Football programs have been under increased scrutiny over the last year. Both professional football and college football programs and teams have been dealing with concussion-related lawsuits. NCAA football has also been battling attempts to unionize football student-athletes across NCAA programs.
With scandals rocking the NFL and college students attempting to unionize football programs, football programs across the country are fending off severe and increasingly critical comments. The tragic events of the first week of October have now brought high school football programs under greater scrutiny.
The death of three high school football players in the same week who all collapsed on the football field have parents, schools and communities questioning the short-term and long-term health implications of football.
In one week, two 17-year-olds and one 16-year-old high school football players from North Carolina, Alabama and New York respectively, all died after collapsing on the football field in their football uniforms.
Isaiah Langston of North Carolina experienced a brain hemorrhage. Demario Harris from Alabama died of a brain hemorrhage that was caused by a hit he took during the game. The cause of death for Tom Cutinella, from New York, has not been released.
Both the NFL and the NCAA are dealing with lawsuits regarding head injuries. That these three young boys all died due to head injuries is cause for concern. High school football programs are now likely to be looking at adopting rules about concussions and hard hits.
At least one of the young men who died, collapsed after a particularly vicious hit. While the personal injury implications of these deaths remain unclear, the attorneys at Greg Coleman Law urge school districts to create robust concussion and post-hit policies that protect football players in and around Knoxville, Tennessee. If your child has been injured or died while playing in a football game contact the Knoxville personal injury attorneys at Greg Coleman Law for a free consultation.
If your or a loved one has been injured, call (865) 247-0080.
