The NCAA and Riddell Inc., manufacturer of football equipment, are currently facing lawsuits from two former college football players. The head injury lawsuit, filed on behalf of all former NCAA players who had suffered concussions and long-term injuries, allege that the players developed dementia, chronic dizziness, chronic diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic headaches and other mental and physical conditions as a result of sustained concussions while playing.
The head injury lawsuit describes trials that concluded that players should be allotted between five and seven days of “down time” after a mild, traumatic concussion or brain injury. However, the NCAA allegedly ignored that standard and enforced a “one-day return to play” protocol in which players would be placed directly back into the game.
Players and their attorneys are also alleging that the NCAA did not properly address coaching techniques that may have lessened the risk of injuries caused by concussions. The head injury lawsuit claims that the NCAA failed to warn players and coaches of the risks, was fraudulent in its attempt to conceal evidence and was negligent in demanding injured players return to the game.
Law firms in Mississippi, Louisiana and Washington have joined the class action lawsuit as plaintiffs and their attorneys are seeking an unspecified amount of compensation to help cover the monitoring and diagnosis of future brain-related conditions or impairments as well as the ongoing medical care that plaintiffs allegedly need on a day-to-day basis.
A similar lawsuit was filed against the NFL by players alleging the same claims. The case was settled for $750 million. Similarly, this was not the first lawsuit filed against the NCAA over concussions allegedly sustained by former athletes. A class action lawsuit filed in Tennessee earlier in 2013 alleged that the NCAA did not meet its obligation to protect its players from the risks of concussions. A similar case was filed in 2011 in Illinois, and attorneys handling the cases have petitioned a judge to reconsider it as a class action lawsuit.
Importance of Filing a Head Injury Lawsuit
Traumatic head injuries include open head injuries such as fractures, closed head injuries including contusions or concussions and axonal shearing, caused by sports injuries or transportation accidents. Brain injuries are typically diagnosed when there is a clear event that likely caused the harm. Similarly, it is a CT scan or MRI can identify abnormalities such as intracranial hematomas or other trauma to the brain. The degree of injury is often hard to diagnose, mainly because of the potential difficulty of assessing the patient’s symptoms.
When head injuries are caused do to the fault of another, a plaintiff may file a head injury lawsuit with the help of experienced attorneys to seek compensation for the injury. In some instances, a victim may be paralyzed, suffer from strokes or other debilitating conditions. Injured individuals and their families may be faced with a long road to recovery, both emotionally and physically. A head injury lawsuit in which compensation is recovered can help to get your life back on track.
Injured Parties May Be Entitled to Compensation
If you or someone you love have been hurt or experienced a traumatic head injury, you may be eligible to file a head injury lawsuit with the help of attorneys and seek compensation for damages. At Attorney Group, we can work to connect you and your family with experienced affiliated brain injury lawyers that understand the legalities and circumstances surrounding traumatic head injuries. You may be entitled to receive compensation for medical expenses and bills, lost income and pain and suffering. So contact Attorney Group today for your free consultation.
