Waukegan Head Injury Attorneys

As the end of the summer draws near, tens of thousands of Illinois students and their parents are actively preparing for the upcoming school year and the changes it will bring. One of these changes is Illinois' new “Return to Learn” law, which put new policies into effect for schools regarding students' brain injuries.

The law, which was known as Senate Bill 7 during its time in the state legislature, requires all schools in Illinois to develop procedures for safely and effectively handling their students' concussions. Under this law, both public and private schools are required to do the following:

• Develop an injury emergency plan for dealing with head injuries;
• Develop a concussion oversight team to handle student concussions that occur and facilitate the student's recovery and healthy return to school and sports. These teams may consist of coaches, athletic trainers, and medical professionals; and
• Ensure that any student who suffers a concussion is cleared by a doctor before he or she can return to school and athletics.

This law will help thousands of Illinois students get the treatment and oversight they need to ensure that they make full recoveries from their brain injuries. Concussions and other brain injuries can lead to serious, life-threatening injuries. If your son or daughter suffers from a head injury while playing sports or another activity, get medical attention for him or her immediately. A timely diagnosis and treatment are key to successfully treating a brain injury and preventing long-term damage.

How Can a Concussion Affect a Student?

Recent research from a recent Health Day report shows that adolescents experience more severe symptoms of concussions than adults and younger children face. This is because during adolescence, the brain is undergoing significant restructuring and growth.

Adolescents and children alike can experience symptoms that adversely affect their ability to learn and complete schoolwork. Some examples of concussion symptoms students can face include the following:

• Inability to pay attention during class or discussions;
• Dizziness or nausea;
• Headaches;
• Emotional irritability;
• Difficulty making decisions;
• Short-term memory loss; and
• Difficulty with coordination or balance.

Do not write off these symptoms as rebellion or adolescent moodiness. A concussion is a serious injury that can lead to further injuries, such as permanent memory loss and impaired movement.

If Your Child Suffers a Head Injury

The first thing you need to do is seek medical attention immediately. A concussion needs to be diagnosed by a medical professional. Concussions are classified into three categories:

• Grade 1, which is a concussion where symptoms do not last longer than 15 minutes and the victim does not lose consciousness;
• Grade 2, in which the victim does not lose consciousness but does exhibit symptoms for longer than 15 minutes; and
• Grade 3, where the victim loses consciousness. There is no time limit for the loss of consciousness – if it occurs at all, even for a few seconds, the individual has suffered a grade 3 concussion.

After your child has been diagnosed, take the steps to make sure he or she gets the treatment he or she needs. This will include a significant amount of time spent out of school resting. If you feel your child is entitled to monetary compensation for his or her injury, contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as you can after the accident to determine whether your child has grounds for a claim. If so, start working on the claim as soon as possible. You will need to provide a substantial record of your child's injury and treatment as well as documentation of the negligence that led to the accident and his or her resulting injury.

Lake County Personal Injury Attorneys

After your child receives medical attention for his or her head injury, contact Salvi & Maher, LLP at 847-662-3303 to discuss the next steps to take with his or her personal injury claim. As the parent, you need to file the personal injury claim on your minor child's behalf. Our team of Waukegan personal injury attorneys can guide you through this process with our extensive experience serving the Chicago area. Do not wait to call our firm – be proactive and start working on your child's personal injury case with us today.