Sports and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Many athletes experience concussions during practice and competition. The long-term effects of these concussions can be life-altering, which is why many of these athletes have spoken with lawyers about filing a traumatic brain injury (TBI) lawsuit against their team or league. It’s something that our Stockton and Central Valley, CA attorneys can help with, offering deft insight into the legal process and your options.

The team at McKinley, Conger, Jolley & Galarneau, LLP would like to discuss sports TBI lawsuits over multiple concussions. We’ll note the signs, symptoms, and dangers of suffering multiple concussions, and we’ll highlight examples of litigation making positive changes in concussion protocols and the health of players following retirement.

The Dangers of Multiple Concussions

Suffering a single concussion can be a jarring experience, yet suffering a single concussion makes subsequent concussions more likely in the future.

Athletes in contact and combat sports who suffer multiple concussions run a risk of developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. This degenerative brain disorder leads to deterioration of brain tissue, which has a serious impact on a person’s mental health and cognition.

Symptoms of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

Common signs and symptoms of CTE include:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Problems processing information
• Memory loss
• Depression
• Mood swings
• Emotional instability
• Impulsive or reckless behaviors
• Suicidal tendencies

If you know someone who has suffered multiple brain injuries and exhibits these symptoms, they need to seek professional medical attention as soon as possible.

The Repercussions of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

Many athletes give their teams or their alma maters the best years of their lives. If you develop CTE following years of playing sports, it can mean serious issues with overall quality of life during middle age and the golden years.

Many people who develop CTE require psychological counseling and assistance in order to manage the damage done to their brain tissue. A number of athletes with CTE have taken their own lives because of the severe effects of the condition on their lives.

Brain Injuries in the NFL

The most well-known litigation over CTE and repeated brain injuries comes from the NFL. In 2011, former football players filed a class action lawsuit over the serious health problems caused by years of repeated head trauma.

The settlement these players reached with the NFL led to improved concussion awareness among former and current players and continues to lead to improvements in the league’s concussion protocols. You can learn more about the case by visiting the Official NFL Concussion Settlement Website.

Brain Injuries in the NCAA

The NFL case paved the way for college football and soccer players to hold the NCAA accountable for long-term repercussions from CTE. Given that college athletes are unpaid and are competing at an especially young age, these cases are important to ensure that their promising futures are not ruined from repeated head injuries.

More information on this ongoing case can be found by visiting the NCAA Student-Athlete Concussion Injury Litigation Website.

Other Brain Injury Cases Involving Athletes

In addition to the NFL and the NCAA, additional lawsuits regarding athlete brain injuries have emerged against the NHL and even the WWE. The NHL case was settled with former players, while the WWE case is currently under appeal.

Regardless of what sport is involved or the age of the athlete, our lawyers can help determine if you have a TBI or CTE case worth pursuing.

Contact McKinley, Conger, Jolley & Galarneau, LLP

If you need more information about your legal options following multiple concussions sustained in athletic competition, be sure to contact our skilled team of injury accident lawyers. You can reach our law offices in Stockton and Central Valley by calling 209-477-8171.