law, if you fail to file your lawsuit within the time window established by the statute of limitations, you will have a time-barred claim. Once a claim is time-barred, there is little we can do to help you seek compensation from the at-fault party. Accordingly, it is important to get started on your case as soon as possible.

Contact a Rancho Bernardo Personal Injury Attorney

Do you need assistance with a personal injury claim? One of the experienced Rancho Bernardo personal injury attorneys at our firm can begin working with you today on your case. Contact the Walton Law Firm for more information.