At every level of football, there has been concern about player safety, particularly the harmful effects of concussions and other traumatic brain injuries. Despite concussion protocol training and equipment improvements, the well-being of young players often hinges on the judgment of coaches and other school district personnel. The tragic death of a Linden High School student-athlete is raising questions about whether the tragedy would have been avoided if the adults in charge were more responsible.
The father of Xavier McClain, who was 16 years old when he died from the effects of a traumatic brain injury, says that trainers and coaches should have held him out of the game after he was initially hurt against Woodbridge High School. Tragically, according to Mr. McClain’s complaint, no one treated Xavier and mandatory concussion protocol procedures were not used. Eventually, Xavier was inserted back into the game, where he was a key contributor for Linden High’s team despite the fact that he was 5’5” and 132 pounds.
Shortly after returning to the field, Xavier took another hard hit. This time, he collapsed and emergency medical personnel attended to him. He did not respond to treatment from the first responders and was taken to the hospital where he died 12 days later as a result of his head and upper body injuries.
This case brings to light the inherent risks associated with contact sports, particularly football, where injuries can range from minor bruises to life-threatening concussions. Despite the heightened awareness surrounding sports-related injuries and the long-term consequences they can have on athletes’ health, Mr. McClain’s lawsuit alleges that the authority figures failed to observe required safety procedures. The wrongful death action also names Woodbridge and Linden Emergency Medical Services as defendants, claiming that they did not have proper equipment at the game to provide necessary treatment to someone in Xavier’s condition.
While you might not experience the same type of tragedy as the McClain family, there are numerous instances where a student-athlete suffers a serious personal injury because a coach or another adult in charge acted negligently or recklessly. Perhaps a defendant was too caught up in the game or thought their young player could push through the pain.
Seigel Law in Ridgewood represents New Jersey clients in cases against school districts and other organizations that did not use proper care to prevent a child from suffering an injury. If your child was hurt, or their condition was made worse, by an adult’s failure to act responsibly, please call 201-444-4000 or contact us online for a free consultation.