Football Brain Injuries in the NFL
To the fans, professional sports are a great reason to organize parties and spend time with friends while watching the games. For the players, however, partaking in extreme physical contact sports such as football could prove to be a fatal choice if players fail to pay attention to symptoms after experiencing head trauma or brain injuries. Players are currently working with brain injury attorneys to file claims for their injuries.
Players File Lawsuits Against NFL
Over 4,000 former players in the National Football League (NFL) have filed concussion-related lawsuits with the help of brain injury attorneys against the organization. The federal judge in Philadelphia overseeing a consolidation of 200 of these cases was expected to make a preliminary ruling has instead ordered a mediation to evaluate a potential settlement. While the judge hopes that the situation will be resolved among the parties, experts claim that the public needs to be aware of the dangers of such sports and that the facts can’t be hidden simply in exchange for money.
Football has been at the foreground of concussion-related issues that occur in many other sports. In these lawsuits filed with the assistance of brain injury attorneys, former players allege that the NFL failed to protect its players from concussions and that they have suffered from long-term side effects such as dementia, depression, and suicide. Plaintiffs maintain that the NFL actively concealed the extent of the brain trauma and concussions problems and the risks that both the plaintiffs and other football players were facing.
The NFL argued that the players were not legally eligible to sue due to the collective bargaining agreements, these agreements were not instated between 1987 and 1993. There has been speculation among brain injuries attorneys whether players during this time should be placed in their own separate case.
Head Trauma and Football Brain Injuries
Although death happens infrequently while playing contact sports, the leading cause of sports-related fatalities are traumatic brain injuries. Brain injuries, or jolts or blows to the head, often disrupt the normal function of the brain. The object can hit the head violently or suddenly, or it may pierce the skull and enter the tissue in the brain. Symptoms of traumatic brain injuries can range from mild to moderate or severe, depending on the extent of the damage. Oftentimes, these brain injuries result in a change in mental consciousness, while severe cases may cause extended periods of unconsciousness, coma and death. Families of those who have died may seek compensation for their losses by working with brain injuries attorneys.
Brain injuries are among the most debilitating injuries a victim may sustain; the consequences of head trauma are often progressive, permanent and potentially fatal. Not only do these injuries affect the injured individual, but close friends and family members may also be adversely affected as well. Many injuries lead victims and families to seek compensation with the help of brain injuries attorneys. Symptoms and evidence of brain injuries sustained include:
- Changes in temperament and mood
- Loss of fine motor skills
- Short- and long-term memory loss
- Gait abnormalities
- Speech abnormalities
- Traumatic Parkinson’s syndrome
- Dementia
- Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)
- Diagnosed brain damage
- Dizziness or sensitivity to sound or light
- Recurring or constant headaches
Hundreds of thousands of individuals play sports throughout their lifetime; while many of these players do not go on to play in the professional leagues, they may still sustain debilitating injuries should they come into contact with another player or a ball. For instance, while many may feel that baseball is a relatively “safe” game in which to partake, there is still a high risk of brain damage in positions in which the head could be hit by blunt force trauma, such as a pitcher. Should a batter swing and crack the ball into the pitcher’s head, he could most likely suffer a concussion or more serious traumatic brain injuries.
Contact Our Brain Injuries Attorneys
If you or someone you love has been injured while playing football or other contact sports and are currently suffering side effects from concussions or traumatic brain injuries, contact the brain injuries attorneys affiliated with Attorney Group. We will work to evaluate your case and determine if you are eligible to pursue a claim for your brain injuries. You may be entitled to seek compensation for past and future medical bills, lost wages, medications, pain and suffering, and a loss of quality of your life. Contact our office today.
