Understand Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month and Your Rights During March
The Brain Injury Association of America notes that March is Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month. Too many people suffer traumatic brain injuries in the US, often due to another’s negligence or reckless endangerment.
The BIA’s TBI theme for 2015 to 2017 is “Not Alone.” This March, the Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Month, you are not alone if you are a victim of a traumatic brain injury, or you know a victim of a traumatic brain injury.
In fact, just last year, the National Football League (NFL) settled a massive class action lawsuit involving hundreds of current and former professional football players, who suffered traumatic brain injury and related mental and physical illnesses due to league policies and practices, which often encouraged players to “shake it off” and return to the game, rather than focus on healing.
Concussions are serious and can be dangerous. Multiple concussions can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative disease which currently can only be diagnosed post-mortem. Between 2008 and 2010, the bodies of 12 former NFL players were proven to have suffered CTE due to untreated, repeated traumatic brain injury during their careers. A recent study shows that over 80% of former professional football players suffer long-lasting medical problems from traumatic brain injury, including CTE, emotional changes, and depression.
Car accidents are another leading cause of traumatic brain injury. A recent car accident involving comedians Tracey Morgan and James “Jimmy Mac” McNair caused the death of Jimmy Mac and has left Tracey Morgan with a traumatic brain injury. In June last year, the pair were in a limousine near the New Jersey Turnpike, when a Walmart truck driver struck their vehicle. Morgan was hospitalized, then spent several months in a skilled nursing facility. When he recovered enough to walk, he filed a personal injury lawsuit against Walmart, because, he says, the company allowed their truck driver to work exhausted, driving over the speed limit.
Children who suffer head injury of some type, and do not take the time to recover fully, can suffer traumatic brain injury that can lead to emotional problems like depression and increased suicidal thoughts. A 2014 study showed that children who suffer concussion or traumatic brain injury were at a higher risk of committing crimes like breaking and entering, damaging property, or using recreational drugs. They were also three times more likely than their peers to have suicidal thoughts, or bring a weapon to school. A separate study showed that just one year involved in contact sports like football or soccer can cause mild traumatic brain injury in children.
It’s important to highlight March as Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness month because untreated traumatic brain injury can lead to a lifetime of physical and mental problems, which means more of your time and money could be spent at doctors’ offices, away from work. If your traumatic brain injury was caused by another’s negligence or reckless endangerment, whether in a car accident, slip and fall injury, workplace or construction accident, school’s negligence of children, or sports-related injury, you may consider a South Carolina personal injury lawsuit.
The Strom Law Firm Helps Traumatic Brain Injury Victims
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury due to negligence that led to an accident, or reckless endangerment on the part of another, you may have a personal injury case. South Carolina personal injury cases can help you, the victim, find funds to pay medical bills, or help with lost wages. Contact the Strom Law Firm today for a free consultation regarding the facts of your traumatic brain injury personal injury case. 803.252.4800.
