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April 26, 2011

Football player files brain injury lawsuit against his school district

Post-gazette.com recently reported about a lawsuit that was filed by a former high school football player who suffered brain injuries following numerous collisions on the field. Zachary Alt, now 19 years old, sued his school district alleging that his coach and trainer negligently sent him back into games after he was seriously struck in the head on multiple occasions during football games. The young man was 15 years old at the time of the events complained of in his lawsuit.

The lawsuit further alleges that because of the head injuries Zachary suffered, he now experiences hot flashes, depression, insomnia, nausea, dry heaves and vomiting. The complaint also seeks monetary damages for Zachary’s loss of ability to work an 8 hour day. Our Chicago brain injury attorneys are familiar with lawsuits stemming from football and other sports related injuries.

The impact these types of injuries can leave on young high school players has been a topic of concern over the years. The main concern is chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. CTE occurs as a result of repeated head injuries, including concussions, over an extended period of time. The consequences of CTE include various mood disorders, paranoia, erratic behavior, memory loss and aggression.

A recent study conducted by researchers in the Center for Injury Research and Policy of The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital found that an estimated 5.25 million football-related injuries among children and adolescents between 6 and 17 years of age were treated in U.S. emergency departments between 1990 and 2007. The annual number of football-related injuries increased 27 percent during the 18-year study period, jumping from 274,094 in 1990 to 346,772 in 2007.

While football is a contact sport and hard hitting is part of the game, there are certain precautions that schools must take to ensure the highest level of health for their young players. One important factor is simply taking the injuries seriously. If a student athlete is hit hard and takes too long to get off the ground, experiences dizziness or disorientation, or stumbles after taking the hit, the coaches or trainers must recognize that this player requires medical attention as they may have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Zachary’s lawsuit centers on the fact that he was sent back into games on three separate occasions following such hard contact.

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Posted In: Brain injuries in sports

April 22, 2011

Train derailment victims file brain injury lawsuit

Injuries to children are especially traumatic. According to WYFF.com, one family has brought suit against state agencies after sustaining injuries during a train accident. A family of four, including two children, was on board the train when it derailed.

One of the children was taken to the hospital for a brain injury, but is now at home recovering. The family is requesting payment for medical bills, expenses, lost wages, and damages. Unfortunately, not everyone on the train was as lucky as this family. Twenty-eight people were on the train when it derailed. A six-year old child died from his personal injuries, and four other children remain hospitalized.

Under Illinois law, the train accident victims would have several valid claims. For instance, an Illinois wrongful death action can be brought when a person’s death is caused by the fault of another. The family of the decedent is able to recover for damages including: medical and funeral expenses, lost benefits, loss of inheritance, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and punitive damages. Likewise, personal injury claims result when individuals are injured because of another’s negligence or intentional wrongdoing. Compensatory and punitive damages are also available.

According to the Federal Railroad Administration Office of Safety Analysis, 11,355 accidents and incidents were associated with U.S. railroads in 2010. In addition, there were 740 fatalities. Specifically, there were 1,305 reported derailments.

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Posted In: Brain injuries in children

April 18, 2011

Wearing a helmet reduces risk for brain and spine injury

According to the National Trauma Databank, 62,840 cases of motorcycle collisions were reported between 2002 and 2006. According to a new study by Johns Hopkin’s University School of Medicine, motorcycle injures have increased by about 5,000 injuries per year since 1997 and motorcycle fatalities have nearly doubled. As the weather warms up, more motorcyclists will share the road and with this comes an increase in motorcycle accident-related brain and spine injuries. Chicago brain injury lawyers and spine injury lawyers recommend that everyone wear helmets at all times in order to prevent serious personal injury or death.

Trauma caused by a motorcycle collision can result in brain and spine injuries, as well as death. The newest study from Johns Hopkin’s University School of Medicine suggests that helmets dramatically reduce the risk of those injuries. Contrary to popular belief, the study also concludes that wearing a helmet while riding a motorcycle can lower one’s risk for cervical spine injury. According to the study, wearing a helmet can reduce the likelihood of suffering a cervical spine injury by 22 percent and reduce the odds of death by 37 percent. This new information contradicts a popular 25 year-old study often cited by anti-helmet lobbyists that found that the weight of a helmet can cause neck injury that damages the spine. However, improvement in helmet technology has created lighter, sturdier, and overall more protective helmets.

Today only 20 states have laws that require the use of a helmet when riding a motorcycle. Some states, such as Pennsylvania, Florida, and Texas, have repealed their mandatory helmet laws. As for Illinois, although Illinois does not currently require the use of a helmet, on January 27, 2011, a new bill was introduced into the Illinois House of Representatives to require the use of helmets for those operators and passengers of motorcycles who are under the age of 27.

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Posted In: Brain injury from motorcycle accidents

April 14, 2011

15 year old sustains brain injury playing basketball

The Roanoke Times recently reported on a lawsuit filed against a nationally recognized university for inadequate facilities and lack of supervision after a 15 year old sustained a traumatic brain injury playing basketball at a summer camp hosted by the university.

The camper’s parents are suing the university and the organization who organized the camp for $2.5 million. The camper’s family incurred large medical bills as a result of his injuries and although, the camper has recovered, he is still at risk for future injuries and other health issues.

According to the lawsuit, the 15 year old suffered a brain injury when he was thrown from the court during a game and struck his head on a wall. The parents of the child are claiming that the wall should have been properly padded. To read more about this brain injury lawsuit, follow the link.

Unfortunately, sports related brain injuries are not uncommon. According to the medical journal, Pediatrics, 375,000 children and teenagers are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year for basketball-related injuries. Four percent of those injuries involved head trauma. Follow the link to learn more about this brain injury study.

Basketball is not the only sport where players are at risk for brain injuries. According to Pediatrics, basketball only accounted for 9 percent of all sports related concussions among youths. Football, soccer, hockey, and baseball are all sports where players are at high risk for brain injuries caused by head trauma. Click on the link in order to learn more about sports related brain injuries.

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Posted In: Brain Injury Lawsuits, Brain injuries from falls, Brain injuries in children, Brain injuries in sports, Concussions, Traumatic Brain Injury

April 10, 2011

Chicago Child Killed After Suffering Amusement Park Head Injury

Xfinity News reported last week on a deadly Chicago accident at a local amusement park that took the life of a young 3-year old boy from Dolton, Illinois. The current available explains that the local tragedy struck at a park known as “Go Bananas.” The facility is in Norridge, Illinois—a small village on the northwest side of Chicago near the O’Hare airport.

Reports indicate that the innocent boy was at the park last weekend with his family for a weekend activity. He eventually got on a roller coaster known as “Python Pit” with his twin brother. The two siblings were both in a car near the front of the train-like seating carts. According to local authorities, the accident struck when the boy slipped underneath the safety bar that was supposed to latch on top him. For whatever reasons, the latch did not secure the children to the seat beneath.

After slipping underneath the latch and out of his seat, child fell into the mechanics of the ride below. He suffered serious head injuries in the fall; emergency medical personnel were unable to save the child. The general manager of the amusement park explained remorse for the accident and is working closely with authorities in the investigation.

Unfortunately, accidents involving mechanical equipment, amusement park rides, and inadequate safety inspections are far too common. Fatalities like this often result in Chicago wrongful death lawsuits. Local law provides several legal options to the families of those killed because of inadequate safety conditions or any other negligent acts such as this. It is important for those who lose a loved one to come forward and assert their legal rights.

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Posted In: Brain injuries from falls

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The purpose of this blog is to deliver news and information that is relevant to our areas of practice. The news and information reported on this blog represent the legal actions of attorneys throughout the United States. Our firm does not claim to represent plaintiffs in all of the lawsuits, settlements, and jury verdicts reported, only those noted as Levin & Perconti cases.

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