From car accidents to work accidents, there are many common causes of serious injuries in Illinois. One of the most pernicious types of trauma affects the brain because it is difficult to diagnose and treat the body’s most complex organ.
The nation has been learning about the dangers of repetitive trauma to the head through investigations into the problems plaguing football players. In some cases, brain injuries have not been clear until further along in a player’s career, but some victims contend that coaches, teams and leagues knew more about the risks than they shared.
A former collegiate football player is suing his alma mater and the league in which he played on the basis they exposed him to repeated head injuries while they knew or suspected it was a hazardous exercise. This suit comes after the league settled a large class-action with victims of head injuries who filed suit in Illinois.
Academic studies showed the dangers of constant head collisions before the league and its teams took serious action to prevent the problems starting in 2010. Concussions, once considered a somewhat minor brain injury, can have cumulative effects on health, according to the plaintiff’s claims and several studies dating back years.
The suit claims negligence and intentional deception on behalf of sports organizations and their officials regarding “an epidemic that was slowly killing former college athletes.” Victims of brain injuries and cumulative head stress also have the right to claim damages from the people or institutions who may be responsible, and attorneys can help victims and their families sort out their options.
