While the NFL has improved its practices for handling concussions over the past years, it appears the organization is still grappling with how to diagnose concussions during gameplay. Players are increasingly more aware of the signs and dangers associated with head injuries, but these can often be placed “second string” when in the midst of a competitive game. Recently, several high-profile cases have revealed imperfections in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Still Room for Improvement for NFL TBI Testing Practices
Just this November, the NFL received fresh heat after multiple quarterbacks returned to the field after showing clear signs of a potential concussion.
This season the NFL has tested players 379 times for concussions, according to NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills. “We want that number to remain high,” Sills said. “We want to have a high bar set for screening. Our motto to all of our personnel on game day is if you see something, say something. We want anyone who has a concern to point it out, we want to be very aggressive in our screening.”
While the NFL is doing the best it has ever done to mitigate head injuries, no concussion protocol could ever be put in place that would prevent or mitigate damage from the hits that are inherent to the game. That being said, it’s important to be able to know what to do if you or a family member sustains a head injury - either on the football field or elsewhere.
Protecting Your Family After a Concussion
Almost 1.4 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year and most of them do not know how to file a TBI lawsuit to protect themselves after those TBIs. Knowing how wide-spread these types of injuries are, even more frightening is that some people do not show signs of a TBI until weeks or even months after sustaining the injury. Because of that, it can be hard to pursue legal action. Below we will outline what a TBI is, and how you can protect yourself or a family member after sustaining a TBI through someone else’s negligence.
Over the past few years, traumatic brain injuries have gained a lot of attention in the media due to the fact that more and more information is becoming more widely available. One of the main reasons TBIs have become so widely discussed is because of the number of football players that are coming forward with TBIs, and issues related to TBIs.
TBIs in football players have been linked to high levels of depression, suicide, and violent behavior. But it’s not just football players, who take numerous hits to the head, that are victims of TBI. Across the nation, an estimated 1.7 million people sustain TBIs annually. Of that number: 52,000 die, 275,000 are hospitalized, and 1.365 million are treated and released from emergency rooms.
Traumatic brain injury is brain dysfunction caused by an external force, such as a violent blow or jolt to the head or body during an accident, or an object penetrating the skull.
There are various levels of traumatic brain injuries, but all of them should be taken seriously, as even TBIs termed “mild” can have serious consequences.
Mild traumatic brain injury, such as a slight or mild concussion can cause temporary dysfunction of brain cells. More serious traumatic brain injury can result in bruising, torn tissues, bleeding, and other physical damage to the brain. This can result in long-term complications and even death.
The effects of a TBI are not just limited to physical, but also psychological effects. And though some signs or symptoms appear immediately, some only appear days or weeks later. In cases like this, because the incident has occurred so long ago, you might not even realize that you are dealing with a symptom of a TBI.
What Causes TBIs?
Any number of things can cause a concussion or TBI, including a car accident, bus accident, or a faulty product. Below we outline some of these common accidents that are also common personal injury accidents that would warrant a lawsuit.
Working with a Personal Injury Attorney After an Accident
If you or a loved one have been a victim of a personal injury accident, you should immediately contact a personal injury attorney that understands the specific laws around these types of accidents. They will be able to perform a full investigation and build your case. It’s crucial that you work with someone that knows the intricacies of the laws surrounding these types of cases as well as your specific state’s laws. The attorneys at Personal Injury Attorneys PLLC have experience handling personal injury cases such as elevator accidents, automobile accidents, and slip and fall accidents. They will help build a case to ensure you receive everything you need to recover from your specific accident.
