What You Need to Know About Sports-Related Brain Injuries
Sports-related brain injuries are some of the most widespread and unreported injuries affecting children and adults today. It’s estimated that 214 million children and adults play some type of sport in the U.S., increasing the chances for significant injury on a widespread level among the population. While playing sports certainly does have a strong impact on the social and emotional health and well-being of those who engage, it is certainly worth noting that the risk of injury is also substantial.
In recent years, celebrity football players have drawn awareness to the incidence of traumatic brain injury in athletes, as they have increasingly faced significant trauma due to their injuries. Sports-related traumatic brain injuries are believed to account for up to 20 percent of all brain injuries occurring in the U.S. today. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that nearly three million people receive treatment for traumatic brain injuries each year, meaning that hundreds of thousands of amateur and professional athletes suffer from sports-related brain injuries annually. According to a large study by the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program, that figure could be even higher – their research suggests that up to three million sports-related concussions occur each year.
Spotting a Sports-Related Brain Injury
Spotting a sports-related brain injury can be a little tricky, particularly if you don’t know what to look out for. If you were recently injured while playing sports and experiencing any of the following symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately. These symptoms could be a sign of something more troubling or complicated.
- A consistent or recurring headache
- Difficulty balancing
- Impaired vision, taste, or hearing
- Increased sensitivity to light and sound
- Short attention span or difficulty concentrating
- Stuttering or stammering
- Unconsciousness
Who Is Held Liable for a Sports-Related Head Injury?
Fortunately, while the incidence of sports-related TBI has gone up, the death rate is going down – likely due to increased awareness around its prevalence, leading coaches and athletes to seek immediate medical treatment after a major hit – even when they think they’re fine. Just as injured athletes are quick to seek medical attention, they should also contact a Los Angeles brain injury lawyer if the injury proves to be substantial or severe. Costs mount quickly after a traumatic brain injury, and it’s important for athletes to consider all of their options for covering these costs.
When a sports-related injury does occur, it’s not just up to the injured party’s insurance company to cover the cost. If a coach or entity in charge of overseeing the care of its players failed to spot the possibility of injury after a player was hit, then they may be held liable for the injured party’s medical expenses. Coaches, schools, teams, and physicians are just some of the people who may be held liable for failing to spot a serious brain injury after an accident. Each of these parties has a duty of reasonable care when instructing or caring for athletes, and failure to meet that standard of care means they are exposing themselves to a potential lawsuit.
After an accident, a coach has to make sure they take the athlete to a medical professional, and that physician must be sure to carefully revise the patient’s motor functions to ensure a serious injury has not occurred. Otherwise, coaches and doctors might find themselves at the center of a costly lawsuit.
Contact Our Los Angeles Brain Injury Lawyer Right Away
If you or someone you love has suffered a brain injury and you have questions about your legal rights, contact us as soon as possible. Our Los Angeles brain injury lawyer is here to help you get the compensation you deserve.