Safety First During America's Favorite Past Time

Many of us will enjoy America’s favorite pastime and attend a baseball game this season. While baseball is known as America’s favorite past time, it can also be a life change experience, and not necessarily for the better.

Hundreds of baseballs fly into the stands every baseball season, usually without incident, but every once in awhile, the fly ball turns into tragedy. Griffin Cox of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, a suburb outside of Chicago, never thought a trip to the Sox game would end with his skull fractured.

Griffin was at the Sox game on June 4, 2008 when he was hit by a baseball. He was taken to the Sox dugout where he was cleared by medical staff. Everything seemed to be fine until three days later when the pain became worse and Griffin began vomiting. His mother took a closer look at Griffin’s head and noticed swelling. He was taken to the emergency room where he spent the next four days in the ICU. Griffin was diagnosed with multiple skull fractures as well as fluid accumulation between the brain and skull. Griffin appears to be recovering at this time.

While incidents like Griffin’s are rare. Baseball patrons should always be alert and aware of what is occurring around them. It is very easy to get distracted at a baseball game or other sporting events because of all the food and activities going on in the ball park. Remember the next time you are attending a sporting event to have fun but be alert and stay safe.

If you find yourself in a situation like Griffin’s, seek medical attention immediately. Often times when an injury appears fine on the surface, there is real damage underneath the skin that cannot be seen. Once you are out of danger you should consider seeking legal advice regarding your injury. While tickets sold at sporting events often have disclaimers on them, these disclaimers may not protect the ball park against the injury you have suffered. Contact an attorney to find out what your legal rights are.