Rowan’s Law

Rowan Stringer was 17 years old when she passed away on Mother’s Day in Ottawa after suffering from a fatal concussion during a rugby game. She had already suffered from another concussion earlier that same week. Since her death, the coroner’s inquest highlighted the dangers of youth sports but more importantly noted the lack of protocols that experts say are required to keep children safe from injuries.

Since Rowan’s death, Ontario has passed a new set of laws governing the management of youth concussions in sports. This new and important piece of legislation is called Rowan’s Law. In the United States there are strict laws that govern the management of youth concussions. Dr. Charles Tator, a neurosurgeon at the Krembil Neuroscience Centre of Toronto Western Hospital, believes that more knowledge of concussions may in fact reduce the number of concussion related deaths.

Concussions amongst professional athletes have been prevalent in news headlines in recent years with stars like Sidney Crosby having to sit out for months as a result of his concussions. Another NHL player, Rick Rypien even committed suicide. The National Football League settled a $1 billion lawsuit from many former players that is currently under appeal. Since these issues have come to light, both the NFL and NHL have implemented new concussion protocols in an effort to highlight the risks and dangers of concussions and the steps that need to be taken in the aftermath of a concussion to ensure an efficient recovery.

Dr. Tator has also states that “We do think the adolescent brain is the most sensitive brain to the effects of concussion” whereas “we used to think the infant brain was the most sensitive to trauma, but it appears now, because of the huge number of connections that are being made during adolescence, there’s a reason to worry about adolescents getting concussed”.

In a nutshell, Rowan’s Law asks for:

Certified medical clearance before athletes commence playing again after sustaining a concussion
Mandatory education on concussions for all coaches, athletes and parents
Removing injured players immediately if a concussion is remotely suspected
Adherence to return-to-learn and return-to-play protocols for young athletes with concussions

A concussion code of conduct

If your child or loved one plays competitive sports, here are some symptoms of a concussion you should look out for. If they have sustained a concussion we recommend you seek medical assistance immediately before allowing your child or loved one resumes playing his other sports:

Headaches or the feeling of pressure in the head
Confusion and/or blurriness
Slurred speech
Delayed response to questions
Feeling like you are in a dream or daze
Fatigue
Loss of consciousness (general temporary)
Amnesia
Dizziness or seeing lights and/or stars
Ringing in the ears
Feeling nauseous
Vomiting

Preszler Law has been representing accident victims with concussions for over fifty years. Throughout these decades, we have seen the world start to come to grips with how devastating the effects of concussions can be for accident victims and their families. Many accident victims with concussions are unfortunately not believed because most concussions are “invisible injuries” that do not show up on diagnostic imaging results and are instead diagnosed based on someone’s reported symptoms. Many concussions are also not properly diagnosed by family doctors until weeks or months after an accident, which can make insurance companies suspicious of concussion cases.

Much has changed over the last five decades to help diagnose concussions and improve the lives of accident victims suffering post-concussion symptoms. But we have a long way to go. Rowan’s Law is one step in the right direction.

If you or a loved one are suffering as a result of a concussion, contact our personal injury lawyers today for a free consultation as you may be eligible for a claim. Children injured during sporting events with proper supervision may be entitled to make a claim for compensation against an insurance policy.