Head Injuries Among Athletes are Extremely Common and the Effects Can be Long-Lasting, Especially if Left Untreated and Undiagnosed.
Sports are one of the top causes of traumatic brain injury in people ages 15 to 24, second only to motor vehicle crashes. In San Diego, the number of head injuries among youth is steadily increasing. Teens who play contact sports such as football, hockey, and boxing are more susceptible to suffering from repeated concussions.
Symptoms of CTW include memory loss, declining abilities, depression, and moodiness. If left untreated, it can have deadly consequences. These multiple hits to the head can lead to a degenerative brain disease known as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), which can lead to suicide and dementia.
In February 2011, former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson took his own life after suffering from the condition. Prior to his death, family members say that he requested his brain to be donated to the NFL Brain Bank to be studied, specifically to look at the issue of repeated concussions and their effect on the brain.
Solving the Crisis Among Youth
As a result, there is new attention on youth sports and the relation to concussion. New programs are aimed at educating athletes about helmets and the false sense of security they give players, playing more aggressively and making impact head-first. Helmets, though, do not protect athletes from concussion, or movement of the brain inside the skull.
These programs educate players on how to recognize concussions, getting medical attention if symptoms occur, and rules about when a student athlete can return to play following a hit.
Contact a Head Injury Attorney
If you or someone you love has been injured or killed because of a head injury that resulted from someone else's negligence, you are entitled to receiving benefits. At the Jurewitz Law Group, our personal injury lawyers handle several brain injury claims every year, and we help our clients attain the compensation they deserve. Call our law office at 888-233-5020 to set up a free consultation.
The Jurewitz Law Group is located in San Diego, has offices in Carlsbad, California, and serves all of San Diego County including the following cities and towns:
San Diego, Chula Vista, Escondido, Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos, El Cajon, Carlsbad, Poway, Encinitas, La Mesa, Santee, National City, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, Coronado.
