Philadelphia Injury Lawyer Blog

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year more than 3.8 Americans, many of them children and teens, sustain concussions during sports competitions, traffic accidents, trips and falls or while playing. Philadelphia personal injury lawyers say that number reflects only reported concussions. Many concussions cause no noticeable change in behavior or health so are shrugged off by coaches, parents and the children themselves as nothing more than a bad bump on the head. Sometimes, Philadelphia personal injury lawyers warn, those bumps cause brain injuries that only become apparent weeks or months or sometimes years in the future.

The number of children treated for concussions in emergency rooms has doubled over the past decade. Team sports account for the majority of concussion injuries among children with football inflicting more than half. In an interview published in the January 31, 2011 issue of Time magazine, University of North Carolina neuroscientist Kevin Guskiewicz explained that in addition to the severe brain trauma caused by concussions, athletes in contact sports suffer cumulative brain damage from hundreds of unreported minor subconcussive blows that do not generate immediate symptoms.

Unfortunately, keeping your child off the football team won’t eliminate his concussion risk. More than a third of concussion injuries suffered by children occur outside of team sports, either during active play or personal athletic pursuits (bike riding, skateboarding, ice skating, etc.). Since only 10% of concussion victims lose consciousness and many concussion symptoms don’t present until some time after the injury, Philadelphia parents may not even realize their child is at risk. If your child experiences headache, vomiting, dizziness, balance problems, light or noise sensitivity, confusion, irritability or amnesia, suspect a concussion and see a doctor immediately. Concussions injuries can be life-changing, requiring expensive testing and long-term medical treatment. A Philadelphia personal injury attorney can protect your rights and the rights of your child.

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry's family was shocked when West Virginia University researchers announced that a tissue analysis of the 26-year-old's brain indicated he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a serious brain disease. Henry died last winter after suffering severe brain trauma and multiple head injuries when jumping from a pickup truck. Researchers speculate that his condition may have contributed to the severity of the injuries Henry suffered and his subsequent death.

Henry's family and coaches were unaware of Henry's brain condition. Brain injuries are common in football players who suffer multiple concussions, but Henry had never been diagnosed with a concussion during his playing career. Neurosurgeon Julian Bailes, co-director of the WVU Brain Injury Research Institute, a former team physician for the Pittsburg Steelers, and lead researcher in the WVU study, said researches believe chronic traumatic encephalopathy results from multiple head impacts whether or not concussion occurs. Direct impact with another football player or the ground is not necessary to cause brain injury. The quick spurts and sudden stops typical of the game can also cause brain damage. "The brain floats freely in your skull. If you're moving very quickly and suddenly stop, the brain bounces," California medical examiner and WVU researcher Bennet Omaki explained on Philly.com.

The implications of Henry's death and brain injury research findings are a cause of concern to Philadelphia parents whose children play on high school and college football teams. The toll football takes on the brain has long been suspected. Retired NFL football players suffer a higher than average incidence of Alzheimer's disease and memory problems. However, Henry's tragic death at such a young age emphasizes the potential risk of serious brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury can have life-altering consequences. A Philadelphia personal injury attorney can provide the legal advice you need and work aggressively to protect your rights and obtain fair compensation for your injury.