On Wednesday, the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) released new rules regarding the use of metal bats in high school baseball. After several serious head injuries occurred as the result of metal bat use, the CIF is requiring aluminum bats be tested to ensure speeds ball may be hit is restricted and to include tamper-proof decals which change color if bats are improperly modified.

Much of the discussion concerning metal bats was the result of the head injury sustained by Gunnar Sandberg, a Marin County pitcher who was hit in the head by a line drive this spring. He was in a coma for several weeks following this accident. Luckily, he has recovered and plans to resume playing baseball.

Sadly, it often takes serious accidents for manufacturers, coaches, and even players, to recognize the potential hazards and make the requisite safety improvements to products we've grown accustomed to using.

When manufacturers know of dangers but fail to take adequate steps to warn consumers, coaches and distributors or fail to make design changes that can eliminate hazards, they may be found negligent.

As a California personal injury attorney I am hopeful these new rules will adequately protect our youth and eliminate future head injuries.