A New Jersey teenager’s life was changed when he was struck by a line drive from a metal bat during a youth baseball game. The ball struck him in the chest just above his heart and knocked him to the ground. Since the ball struck him at the millisecond between heartbeats, he was sent into cardiac arrest. His brain was without oxygen for 15 to 20 minutes, leaving him with a permanent brain injury.
When a metal bat strikes a baseball, the baseball can travel at a much faster speed than if a wooden bat is used. Back in the early 1990s, Little League Baseball Inc. struck a deal with major bat manufacturers to limit the performance of metal bats compared to the best wooden bats. By 2008, injuries to pitchers had fallen from 145 a year to about 25 a year.
Little League keeps a list of specific metal bats that are approved for safe use in youth baseball games. The family sued Little League, arguing that the metal bat used in the game was clearly not safe, despite being approved. A settlement of $14.5 million was recently reached to provide for the lifetime of care the teenager will now need in order to cope with his brain injury.
If you or one of your loved ones has suffered a serious brain injury because of another party’s negligence, please contact Wapner, Newman, Wigrizer, Brecher & Miller today to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced New Jersey brain injury attorney.
