What is a Concussion?
A concussion is, “a jarring of the brain substance, by a fall, blow, or other external injury, without laceration of its tissue, or with only microscopical laceration.” (Black’s Law Dictionary 364. 4th Ed. Rev. 1968)
Concussions are caused by violent blows or jolts to the head, and result in altered brain function. Concussions are serious injuries, and it is important to recognize the symptoms of a concussion, like loss of consciousness, nausea, dizziness, disorientation, headaches, and other medical issues. Multiple concussions can be life-threatening.
A concussion can have great legal ramifications. It is cited as a term in legal definitions, and included in cases such as Mathews v. Hayne as evidence of severe injuries in accidents. Concussions are specifically important in cases involving personal injury claims or incidents where negligence is alleged. They can lead to claims for medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering, and sometimes other damages depending on the circumstances of the injury. Medical records of concussions may serve as evidence.
More information about Concussion
Game changer: player’s tragic death highlights concussion problem
As you may have heard by now, on Sunday, November 30, 22-year-old Ohio State University football player Kosta Karageorge was found dead in a dumpster in Columbus, OH, as the result of what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Preceding his death, he sent his mother some troubling text messages, apologizing, and saying that his concussions had “messed up” his head.
Throughout his athletic career in football and wrestling, Karageorge suffered multiple concussions, the most recent of which occurred just weeks before his death. As we have observed earlier this year, it turns out that concussions are not uncommon for athletes at the professional, college, and high school levels. In fact, it has been described as an “epidemic.” It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of student athletes suffer from concussions each year, and many more likely go unreported and untreated. […]
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More than 200 former NFL players and families opt out of concussion settlement
Former NFL players concerned that concussion settlement won’t be enough
ESPN reports that court documents filed on Monday show more than 200 former football players or their families have opted out of the proposed settlement for the class action suit of NFL concussion claims. The concussion lawsuit was initially filed by more than 5,000 ex-players against the league.
The claims administrator sent settlement notices to 25,040 players and 8,924 relatives of deceased players, according to court records. According to the claims administrator, 196 former players, 22 relatives of NFL retirees, and two others opted out of the settlement by last month’s deadline. The Associated Press reported that 14 other players tried to opt out, but didn’t file the paperwork quickly enough. According to CBS Sports, a number of former players are concerned that the settlement numbers won’t meet their individual needs. […]
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Pennsylvania personal injury lawyer warns of the dangers of hayride and other Halloween attractions
Earlier this month, a Jeep pulling a wagon full of passengers on a Halloween-themed haunted hayride on a farm in Maine crashed, causing the hayride to overturn, killing one teen and seriously injuring several others. According to ABC News, the Jeep missed a turn and headed into the woods, causing the hayride to crash, overturn and throw passengers.
Many accidents occur throughout the season at different types of Halloween-themed attractions, and some of these accidents are deadly. In another accident this month, a teenager playing a zombie at a corn maze attraction in Idaho was killed after falling under the event’s Zombie Slayer Paintball Bus. The teen died from injuries sustained after being run over by the rear passenger wheel of the bus. According to the Huffington Post, nobody inside of the bus, which was rocking as it moved forward on uneven terrain, […]
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Not much has changed after concussion lawsuits
We saw another example this weekend of how football coaches allow players to stay in the game with head injuries. Michigan coach Brady Hoke failed to remove sophomore quarterback Shane Morris after he received a crushing blow from a defensive end. Morris appeared dazed, stumbling after the hit. The coaches let him stay in the game for the next play and then removed him, only to return him to the game later for another play.
As this played out on national TV, it raised questions to the necessity of a concussion protocol at the college level, that would bar teams from allowing players with head injuries, and concussion-like symptoms, to continue playing without further evaluation.
CBS Sports reported that in his postgame news conference Coach Hoke said, “I don’t know if he had a concussion or not, I don’t know that. Shane’s a pretty competitive, […]
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Growing pressure on NFL to address brain injuries
Football is a dangerous game when it comes to head injuries, both in the NFL and also on youth football fields. A 2010 study by Purdue University found that linemen, tight ends, running backs and linebackers suffer the must frequent head injuries. It’s no wonder why many of the highest profile NFL victims of traumatic brain injury, such as Junior Seau and Tony Dorsett, were linemen, linebackers or running backs.
More than 5,000 ex-players have filed a lawsuit against the NFL in federal court. In the lawsuit, the former players have alleged that NFL officials hid the dangers of repeated hits to the head while mythologizing the violence of their sport. The NFL reached an agreement for a $765 million settlement with the players, but the deal was rejected by Judge Anita Brody because she fears the sum is too low to adequately cover current and future retired player who may need long-term care. […]
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