Although we don’t have a professional football team (yet!) to cheer on, that doesn’t mean Los Angelenos don’t love there football. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. College and high school football teams make the sport a favorite past time for many of our residents. As these fans are likely aware, a number of former NFL players have come forward against the National Football League in a concussion lawsuit claiming that their injuries are associated with long-term brain damage. Does football cause such serious head injuries? Some experts claim that yes, CTE (a degenerative brain condition) is a likely result of many years of playing such a high impact sport.
As it relates to these football players and their lawsuit, CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, describes the slow development of brain damage that will be permanent. The sports injury lawsuit alleges that as a result of these football-related injuries, players are suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s disease, depression, dementia, reduced processing speed, memory loss, and many other side effects.
Regardless of how the case it settled with the NFL, it brings up three very serious questions that affect football players of all ages and levels. First, which activities specifically contribute to the injuries? One CTE researcher claims that there is a large connection between high impact on the brain and CTE, and notes that during the history of her studies, she has never seen this condition associated with a brain that has not undergone high impact.Second, do players contribute to injuries by hiding them in order to return to the game sooner than the doctor ordered, etc…? Last, is it the responsibility of parents or a team to show players the possible brain damage and long and short term effects?
If you or a loved one has suffered from brain damage from a high impact sport, such as football, contact a skilled Los Angeles personal injury attorney today. The attorneys at BIKLAW are doctors turned lawyers and have the medical knowledge and legal experience your potential case requires.