This month, several former professional football players filed a class-action negligence lawsuit in Miami against the National Football League (NFL) over alleged known concussion risks to players. The lawsuit claims the NFL ignored evidence which demonstrated player head trauma during football games caused major medical problems later. Plaintiffs such as former Miami Hurricane running back Najeh Davenport claim the NFL spent decades ignoring evidence that the cumulative effects of head injuries such as concussions on the field caused mental and physical problems later. The lawsuit also alleges that retired players who experienced head traumas suffer from higher rates of memory loss, depression, migraine headaches, and early-onset dementia. Other plaintiffs who recently joined the Miami lawsuit include Santonio Thomas and Omare Lowe.
The Miami suit is one of nearly two dozen filed nationwide in recent months by former professional football players against the NFL and football helmet manufacturers. With hundreds of plaintiffs throughout the country, billions of dollars are potentially at stake. Plaintiffs include both largely forgotten players and league stars like Jim McMahon and Jamal Lewis. Four similar lawsuits were recently consolidated in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia before Judge Anita B. Brody. Other player lawsuits are expected to be consolidated with the multi-district litigation in the near future. Last week, a website intended for both former and current players was established to track concussion-related litigation against the NFL.
Because of the potentially lasting effects on an individual’s health, any brain injury should be taken seriously. Even a minor head trauma can have a devastating effect on a victim’s quality of life. A traumatic brain injury can cause both short and long term physical and cognitive disabilities including memory loss, depression, seizures, and changes in personality. A head injury may also raise the risk for developing other brain conditions in the future.
A disabling brain injury can result from any type of head trauma including a fall, car accident or a sports-related concussion. The medical costs associated with treating a brain injury can be astronomical. If the victim requires daily care, treatment costs will be ongoing and even higher, dramatically altering a brain injury victim’s future. If you or your loved one has suffered from a traumatic brain injury due to another party’s negligence, you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries.
If you were the victim of a traumatic brain injury, contact Gerson & Schwartz, P.A. Our knowledgeable Miami personal injury attorneys are committed to assisting injured clients get the compensation they deserve. To speak with an experienced brain injury lawyer about your case, contact Gerson & Schwartz, P.A. at (305) 371-6000 today.
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FWC Expected to Investigate Melbourne Airboat Crash That Injured 4 People, Miami Injury Lawyer Blog, February 13, 2012
South Florida Cruise Ship Returns to Port Early With Another Suspected Norovirus Outbreak, Miami Injury Lawyer Blog, February 9, 2012
Additional Resources:
More join concussion lawsuit against NFL, by Adam H. Beasley, Miami Herald
NFL Concussions: Playerinjury.com Tracks Potentially Billions Of Dollars Worth Of Lawsuits, by Ron Dicker, Huffington Post
Four N.F.L. Concussion Lawsuits Consolidated, by Ken Belson, New York Times