Who Can Sue Against the NFL in Brain Injury Lawsuit in California?
Brain Injury Lawsuits in Professional Sports
Athletes who participate in certain contact sports have an especially high risk of traumatic brain injuries. Lately, administrators, coaches, and medical groups of professional sports teams have become more aware of the dangers of concussions, especially when players do not receive proper treatment. However, this was not always the case, and in previous decades countless players were allowed, and even encouraged, to continue playing after a blow to the head. Many players would then suffer another concussion before the first one had healed, which sometimes caused players to experience devastating and long-term symptoms.
Players Successfully Sued the NFL for $765 Million
Recently, the National Football League (NFL) settled with thousands of players who brought suit, claiming that the NFL purposefully concealed evidence of the long-lasting dangers of suffering concussions. The NFL agreed to pay the players $765 million dollars to compensate them for the symptoms that some will experience on a permanent basis.
More than 4,500 former players sued, claiming the NFL glorified the type of dangerous hits that meant sports news coverage and profits for the league, but meant devastating injuries for the players. Furthermore, the lawsuits alleged that coaches regularly rushed players with possible head injuries back onto the field to continue playing. While the NFL denied any wrongdoing for a long time, former players suffered from depression, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other disorders. Two players, Ray Easterling and Junior Seau, committed suicide in recent years. Post-death, medical professionals discovered both players had suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) caused by brain injury, and believe the complications of such led to both of their deaths. Both families were plaintiffs in the case.
18,000 Former NFL Players Eligible For Payout
More than 18,000 former NFL players will be eligible to receive payouts to compensate them for their injuries and pay for medical exams and treatment. Awards are capped at $3 million for players suffering from dementia, $4 million for the families of players diagnosed with encephalopathy after death, and $5 million for players who have developed Alzheimer’s disease.
Since the settlement, four additional players have filed a new lawsuit against both the NFL and its helmet manufacturer, claiming the helmets were not adequate to protect players from brain injuries and that the NFL was aware of this fact. The players state they have all suffered dizziness, memory loss, headaches, depression, and cognitive difficulties due to head injuries suffered while playing in the NFL. They are claiming losses for medical bills, future expenses, and loss of companionship with their spouses, among other things.
Types of Brain Injuries & Their Effects
Traumatic brain injuries can be very serious, and often require significant rehabilitation, and have long-lasting effects on a victim’s life. A concussion is a common type of mild traumatic brain injury, however some concussions are not ‘mild’ at all. Concussions can have long-term effects on a person’s physical, mental, and cognitive functioning, especially when not treated in a promptly and properly. Suffering multiple concussions is particularly bad, since prior concussions make a person more vulnerable to harm in later ones.
Contact A Brain Injury Lawyer in San Francisco
In my practice, I often seen mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBI) in car accident cases. The NFL players experiencing TBIs has generated a lot of attention to this injury. A traumatic brain injury can cause many serious and even life-long difficulties and disorders. If you have been the victim of a traumatic brain injury, contact an experienced attorney at Callaway & Wolf for help today by calling 415-541-0300.
Boone Callaway is a personal injury & medical malpractice lawyer in San Francisco who has been working with clients in the Bay Area for over 25 years. Mr. Callaway is one of only a few personal injury litigators in San Francisco who is a Super Lawyer, AV Rated and is also a member of ABOTA – American Board of Trial Advocates.
