Tampa, FL
Consultations available 24/7
KFB Law

Sports Injuries: What to do if your child is hurt

Reading Time: 3 minutes

by Marcus Fernandez
Health & Safety, Personal Injury
sports injuries

Soon after the first school bell rings, you will hear the familiar sound of coaches’ whistles coming from the courts and fields of our schools. 30 million children and teens participate in organized sports. While that number is impressive, sadly 3.5 million sports injuries sideline these participants each year. Before your child takes the field or hits the court, it’s critical to understand the most common injuries that occur, preventative measures that your child can take to avoid injury, and what to do if your child is injured in an accident at school or during a sporting event.

 

Most Common Sports Injuries

The most common types of sports injuries range from seemingly minor to life threatening, and are categorized as overuse injuries or acute injuries.

Overuse Injuries

Overuse injuries stem from repeated movement over an extended period of time resulting in the muscle, tendon, or other body part becoming injured. Common types of overuse sports injuries include shin splints, swimmer’s shoulder, tennis elbow, or even stress fractures.

Acute Injuries

Acute injuries stem from a sudden impact or trauma and can sometimes cause a catastrophic effect. Acute sports injuries include muscle strain, dislocations, fractures or broken bones.

Concussions

Considered a “mild traumatic brain injury” concussions occur when an impact causes the subject’s brain to move inside the skull. The focus of multiple studies in recent years, concussions in adolescents and younger athletes have come under greater scrutiny because of the child’s age and brain development.

Heat-Related Illnesses

Extra attention should be paid to heat and hydration for children. Perspiration is nature’s way of cooling the body down. Since children sweat less than adults they may be at greater risk for heat exhaustion.

 

Accident and Injury Prevention

Make sure your children are safe from practice to the final whistle by talking to your child about sports safety, and taking additional precautions where possible this school year. Here are a few tips to ensure safer play:

Teach Proper Techniques

Your child’s coach should foster a safe environment by restricting activities that might cause injury, as well as teaching the proper procedures to help avoid injuring others.

Stretch

Prevent muscle pulls and strains by carefully stretching prior to any exercise.

Hydrate

Make sure your child drinks plenty of water prior to, during and after exercise, taking shade whenever possible.

Rest

We all want our children to be successful, but one of the keys to their success is getting adequate rest between workouts.

Check Equipment

Ensure that your kids are safe and secure by checking equipment. Proper footwear, secure helmets and appropriate padding are all critical to avoiding injury.

Seek Medical Attention

If your child is injured in a sports accident it’s critical to seek appropriate medical care afterward to avoid further injury.  For instance, a child who has suffered a concussion must consult with a medical doctor to be cleared before returning to play.

 

What to do if your child is injured in an accident

Sports injuries must be immediately addressed to help ensure that you and your family are protected. Take steps to understand if outside factors were the cause behind your child’s accident:

  • For instance, did coaches and trainers follow proper protocols following your child’s accident?
  • Did a product fail to perform as expected resulting in greater injury for your child?
  • Was the environment your child was competing in up to proper codes and standards, or did poor conditions contribute to your child’s injury?

 

If someone else was potentially negligent in your child’s injury, contact an experienced personal injury attorney who can help examine your situation, and guide you on the proper procedures to follow to ensure coverage for your child.

Related Blog & News Posts

  • premises liability florida
    August 28, 2025

    What a Premises Liability Lawyer Can Do for You

    Know Your Rights After an Injury on Someone Else’s Property Injuries happen. But when they happen on someone else’s property because of unsafe conditions, the legal question becomes: who is responsible? If you’ve slipped, tripped, or been hurt due to negligence on another’s property, a premises liability lawyer can help you understand your legal rights…

  • dangerous roads for pedestrians in tampa
    August 28, 2025

    Dangerous Roads for Pedestrians in Tampa: A Guide to Staying Safe

    Tampa’s vibrant neighborhoods and nightlife attract a lot of foot traffic and come with risks for pedestrians. As personal injury attorneys at KFB Law, we’ve seen firsthand the dangers posed by some of Tampa’s most heavily trafficked roads, which are also prone to car accidents. Pedestrian accidents are often severe and can result in life-altering…

  • teen drivers
    August 28, 2025

    Safety Tips For Teen Drivers Returning To School

    Children standing with their parents waiting for the bus on the first day of school is a familiar scene throughout America. As the children get older, a different first day of school scene occurs as parents hand over car keys to their teenagers, who are driving to school for the first time. The freedom a…

Real Client Stories

We believe in providing exceptional service. Read firsthand accounts from clients who have entrusted us with their cases and experienced our commitment to client care.
Rating
This law office is undoubtedly my number 1 go to and recommendation for anyone. The team is caring and attentive to your individual needs and efficient in their work. Ive gone here fortunately but unfortunately one to many occasions but they’ve had me evey single time. I couldn’t ask for better service. Thank you.
T
Tracy grutman
Rating
This office assisted me in pursuing a case after a car accident and helped answer all of my questions. From start to end of the case (which was completed in 6 months!), I felt like Marcus had my back and truly was there to represent and advocate for me. 10/10 would recommend to anyone in need of legal support.
A
Addison Hobbs
Rating
Marcus Fernandez is the MAN with the plan…Kinney, Fernandez &Boire,P.A and the GANG Was A Miracle Blessings Too ME!!!!!I would recommend them to anyone…Special Thanks To Mrs.DEE She kept me Encouraged &Motivated the whole way through definitely GREAT PEOPLE TOO HANDLE BUSINESS WITH
O
O C
Florida Bar Certified

Need Immediate Help?

Questions can’t wait — and neither should you. Start a live chat or send us a text, and get answers fast from a real legal expert.
Free consultation — 24/7
Trusted by Leaders
Rating
Rated 4.9/5