Sports Injury & Recreational Accidents

Pair of Fatal Jet Ski Accidents Serve as a Reminder of the Danger on the Water

July 28, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

Enjoying time on the water is one of the great joys of life in California. With the ocean, numerous rivers, and thousands of lakes, water is (and we note the irony of this statement amid a long drought) everywhere. Jet skiing is one of many water-related activities that California residents and visitors enjoy. While it can be great fun, both riders and bystanders must remain aware of the danger of jet ski accidents. When a jet ski accident can be traced to a negligent individual or corporation, our Northern California jet ski accident law firm can help hold those responsible accountable for their actions and help the injured victim or grieving family recover monetary compensation.

Two Jet Ski Related Accidents Claim Lives on Bass Lake

Recently, two jet ski-related tragedies darkened the mood at Central California’s popular Bass Lake. On June 27, an accident left a 13-year-old boy dead and his 16-year-old aunt critically injured. According to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office and The Sierra Star, the pair were, along with the boy’s father, riding in an inner tube and being pulled by a pontoon boat when they were hit by a jet ski. The waverunner was piloted by a San Jose man with two riders on-board. Police do not believe alcohol was a factor, but the jet ski was allegedly outside of the three designated waverunner zones. The owner of a lakeside resort suggested the operator may not have understood that waverunners do not stop simply because the operator lets up on the gas.

Tubing Accidents and a Tragic Drowning at Lake Sonoma

July 10, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

The remnants of a picnic lunch sit on a blanket. Mom shades her eyes as Junior calls out for her to watch. Dad fires up the boat pulling Junior along in an inner tube. He picks up speed and they all laugh as Junior struggles to hang on. Most likely the day will be remembered for laughs and fun; sunburn and perhaps a bruise or two are all the family fears. Sadly, tubing accidents can turn this seemingly idyllic summer scene tragic in mere moments. As we look at the threat, the hearts of our Sonoma County drowning injury lawyer and legal team go out to a grieving family that will never look at a day on the lake the same again.

Holiday Turns Tragic with Lake Sonoma Drowning

On Monday, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported that a dive team had recovered the body of a 14 year-old San Francisco boy who had been missing since July 4^th. According to reports, the boy and his younger cousin had been playing on inflatable toys during a Lake Sonoma gathering when they drifted further than they intended. After persuading 13 year-old aboard a personal watercraft to tow them to shore, the boys lost their grip on the rope and slipped into the water. Neither boy could swim; neither was wearing a life jacket. The survivor reports he initially panicked and held onto his cousin, but the pair separated. The younger boy made it to shore. His cousin never followed.

Sports Injury Attorney Looks at Soccer Injuries

July 7, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

Like many of you, we enjoyed cheering Team USA to victory in the women’s World Cup on Sunday. Soccer is the world’s most popular sport and the win will only add to the growing number of Americans playing and watching the game. Of course, along with an increase in popularity comes an increase in soccer injuries. Although most sports injuries are unfortunate accidents, sometimes, especially where children are involved, our San Francisco sports injury lawyer believes a civil lawsuit against those whose actions led to a preventable injury is appropriate. Sports injury lawsuits compensate the injured and protect the health of all players.

Pro Golfer Injures Ankle Playing Soccer

A reminder of the reality of soccer injuries came from an unexpected source on Monday – pro-golf. As the San Francisco Chronicle reported, Irish golfer Rory McIlroy ruptured an ankle ligament while playing soccer with friends. McIlroy is currently ranked as the top golfer in the world, but it is unclear if he will be able to defend his British Open title next week (he’s one of two favorites). McIlroy shared a photo of himself wearing an air cast and using crutches and told reporters that he was taking it day by day and had begun a rehabilitation program. The left ankle is important in golf since right-handed players build swing strength by shifting weight from left to right.

ATV Accidents: Statistics, Safety, and Legal Representation

February 27, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

While cars are responsible for a strong majority of vehicle-related accidents, they are not the only culprit in the fatal or injury-causing accidents we see in our Northern California injury practice. All-terrain vehicle accidents (“ATVs” or “ATV accidents”), can cause serious injury or even death. When someone other than the injured is at fault, our Sonoma County ATV accident lawyer can help the injured victim or surviving family members obtain financial compensation from those responsible.

ATV Overturns, Seriously Injuring Petaluma Teen The Press Democrat reported on an ATV accident that occurred in Petaluma on Saturday and left a teenager seriously injured. Three teens were riding an ATV on private property when the vehicle overturned and rolled over onto one of the passengers, leaving him with a severely broken arm, a broken vertebra in his neck, and a severed artery. An uninjured rider called 911 and used his own shirt to staunch his long-time friend’s bleeding. The injured teen underwent emergency surgery and is expected to make a strong recovery.

ATV Accident Statistics In April 2014, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) released its 2012 Annual Report of ATV-Related Deaths and Injuries. Through the end of 2012, the CPSC had received 12,391 reports of ATV-related fatalities between 1982 and 2012, including 353 in 2012 and 554 in 2011. Notably, accident numbers for the years 2009 to 2012 are expected to increase as reporting is finalized; in 2008, the last year for which reporting is deemed complete, there were 755 ATV deaths. Of the 12,391 reported deaths in the study period, 24% involved victims aged less than 16 years. CPSC statistics also show an estimated 107,900 ATV-related injuries treated in U.S. emergency rooms in 2012, with 25% involving children under 16.

California Child Injury Lawyer on the Danger of Scooter Accidents

February 25, 2015 | Gregory J. Brod

There are few sounds as good for the soul as the noise of children at play. In a world where technology often keeps even young children glued to screens, it is especially heart-warming to hear kids engaged in active, outdoor play. It is important for kids to take part in physical activity, but it is also important for that activity to be safe. Scooters have been one of the most popular outdoor toys for many years, but they are also one of the most dangerous. In today’s blog entry, our Oakland child injury lawyer focuses on the danger of scooter injuries, injuries that often involve defective products, careless drivers, or other forms of adult negligence.

Trio of California Scooter Deaths in Late 2014 Late 2014 saw at least three fatal scooter accidents in California. On November 11, a 14 year-old high school freshman was riding his scooter near his home in San Leandro. According to the San Francisco Chronicle a driver heading south in a northbound lane swerved, ran a red light, and crashed into the high school freshman who later succumbed to his injuries at an area hospital. Only one day later, a 13 year-old boy was riding his scooter to school when he was struck by a car and killed in Riverside, a town about an hour west of Los Angeles. Witnesses said that driver had also run through a red light and ABC7 reported that the 44 year-old driver was taken into custody on charges of driving under the influence of prescription drugs. A third child was killed in a scooter accident on December 26 in San Bernardino County. News station KTLA reported that 12 year-old boy was playing with his new Razor-brand scooter, a Christmas gift, when he the into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

Study Blames Scooters for Increase in Toy-Related Accidents In December, USA Today reported on a study published in the journal Clinical Pediatrics that focused on the problem of toy-related accidents. The study suggests that “kick” scooters, like the foot-powered collapsible Razor scooters that have been widely popular since around 2000, were largely responsible for a 40% increase in toy-related injuries between 1990 and 2011. According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, 52,500 children under age 15 were taken to the emergency room and one died as a result of injuries stemming from non-motorized scooter accidents in 2013 (Side note: It is unclear whether this number includes traffic accidents). The study authors and the CPSC urge parents to be sure children wear safety helmets when using scooters.

Northern California Injury Looks At the Danger of Trampoline Injuries

October 29, 2014 | Gregory J. Brod

Children are often so filled with energy that they appear to bounce from place to place. It is little wonder that trampolines are a beloved piece of equipment in gymnasiums and backyards alike. While they can be fun and can encourage the active exercise too many children lack, trampolines can also be dangerous and trampoline injuries are all too common. When these injuries stem from equipment problems, installation issues, or other safety failures, our Oakland child injury attorney is prepared to work with parents to advocate for their injured children.

Antioch Girl Injured in Trampoline Accident

While, as we’ll discuss below, most trampoline injuries occur on home equipment, an East Bay gymnastics center was the site of a frightening accident last weekend. ABC7 reports that a 10 year old girl was attending a Halloween party at Four Stars Gymnastics Academy on Saturday afternoon. As she neared the end of her turn on the trampoline, she jumped up and, instead of returning safely to the trampoline, went flying through the facility’s large glass window and landed on the ground. The girl sustained deep gashes on her arms and legs, requiring over 100 stitches. The gymnasium did not provide any comments for ABC7, but reporters looking in from outside the facility spotted three large trampolines standing within a couple feet of large windows.

Young Bodies, Adult Injuries: Continuing Our Look at Safety in Youth Sports

October 9, 2014 | Gregory J. Brod

On Wednesday, our Northern California youth sports law firm looked at the threat of concussions facing high school football players. Among the many studies on the topic is research discussed on WebMD finding concussions occurred more than twice as often in high school athletes in 2012 than in 2005. Researchers involved in that study suggest the trend is due to increased awareness and not an increased in danger. While we certainly agree that added awareness leads to increased reporting, we believe that there is another (substantial) factor in the youth sports injury epidemic: how young people play.

Statistics on Young Players and Injuries

Concussions are not the only danger facing young athletes today. Contra Costa Times recently examined the increase in “adult” injuries among young players. Each year, more than 46.5 million children in the United States participate in sports. Last year, 1.24 million children received emergency room treatment, a figure that translates to 3,400 young people visiting the ER each day. A whopping 90% of youth athletes report experiencing some form of sports injuries and more than half of those children say they played through an injury to avoid letting their team down.

Protecting California’s High School Football Players and Other Young Athletes

October 8, 2014 | Gregory J. Brod

For many, Fall is all about high school football. San Francisco sports injury lawyer Greg Brod and the team at the Brod Law Firm support our local high school teams as fans and as advocates for player safety. The safety of young athletes is getting long overdue attention across the country. Here in California, a new state law set to take effect in January that we hope will help prevent concussions and other brain injuries in high school football. When a young player in Northern California suffers serious injury because of a negligent decision by an individual or sports organization, our firm can serve as an advocate for the athlete and help win compensation to address both current and future needs.

The Threat of Concussions on the Football Field

Before we get into the Bill, we want to take a moment to remember why change is critically needed. On Tuesday, CNN Parents reported that three high school football player in three different states died in the last week alone. Our hearts go out to the families and the communities in mourning.

Concussions and Other Head Injuries in Youth Soccer

August 29, 2014 | Gregory J. Brod

Earlier this summer, sports lovers in America joined those across the globe in watching (and cheering for) a game loved the world over – soccer. While long-popular in other countries, Americans have been slow to embrace soccer, but the game is slowly infecting adults and children alike. As people begin to play the sport, not just watch from the sidelines, soccer injuries and particularly soccer concussions become a growing concern. Our San Francisco sports injury attorney understands the unique contours of sports injury cases. When the injury can be traced to a negligent or even reckless decision by a governing body, sponsor, coaching group, or other entity, we can help the injured recover money damages and prevent future tragic accidents on the field.

Parents File Suit Seeking Changes in Youth Soccer

A group of parents has filed a lawsuit in San Francisco asking FIFA, the United States Soccer Federation, and other major soccer organizations to make changes to keep children safe. CBS Sports explains that the class action suit is looking for changes in policy and practice rather than money damages. The suit asks the soccer groups to improve the way they diagnose head injuries and to change the guidelines as to when a player may return to play following a concussion. Additionally, the plaintiffs are asking FIFA to change its rules on substitutions, allowing more than the usual three per game limit when a substitution is needed to allow for a medical evaluation.

Baseball Injuries–Threat of Home Plate Collisions

December 11, 2013 | Gregory J. Brod

While most sports fans in the U.S. are currently focused on football, there is plenty going on behind the scenes in another one of the nation’s favorite games – baseball. Managers are meeting and honoring greats of seasons past with Hall of Fame announcements while also planning for the 2014 season with trades and other roster changes. The meetings also offer a chance for baseball’s leadership to discuss important issues impacting the sport, such as the threat of serious injuries. Although they don’t get the attention that surrounds injuries in football and other heavy-contact sports, baseball injuries can be serious and can affect players from the Major Leagues all the way down to the tee-ball set. A passionate sports fan and experienced industry professional, Attorney Greg Brod serves as a San Francisco sports injury lawyer and helps youth and adult players obtain compensation when bad policy, defective equipment, or reckless decision-making lead to serious and unnecessary injuries.

Giants Manager Focuses on Danger of Home Plate Collisions

Bruce Bochy, manager of the San Francisco Giants since 2006, hopes that the winter meetings not only help him build a great roster for 2014 but also provide an opportunity for discussing an injury-preventing rule change. According the San Jose Mercury News, Bochy began seriously contemplating a rule change relating to home plate collisions in 2003. He was serving as the manager for the San Diego Padres when Brian Jordan of the Los Angeles Dodgers collided with Padres’ catcher Gary Bennett. Bochy initially feared Jordan might have been paralyzed by the impact which ultimately sidelined him for a month. On May 25, 2011, Bochy was again face-to-face with the problem when Giants’ catcher Buster Posey suffered a serious ankle injury and broken fibula following a home plate collision (see the San Francisco Chronicle’s report on the injury).