Every year, families send their children onto fields, courts, and tracks with the hope of seeing them succeed and enjoy the benefits of athletics. Tragically, not all games end with a whistle. Some end in heartbreak when an apparently healthy athlete collapses and never gets back up.

In these cases, questions arise about liability for sudden cardiac death and whether schools, coaches, or athletic programs could have prevented the tragedy. At Jeff Murphy Law, we represent families in Florida and throughout the country who are coping with these devastating losses, and we help them understand their rights to pursue justice. If you are in need of a Tampa sports injury attorney, look no further than our firm.

What Is Sudden Cardiac Death in Student Athletes?

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) refers to the unexpected death of an otherwise healthy individual due to a heart condition, often occurring during or immediately after exercise. For student athletes, intense physical activity can trigger underlying conditions that have gone undetected.

Some of the most common medical causes include:

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM): A genetic condition where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, making it harder for the heart to pump blood effectively.
Commotio cordis: A sudden blow to the chest, such as from a baseball, lacrosse ball, or hockey puck, that disrupts the heart’s rhythm and leads to cardiac arrest.
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC): A rare condition where fatty or fibrous tissue replaces heart muscle, causing dangerous arrhythmias.
Heat-related cardiac events: Dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and overheating during practice in Florida’s climate can stress the heart to dangerous levels.
Long QT syndrome: An inherited electrical disorder of the heart that predisposes athletes to life-threatening arrhythmias.

According to the American Heart Association, sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in young athletes, with an estimated 1 in 50,000 to 1 in 80,000 student athletes experiencing it annually. While rare, these events are catastrophic when they occur, often striking without warning during the most ordinary moments of competition.

Symptoms That May Precede SCD

In some cases, there are warning signs. Athletes may complain of:

Unexplained fainting or dizziness, particularly during exertion;
Chest pain or pressure while exercising;
Shortness of breath disproportionate to activity;
Irregular heartbeat or palpitations; and
A family history of unexplained sudden deaths or known cardiac conditions.

Unfortunately, these symptoms are sometimes dismissed as minor or unrelated, leading to missed opportunities for early detection and intervention.

Where Sudden Cardiac Death Happens in Florida Sports

Florida is home to a thriving youth sports culture. While sudden cardiac death can happen anywhere, several settings carry higher risks:

School athletics programs in Tampa and Hillsborough County: From football to basketball to track, high school sports expose thousands of student athletes to strenuous activity every season.
College sports: Florida universities host student athletes from across the United States. When tragedies occur, families must often navigate both Florida law and the laws of their home state.
Youth sports clinics and summer camps: Families travel from all over to attend specialized sports programs in Florida. These programs may lack the same medical safeguards as larger schools, creating youth sports camp injury liability.

Both Tampa parents and visiting families can be devastated by sudden cardiac events, raising questions about what preventive measures schools and programs should have in place.

Duty of Schools and Athletic Programs to Protect Athletes

Schools, colleges, and athletic programs have a duty to act reasonably in protecting the health and safety of their athletes. This duty extends across several areas.

Screening and Medical Evaluations

Most schools require pre-participation physical exams, but the thoroughness of these exams can vary. Standard forms may not always include cardiac testing, leaving serious conditions undetected.

Monitoring Young Athletes During Games

Often, young athletes might not recognize the signs of serious health issues during play, or they might be reluctant to report concerns and stop playing. Sports teams should all have policies to monitor athletes, noticing when something might be wrong and immediately pulling them from the game or practice for an evaluation.

Emergency Preparedness

Schools are expected to have emergency action plans, trained staff, and lifesaving equipment such as automated external defibrillators (AEDs) readily available. Time is critical, as studies show survival rates are much higher when defibrillation occurs within the first few minutes.

Oversight and Negligence

Negligence can occur if coaches ignore reported symptoms, push athletes beyond safe limits, or fail to follow medical clearance guidelines. It can also include inadequate supervision or breaks during practices, especially in the extreme heat of Florida.

Screening Standards and Legal Gaps in Florida

Currently, Florida requires pre-participation physical examinations for student athletes. These exams typically rely on a standardized form focusing on general health history and physical fitness. However, significant gaps remain:

No uniform national standard: Each state has its own rules, creating inconsistency in how thoroughly athletes are screened.
Debate over ECG screening: Some experts argue that adding electrocardiograms (ECGs) would save lives by detecting heart abnormalities. Others warn about the risks of false positives and the associated costs of widespread testing.
Legal gray areas: Families may believe their child was “cleared” to play, but if the exam was not comprehensive enough, schools may still face liability for failing to meet reasonable medical standards.

Florida recently passed a new law, the Second Chance Act, that will require ECG screening of student athletes beginning with the 2026-27 school year. In the meantime, there are no such requirements for schools or youth sports programs.

Legal Liability in Sudden Cardiac Death Cases

When tragedy strikes, families naturally ask whether someone should be held legally responsible. School sports liability in Florida for sudden cardiac death can arise in several ways:

Negligence in screening or evaluation: If schools or athletic programs fail to conduct reasonable medical screenings for student athletes or ignore warning signs.
Failure to provide emergency equipment: Lack of AEDs or poorly trained staff can turn survivable events into fatal ones.
Inadequate cardiac arrest emergency response in schools: Delays in calling 911 or beginning CPR can lead to preventable deaths.

Liability differs depending on whether a public school or a private entity runs the athletic program. Public schools in Florida are subject to sovereign immunity, which limits the damages families can recover and imposes strict notice requirements. Private schools and camps, on the other hand, generally do not have these protections, making it easier to pursue claims against them.

What If You Knew Your Child Had a Medical Condition?

Parents often disclose known medical conditions, such as heart murmurs or previous fainting spells, to schools or coaches. If a child is still cleared to play and tragedy occurs, families may still have legal options. The key question is whether the school or program acted reasonably in light of the information provided. Failing to address disclosed risks, ignoring follow-up care requirements, or disregarding medical advice can all be grounds for liability.

Legal Options for Families After a Tragic Loss

With the guidance of a Tampa sports injury attorney, families facing the sudden loss of a child may consider:

Wrongful death claims, seeking damages for medical expenses, funeral costs, and the emotional toll of losing a child.
Negligence lawsuits to hold schools, coaches, or organizations accountable for failures in screening, preparedness, or response.
Claims against equipment providers or event organizers, if defective equipment or inadequate facilities contributed to the death.

Because these cases are incredibly complicated and emotionally taxing, families benefit from working with a lawyer experienced in both wrongful death law and sports-related injury litigation.

Why Work With a Tampa Sports Injury Lawyer from Jeff Murphy Law?

Pursuing liability for sudden cardiac death requires legal experience, local knowledge, and compassion. At Jeff Murphy Law, we are familiar with Hillsborough County schools, athletic programs, and sports facilities. We also have the ability to represent families traveling from out of state, such as parents of college athletes or camp attendees. With experience handling cases involving both Florida wrongful death laws and multi-jurisdictional issues, we can assess your family’s rights, no matter your circumstances.

At Jeff Murphy Law, we don’t just handle wrongful death cases in theory. We have successfully represented families in cases involving school sports, cardiac events, and other tragic losses, giving us the insight and persistence necessary to pursue answers and justice for you.

Preventative Measures That Can Save Student Athletes’ Lives

Legal accountability not only helps families recover; it drives safer policies in schools and athletic programs. Some measures that reduce risks include:

Mandatory emergency action plans for every sporting event;
Widespread availability of AEDs at schools, stadiums, and camps;
Annual CPR and first-aid training for coaches and staff;
Expanded screening protocols, including ECGs for higher-risk athletes; and
Strict heat management policies, such as limiting practice times and ensuring hydration.

By holding institutions accountable, families contribute to a culture of safety that protects future athletes from preventable tragedies.

Jeff Murphy Law Helps Families Around the Country

If your child collapsed during practice, a game, or while participating in a sports program at a Hillsborough County school, in a Florida college sports program, or at a youth clinic, you deserve answers. Tampa sports injury attorney Jeff Murphy will fight to get them for you.

Jeff Murphy Law works with families in Tampa and nationwide who have suffered unimaginable losses. We offer compassionate guidance, relentless advocacy, and the legal knowledge needed to hold negligent institutions accountable. To learn more, please contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

Liability for Sudden Cardiac Death in School Sports