New Pennsylvania Law to Protect Student Athletes from Serious Head Injuries

A head injury can be devastating, and its effects, life changing. The attorneys at Liever, Hyman & Potter, in Reading, PA know that firsthand, and have handled many cases in which clients have been involved in workplace, automobile, or other accidents resulting in a serious head injury.

On November 9, 2011, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett signed the “Safety in Youth Sports Act,” a law intended to prevent serious head injuries in student athletes and strengthen education about the risks of concussions. “Some will call this erring on the side of caution,” Corbett said. “To that I say, you bet. When it has to do with our young people, with their health and safety, we should take no needless chances.”

The measure, Senate Bill 200, establishes standards for managing concussions and other brain injuries. It requires student athletes who may have suffered a head injury to be removed from the activity and not allowed to return to play until they have been medically cleared. In addition, it requires coaches to be trained annually and establishes penalties for those who don’t comply. “Our hope is that this bill will reduce the risk of long-term damage for student athletes who suffer concussions or other brain-related trauma while participating in sports. By signing this bill, Pennsylvania joins 31 other states in establishing legislation,” Corbett said.

The law also requires the Departments of Health and Education to post guidelines and other relevant materials online to inform and educate students participating in any athletic activity, their parents, and their coaches about the nature and risk of concussions and traumatic brain injury.

The law takes effect next July 1. (Source: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Office of the Governor, News Release, November 14, 2011).

If you have sustained a head injury at work or as the result of someone else’s negligence or carelessness, contact an experienced injury attorney right away. The attorneys at Liever, Hyman & Potter have successfully handled many head injury cases in Reading, Pottsville, and throughout Pennsylvania.