Over the last decade, the medical community has learned a lot about the potentially long-term consequences of suffering a concussion. We’ve seen scores of former NFL players with dementia, lost memory, and even death that seem to be directly related to concussions they got while they were playing. All the medical research we’ve seen has shown that detecting these issues early, and treating them correctly, can be hugely important to minimize the long-term impacts of brain injuries.
At Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we strongly believe that any athlete who’s suffered a concussion should get immediate, comprehensive medical care. That said, we also understand that it’s not always that easy. Some health insurance plans don’t cover these injuries. In other cases, the athlete may not even realize they have a concussion. If you or a loved one has suffered a concussion as a result of an accident, reach out to Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 to see how you may be able to get the help you need.
New programs have been designed to help student athletes
As a result of all the new research that’s been coming out, various groups have come up with unique solutions and programs to help kids who’ve been dealt a brain injury related to the sports they play. How serious is this issue? Studies show that around 170,000 teens and kids are treated for head trauma related to sports each year. Professional players have access to sophisticated testing and top notch medical care. Not all high school students in our great state have this same access.
Concussion insurance could be a solution
For these reasons, a new insurance program is being rolled out. The goal is to offer high school athletes the same access to medical care as the pros. With this concussion insurance, athletes are entitled to testing and medical care for injuries related to a concussion. This is coverage that wasn’t previously offered o every student athlete.
The plan calls for every play to get tests before they’ve been injured. This battery of tests includes brain activity and response tests. If there comes a time that they’re suspected of having a concussion, a new test will be done and those tests can be compared against their previous tests. If necessary, the athlete will then get medical care.
The goal of this insurance may surprise you
Interestingly, the actual goal of this concussion insurance is to offer testing options that can help the student athlete not go back to the game too soon. If a player gets several concussions in a short period of time, then their chances of long-term brain damage are significant. This is why this insurance focuses on making sure that the athlete is totally recovered before they return.
Athletes may still need to speak to a personal injury attorney
This concussion insurance can help students get the medical care they need but it won’t help them if they end up with long-term medical bills, pain, suffering, lost wages, etc. That’s where they or their parents may need to reach out to a personal injury attorney. Reach out to Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.
