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When your kids decide to participate in a school sport, you are usually required to sign a waiver that makes it clear you assume all of the risks that are inherently involved in sports participation. Yes, injury in school sports does happen. However, if someone’s negligence caused that injury, the waiver does not apply and you are entitled to recover monetary compensation. Injuries caused by negligence can involve things like defective sporting equipment and negligent supervision. These types of things are preventable. Attorney Michael LoGiudice will help guide you through the personal injury process to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
How Do I Help Keep My Student Athlete Safe?
While some bumps and bruises seem to be an inevitable part of sports participation, there are steps we can all take to minimize potential injuries, especially serious injuries. The National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) promulgated a list of questions you should be asking school sports officials to make sure they are taking the right steps to protect all student athletes.
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Who is on the school’s sports medicine team? You should know who will be providing care for your child should they be injured. Know their qualifications and how the administrative system of the team is set up.
What is the school’s emergency action plan? In the event of serious injury, make sure the school has a written emergency action plan in place. The plan should be specific to whatever venue at which the sport is taking place. The plan should be approved by an athletic trainer or local emergency medical professionals.
Is sports equipment safe and well-maintained? All athletic equipment should be in working order and there should be a plan in place for scheduled maintenance.
Who are the coaches and volunteers? You have a right to know who is coaching your kids. Did they go through a background check? What is their background knowledge of the sport they are coaching? Do they have CPR and first aid training?
Are required pre-participation physical exams strictly enforced? Check to see that there is a process in place to make sure all student athletes have undergone physical examination prior to participation. It is even better when a school coordinates these examinations for the students.
Are students and parents educated on injuries and how to prevent them? All student athletes, as well as their parents, should be aware of the common risks of the sport. They should also be educated on the safest practices in order to reduce risk of injury.
Fighting for those Injured in School Sports.
There are steps we all can take to help reduce the risk of injury for our student athletes. If someone is not doing their part, their negligence could lead to a great deal of hurt on and off the field. If your student athlete has been injured due to the negligence of another, contact New York personal injury attorney Michael LoGiudice today.