Football Concussions: Do I Have an Injury Case?

October 6, 2017

Football is a hard-contact sport that poses a high risk to players, making concussions an all too common injury.

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that can lead to life-altering complications if it is not immediately cared for. This condition can result in a victim suffering from short-term and long-term neurological disorders that can affect a person’s memory and senses.

If another’s negligence caused you or a loved one to suffer a concussion or worsened its symptoms, you may be entitled to compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. At the Phillips Law Group, our team of dedicated personal injury attorneys in Phoenix understand the dangers of a sport-related concussion, and the pain and suffering one can cause. We have represented numerous victims who suffered traumatic brain injuries and will help you recover the compensation you need.

Why Do Concussions Happen?

A concussion is a type of TBI caused by a blow to the head or body, a fall, or another injury that violently shakes the brain inside a person’s skull.

Because of the aggressive behavior required by the game, football players are highly susceptible to dangerous sport injuries that often lead to concussions. When a player is struck, his brain can be pushed against the inside of his skull and can be bruised. Different parts of the brain can move at different speeds and may stretch or tear nerve issue.

A hard hit can also seriously alter a person’s chemical balances and result in loss of consciousness. Although some nerve tissues will grow back, others that are more severely injured can permanently lose their ability to send signal and communicate with other brain cells.

Even when the player is equipped with protective head gear, these dangers are always present and may cause significant short- and long-term effects.

Short- and Long-Term Effects of Concussions

Typically, concussions do not display any physical symptoms. Instead, physicians often rely on the immediate neurological symptoms to identify when an athlete has suffered a concussion.

Depending on the symptoms, a TBI can range in severity from moderate to mild or severe. If a person suffers from a moderate concussion, he or she often experiences relatively short-term symptoms, such as:

However, if a person suffers from a mild or severe concussion, the symptoms become more severe and will have life-altering consequences. This may include long-term damage, such as:

Dangers of Repeat Concussions

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, athletes who suffer one concussion at any point in their life have a significant higher chance of suffering another.

This can lead to an athlete developing second impact syndrome, which causes the swelling of brain tissues and may lead to a loss of blood flow to the brain. Additionally, the severity and duration of a concussion’s symptoms increase with each additional concussion an athlete suffers.

If a football player suffers a concussion and begins to play again before fully recovering, he is at a higher risk of developing a serious neurological condition. This can include difficulty processing new information, difficulty concentrating and other neurological complications.

Concussions and Youth Football

Young athletes are at a higher risk of developing a concussion from a contact sport like football. In fact, teen players are twice as likely to sustain a head injury when engaging in football activities, according to a National Football League-funded study conducted by the National Academy of Sciences.

When a student athlete plays football for a school league or sponsored program, the school district and its staff members are responsible for the youth.

In Arizona, the governing county school board district must create a plan to prevent dangers and keep students safe. This means that a school or staff member must remove the student athlete when he or she is suspected of having a concussion.

A student athlete must receive clearance from a doctor before returning to the game. If a school-associated football program forces or allows a concussion-prone player to return to the game without a written doctor’s notice, the school could be held liable for any damages suffered by the player.

Personal Injury Claims for Head Injuries

Athletes who pursue a personal injury lawsuit against a school district or sports organization must be able to prove the other party failed to uphold its obligation to ensure players’ safety.

A personal injury lawyer can help you gather the information needed to help establish your claim. Our attorneys will build a case to show how the other party breached its duty to ensure players’ safety by:

• Reviewing the practices and policies of the organization
• Investigating the team for a history of safety violations
• Interviewing witnesses or teammates
• Holding the player’s coach, athletic trainer or other parties liable if the player did not receive the required medical treatment or evaluations after the injury
• Checking the player’s helmet and safety equipment for inadequate protection or defects

Contact a Phoenix Personal Injury Lawyer

If you believe that you or someone you love suffered a concussion in a football-related incident because of another’s negligence, do not hesitate to seek qualified legal help.

At the Phillips Law Group, our skilled personal injury attorneys will work to construct a solid case that helps support your claim. We will fight to hold those at fault liable for their negligence and for your right to recover the compensation you need.

We will provide you with a free, no obligation consultation to review your claim and determine if you have legal options to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. Our accomplished personal injury attorneys work only on a contingency fee basis. You are never charged upfront for our services and we only require payment if we help recover damages for your claim.

Call 1-800-706-3000 to contact a Phoenix personal injury attorney.