NFL Concussion and Head Injury Class Action Lawyers

Representation for Professional Athletes

If you or someone you love is a former professional football player, you may have a rough future ahead of you. More and more studies are confirming a link between repeated concussions on the field and the development of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a potentially fatal disease that can cause memory loss, confusion, depression, impaired judgment, lack of impulse control, aggression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, Parkinsonism, and progressive dementia. There is also growing evidence that the National Football League (NFL) has been aware of the risks associated with repeated head trauma and was slow to institute safer post concussion protocol. If you or your family has been impacted by the NFL’s lack of concern about its players, you may be eligible to take part in a multimillion dollar class action lawsuit against the league. To find out more about your legal rights and options contact the experienced head injury attorneys at Omaha’s Bottlinger Law L.L.C. Call (402) 505-8234 for a free consultation.

The NFL’s Liability

There’s continuing debate over the NFL’s liability in cases of CTE. The league claims that players knew the risks of playing and chose to do so anyway. However, close to 5,000 former NFL players are filing suit against the NFL, alleging that the league knew about the dangers of repeated blows to the head but intentionally failed to warn them. It seems unlikely that the NFL wasn’t aware of the possibility of long term damage from concussions, considering a 1952 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine stated that professional football players should retire after three concussions. The NFL went on to commission a study by scientists and team doctors. Not surprisingly, they found no long term repercussions from concussions experienced playing football. Furthermore, a 2005 article published in the journal Neurosurgery linked concussions suffered during an NFL player’s career to cognitive deterioration. This article’s conclusions were also vigorously denied by the NFL.

New Rules and Concussion Protocols

In spite of their repeated denials, the NFL has instituted new rules and protocols to improve player safety in terms of concussions. First of all, helmet to helmet hits have been outlawed. Also, helmet manufacturers have stepped up their game, making their products more concussion preventive. During games, each team will have a neuropsychologist on the sidelines to evaluate any player suspected of being concussed. In addition, there will also be an expert neuro-trauma physician on the sidelines that is unaffiliated with any NFL team. They will act as an objective set of eyes when determining a player’s ability to return to play. There is also an “eye in the sky,” a certified athletic trainer watching from a stadium box and scanning television replays, looking to spot players with a potential head injuries.

If you believe that you or a loved one has Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) from playing in the NFL, you may be entitled to compensation from the league. But the NFL is a powerful, multibillion dollar organization that is not just going to hand out checks. To get the compensation you deserve, you will likely have to join a class action suit with former players suffering similar injuries, and your time to file a claim is limited, so don’t delay. To find out more, contact the Omaha personal injury attorneys at Bottlinger Law L.L.C. No one wants to end up like Dave Duerson or Junior Seau, so call (402) 505-8234 for a free consultation.

Additional Information

• Sports Injuries - MedlinePlus
• NIH Research on Concussion and the Brain
• Repeated Head Impacts - CDC