Head injuries, especially those resulting in a traumatic brain injury (TBI), can have life-altering consequences. In the recent and controversial settlement of a class-action head-injury lawsuit, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) set up a $70 million fund to test thousands of current and former college athletes for significant long-term neurological damage incurred while participating in contact sports.
Depending on what the $4,000 test reveals, the athletes can then file an individual lawsuit against their college, or possibly the NCAA. Some of the athletes involved in the joint lawsuit described not being able to recognize their parents, care for their children, or retain anything they studied after sustaining concussions while playing sports such as football, hockey and soccer.
HEAD INJURIES AFFECT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 1.7 million people sustain a TBI every year. Of them 52,000 die, 275,000 are hospitalized, and 1.365 million receive emergency care.
A TBI is the result of an impact to the head that interferes with normal brain function. According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of TBI and motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of TBI-related death. They can also be caused by assault in addition to sports injuries.
Even a mild head injury can result in headaches, shaking, irritability, personality changes, fear, and memory problems. Regardless of the severity of your injury, you likely face ongoing medical treatments and escalating bills, challenges with work, emotional trauma, and more.
SYMPTOMS OF A HEAD INJURY
Other symptoms of a head injury include:
Seizures
Unconsciousness
Dizziness
Blurry vision
Confusion and disorientation
Incoherent or slurred speech
Loss of motor skills, sluggish or clumsy movement
Light sensitivity
Muscle tremors
Chronic headache pain
Memory problems
Nausea and vomiting
Ringing in the ears
Sleep problems
Depression
In addition, according to the Brain Trauma Foundation (BTF), “moderate & severe head injury (respectively) is associated with a 2.3 and 4.5 times increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.”
Brain injuries sometimes cost the victim their life, but more often, the injured faces the challenge of adjusting to living with a disability. The challenges of this transition are many, and the Minnesota attorneys at Meshbesher & Spence understand the complexity of your situation and the immense life changes it presents for you and your family.
If you or a member of your family has suffered a brain injury as a result of an accident, contact Meshbesher & Spence immediately to discuss the details of your case. Our attorneys are here to ensure that you receive the medical care and rehabilitation treatments you deserve.