A 16-year-old high school baseball player was critically injured when he suffered a traumatic brain injury on March 11, 2010. The teenage player, from Marian Catholic High School in San Francisco, CA, was hit in the head while playing a practice match against Concord, CA’s De La Salle High School.
The injured teenager, Gunnar Sandberg, was struck very hard on his head by a baseball. Reportedly, the batter used a metal bat (which is typical for organized high school and youth baseball leagues) that sent the line drive towards Sandberg where it struck him in his head. He was rushed to Marin General Hospital in a critical condition, which has not improved till now. He was placed in a medically induced coma.
Our office wishes a quick recovery for Sandberg. We offer our prayers to the family in such difficult circumstances. We can understand how disheartening it must be for them. There is nothing worse than watching your child suffer. We hope for his quick and full recovery.
The use of aluminum bats in youth, high school, and baseball leagues has been examined a number of times. Aluminum bats are cheaper than wood bats which can break and splinter over time. In addition, they are lighter and provide more power to the batter as the ball rockets off the aluminum surface which does not give like a wood bat. These powerful line drives are particularly dangerous to pitchers, first basemen, and third basemen who stand closer to the batter than any other player on the baseball field. Line drives come hard and fast and infielders can sometimes not react in time to defend themselves.
There have been a number of serious brain injuries and even deaths as a result of line drive baseballs from aluminum bats. However, in 2002, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) stated in a report that there is insufficient evidence to conclude that aluminum bats pose an “unreasonable risk of injury.” This conclusion was reached in response to a demand by several consumer safety advocates to change the characteristics of aluminum bats so that they performed like wood bats.
Ross Jurewitz is a San Diego personal injury lawyer and the managing attorney of the Jurewitz Law Group, a California law firm dedicated to representing people who have suffered traumatic brain injuries in serious accidents. If you or a loved one has suffered a head injury in California, please order your free copy of Mr. Jurewitz’s book, The Ten Biggest Mistakes that can Destroy Your California Accident Case. It is full of helpful information that will help you protect your legal rights and it is free to all California residents. One should also consult with an experienced and reputable California brain injury lawyer to discuss your options and rights.