Date: December 27, 2011By: Atlanta Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers

Some former NFL players have struck back at the league they say endangered their health, suing the league for brain injuries sustained during their playing days. According to CBS Sports, around two dozen players are claiming that the league spent years covering up and minimizing evidence about the possible long-term risk of neurological problems due to concussions. They argue that the league’s actions led to concussions and subsequent brain damage, with some resulting in long-lasting, permanent, and/or crippling disabilities. 

According to the lawsuit, the NFL created a committee to research the possible implications of concussions in 1994. The lawsuit alleges that this committee was not properly staffed with experts in the relevant fields, including that it did not include a neurological doctor. This committee released a report in 2003 stating that "there was no long term negative health consequence associated with concussions.” According to CBS, the lawsuit claims that the NFL recently replaced the leadership of the committee, which stated that the data used previously was “infected” and “lacking in science.” 

The lawsuit states that the NFL misrepresented possible brain injury risks "with the intent of inducing NFL players, including Plaintiffs, to return to play as soon as physically possible after having suffered a football-related concussion and to promote an aggressive style of football that would attract viewers." In a recent poll by the Associated Press of current players spanning every NFL team, 31 of 44 players answered that they would like to have independent neurologists at games to examine players and determine whether they should be held out because of concussions. 

Sports-related brain injuries are a serious problem in the United States. Estimates by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and other organizations speculate that between 1.5 and 3.8 million people suffer a sports-related traumatic brain injury each year. Research has shown that concussions can lead to far more serious problems like decreased mental capabilities, loss of memory, sleeplessness, post-concussion syndrome, persistent headaches, second-impact syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, and many other devastating injuries. These injuries can be tragic, especially when they are needlessly caused by the negligence or actions of another.

The nature of these traumatic injuries can make them debilitating for victims, rendering them incapable of providing their families the same financial support as they previously did. As a result, the law allows victims to hold negligent persons or entities responsible for the injuries their negligence caused. Contact a knowledgeable Atlanta brain injury attorney to see if you may be eligible to seek compensation for medical bills (past and future), lost wages, pain and suffering, and lost earning capacity. 

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Keywords: NFL lawsuit, NFL concussion lawsuit