Chicago Brain Injury Lawyer Blog

A traumatic brain injury is defined as a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. According to an AANA study utilizing U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s data, there were an estimated 446,788 sports related injuries treated at U.S. hospital emergency rooms in 2009.

A recent study conducted on more than a hundred active and retired football players found that a retired NFL brain seemed to have its own blood flow and activity patterns, indicating that playing professional football causes long-term brain damage. The study consisted of two different types of brain imaging studies. The researchers did brain SPECT scans and QEEG studies to examine the blood flow and activity patterns, as well as the electrical activity of football players’ brains.

The study found that the damage typically affected the prefrontal cortex, the temporal lobes and the cerebellum. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for controlling judgment, impulse control, attention span, organization and planning. The temporal lobes control mood stability and memory, while the cerebellum controls coordination and thought coordination. Forty eight percent of the players who participated in the study also had problems with obesity, while thirty percent were suffering from or had been treated for depression.

The second part of the study looked at whether the brains of the football players that had been damaged by the trauma that goes along with playing football could be rehabilitated. With a brain healthy program, that included both mental and physical exercise and nutritional supplements that help support brain health, the researchers found improvement in cognitive function.

The attorneys at Levin & Perconti are well versed in the complexities of brain injury litigation. Our experienced attorneys are available to discuss your situation and go over the various options available to you. They are also available to work with your insurance companies to resolve the situation quickly and appropriately.

According to a report on the Missoulian's website, a college football player has died after suffering a traumatic brain injury during a scrimmage over the weekend. The article notes that during play, the 21-year-old was hit in the head after tackling a teammate in one of the last plays of the game. Shortly after, he began vomitting and seizing on the sideline, both signs of a concussion. Trainers immediately called 911 and he went to a local hospital but was soon taken by medical helicopter to another medical center.

The young man was diagnosed with an acute subdural hematoma as a result of the blow to the head. According to the Medline, this condition occurs when blood collects on the surface of the brain and usually occurs after serious head trauma. The bleeding creates pressure on the brain and calls for immediate treatment to relieve intracranial pressure, such a crainotomy. In this victim's case, the pressure caused severe and irreversible brain damage and he died one day later.

Sports injuries are one of the biggest contributors to serious brain injuries. Over the past year, the issue of head injuries among football players has been prevalent in the media and according to Boston.com, the NFL recently announced that it will fund research at Boston University to study the effects and prevention of repetitive brain injuries in football players. For any athlete, whether biking, skiiing or playing football, it is important to wear the proper protective head gear to reduce the risk of head injuries. Unfortunately, due to the nature of these sports, injuries may still occur even when precautions are taken. To learn more about this tragic death due to brain injury, follow the link.

An 11-year-old Canadian girl died recently in a skiing accident. Though she was wearing a helmet, the protective device failed to prevent her from sustaining a serious brain injury. Her death highlight the need for parents to be vigilant about choosing the proper helmet when their children go skiing, biking or play sports such as hockey or football. Helmets should fit properly and parents should fit their growing children every year to ensure an appropriate fit. The article covering the girl’s death calls on the Canadian government to enact standards for all helmets to ensure safety in both children and adults. In the U.S., the CPSC has developed standards for bicycling helmets to prevent personal injuries such as traumatic brain injuries and groups such as the ASTM recommend helmets for skiing. To read the full account of the brain injury death that sparked the discussion of ski helmet standards in Canada, follow the link.

The Chicago personal injury attorneys at Levin & Perconti represent individuals and families in cases involving serious brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries can happen in a number of ways- in automobile accidents, participating in sports activities, through medical malpractice and even in a fall. The Brain Injury Association of America estimates that every year, 1.4 million people sustain traumatic brain injuries. While not all injuries can be avoided, there are steps people can take to protect themselves. For instance, we always recommend defensive driving to prevent car accidents. We also recommend that people wear helmets when participating in sports such as skiing, biking and football. If you believe that a loved one has a suffered a brain injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, please feel free to call Levin & Perconti to speak to a brain injury lawyer.

Todd Hays’ brain injury could heal within three months and without surgery. He recently had to drop his U.S. Olympic bobsled bid to make the Vancouver Games and retired after learning the extent of brain damage he sustained in a training crash. The bobsledder will need further evaluation of the bleeding in his brain and will have to be monitored for weeks. He does have full neurological function at this point. He had to retire after being told that his brain injury was worse than the preliminary concussion diagnosis had originally thought. His teammates initially knew something was wrong after their bobsled crashed in a training run. The athlete was told by doctors that more trauma could cause irreversible brain damage. However, the chief medical officer advised him that if he rested now the brain could heal itself. Concussions are not uncommon in the sport of bobsledding. This case highlights the need to rest after a brain injury, especially in the unique circumstances of athletes. To read more about the bobsledder’s brain injury, please click the link.

23-year-old Preston Plevretes, a former college football player, reached a settlement with LaSalle University, four years after he suffered a serious brain injury during a football game. The personal injury settlement was reached for $7.5 million and will cover the young man’s ongoing medical care and treatments for life. In 2005, Plevretes was knocked unconscious and fell into a coma after a hit during a game. Doctors performed emergency surgery to reduce swelling in the brain, however they could not repair all of the damage and today he has difficulty walking and communicating. According to the lawsuit, Plevretes suffered a concussion several days before the game during practice. The plaintiff’s injury attorney contended that because the university did not treat the concussion, it left Plevretes’ brain in a vulnerable state. Plevretes’ attorney noted that when someone’s brain is already swollen, it can quickly swell up and can easily lead to a herniation. This is likely what caused his life-changing injury. To read the full report on this brain injury settlement, click on the hyperlinked text.

In March of 2007 a young freshman in High School was tossing batting practice when a stray line drive found its way around a protective screen and struck the boy. He incurred a brain injury called expressive aphasia, leaving him with symptoms similar to a stroke victim. He had difficulty speaking and walking for a time. However, after 10 months he was back on the varsity boys’ team. Today you wouldn’t even now that he had suffered a traumatic brain injury. He worked hard and recovered from the brain injury. This case highlights the number of sports injuries that result in traumatic brain injuries. To read more about the brain recovery, please click the link.

One star high-school athlete experienced three separate concussions last year and has been side-lined because of the head injuries. A concussion specialist recommended that he be benched for the rest of his academic year to allow his brain time to fully heal. His tale is one for all parents, to be cautionary of missed signs of brain injury. No one realized the extent of his brain injury’s while he was playing, for if they had he would not have been allowed to continue to play until his brain was properly rested. They now believe he has suffered second impact syndrome. This occurs when the brain swells rapidly before the symptoms from an earlier concussion have subsided. This can be a potentially life-threatening condition. His parents now want others to know of the dangers of allowing young athletes to continue playing after receiving a serious hit to the head. Sometimes a CAT Scan can’t even detect a concussion. Some high schools require mandatory ImPACT tests after head injuries. To read more about brain injuries in sports, please click the link.

A junior in high school who suffered a brain injury during a football game is still in critical condition. The young man received the brain injury as a result of helmet-to-helmet contact. There was no damage to the player’s neck or spinal cord. The victim underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain and doctors are trying to keep the player as stable as possible. Football can be a dangerous sport that may result in brain injury. If you or a loved one has experienced a sports related brain injury, find an Illinois lawyer. To read more about the brain injury, please click the link.

A new study from the Brain Injury Journal indicates that people might soon benefit from a blood test that can detect damaged nerve cells. Medical researchers measured a protein that is indicative of brain damage in boxers and found that the boxers had evaluated levels. Scientists also discovered that the brain damage didn’t abate after a two-month layoff from contact. This means that you cannot just wait out brain damage, it might develop later. To read more about the brain injury test, please click the link.

New York Mets starting Third Basemen David Wright suffered a concussion this week when he was struck in the head by a baseball. He was hit when a Matt Cain fastball when strait to his head and caused him a serious brain injury. He is being set to the disabled list for the first time in his career because of the brain injury. The league is attempting to make players wear a new helmet that protects players’ heads better. To read more about David Wright’s concussion, click here.

While in practice, Chris Jansen, a high school senior on the football team suffered a brain injury. He took a serious hit and went to the sideline. He sat out only a few plays but came right back out onto the field. When Chris arrived home, he had a headache and was very sick. His parents took him to the hospital; the doctors determined that Chris had a serious brain injury. Chris had surgery and because of the early detection, hopes to make a full recovery. To read more about this football players brain injury, click here.

The family of an Illinois High School football player sued the school on Tuesday because of a brain injury their child suffered. The child was having headaches and showed signs of a concussion. The parents believe that because of the coach’s win at all costs mentality, their son played injured, which caused his brain injury. To read more about this football player's brain injury and the Illinois high school football team involved, click here.

US skier Cody Marshal is in critical condition after suffering a traumatic head injury. Cody was sliding down an escalator railing when he fell 20 feet and suffered a head injury. The accident occurred at 11:30pm and he was with teammates at the time. He is now at University Hospital in Salt Lake City and is listed in critical condition. To read more, click on “Head Injury Leaves U.S. Skier Hospitalized”

A study was done to determine whether high school football players were receiving hits that were more likely to cause head trauma and brain injuries than college players. This study was done in Illinois, at the University of Illinois –Champaign. The study showed that high school tackles cause 10% more G-force to the person, making them more likely to get a concussion. The study believes that the increased G-force is from high school players being smaller and not tackling properly. Almost 6% of high school football players suffer brain injuries and many more brain injuries go unreported. To read the entire article, click here on “Football Causes Many Brain Injuries for High School Athletes”

Two players collided in a softball game that took place on June 18, causing one player a serious brain injury. The brain injury the player suffered led to his death only two days later. The 29 year old man’s family will have a softball tournament in his honor on August 8th. To read the entire article click here “Brain Injury”

A 43 year old woman fell off a golf cart last week and it caused a serious brain injury. The woman had been drinking and standing on the cart, when the cart hit a city street, she fell and landed on her head causing the brain injury. The leading cause of brain injuries are falls. The woman never regained consciousness and her family took her off life support. To read more click here “brain injury”

The National Football League is funding a study of mild traumatic brain injury in retired players. The study will measure the long-term effects of head injuries such as concussions and will also try to prevent future injuries by focusing on safety. Rules for play to prevent brain injuries will be created and enforced. Safety equipment will also be evaluated and redesigned to offer maximum protection against injury. To read the entire article that discusses the NFL’s efforts to battle mild traumatic brain injury, follow the link.

Summer is approaching and with this more people will be traveling and participating in sporting activities. This increase in activity brings with it an increased risk of traumatic brain injury. People became more aware of the seriousness of brain injuries this winter when Natasha Richardson died after a skiing accident. In the hours after her accident, she felt okay, but soon fell into a coma from which she never recovered. Her death highlighted the importance of seeking treatment any time the symptoms of brain injury appear. If you or a loved one suffers a head injury in an accident, watch closely for any symptoms such as nausea, headache, ringing ears or extreme tiredness. It is better to be too cautious when these symptoms occur. You should seek medical treatment sooner, rather than when it’s too late. Additionally, be proactive in preventing head injuries from occurring in the first place. If you are playing a sport or riding a bike or skateboard, wear a helmet. Also, always wear your safety belt to avoid head injuries if you are involved in a car accident. Safe practices and knowledge of the signs and symptoms of brain injuries may help lower the risk for serious injury or death. To read more about the symptoms of brain injury, follow the link.

The Chicago brain injury lawyers at Levin & Perconti recommend that all bicyclists wear helmets for protection against traumatic brain injury. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it is also very important to wear a properly fitted helmet when preparing to ride. The NHTSA website recommends several things when choosing a helmet. First, choose a helmet that has been tested and approved by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Also, make sure to buy a helmet that fits well before you even adjust the straps. They also recommend buying a helmet that you like, you will be more likely to wear it if you feel good in it. Finally, never wear a helmet that is cracked.

A Dallas-area teenager suffered a severe head injury when he was struck in the head by a baseball hurled from a pitching machine at the local batting cages. The boy was not wearing a helmet. The boy suffered a brain injury which included bruising of his brain and fractured facial bones. Brain injuries, resulting from not wearing helmets in batting cages, have led to deaths in previous instances. The boy is expected to be OK but cannot play baseball for the next six months. To read more about this brain injury, please click here.

An op-ed published by the New York Times draws attention to the fact that people do not know a lot about traumatic brain injury. Until the recent death of actress Natasha Richardson, many people had not realized the devastating effects a brain injury can have upon a person. According to the article, sports facilities where people could have a higher risk for brain injuries do little to educate staff about how to respond to brain injuries. The article also points out the lack of government funding for brain injury research.To read the full article on traumatic brain injury, please follow the link.

Edwin Valero, a Venezuelan lightweight/junior welterweight/welterweight fighter with a record of 24-0, is having trouble getting cleared to fight in the US due to an old brain injury. In 2004, during an pre-fight examination in New York, the fighter was unable to get a license due to this brain injury. To date, the only US jurisdiction which has licensed Valero is TX. To read more about this brain injured fighter, please click here.

Actress Natasha Richardson died yesterday of a traumatic brain injury suffered while skiing in Canada earlier this week. Natasha’s injury is bringing to light a type of brain injury known as epidural hemorrhaging, or talk and die syndrome. Characteristics of this type of brain injury make it hard to diagnose as the victim usually seems symptomless for up to several days before the condition of the victim begins to decline rapidly. To read more about this type of brain injury, please click here.

As more details of the tragic traumatic brain injury suffered by actress Natasha Richardson come to light, the true complexity of diagnosing and treating brain injury victims drawing national media attention. Symptoms of traumatic brain injury sometimes do not manifest until minutes or sometimes hours after the victim suffers a blow to the head. To read more about Natasha Richardson’s condition, please click here.

Actress Natasha Richardson was involved in a serious skiing accident yesterday. She suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of the crash. The full extent of her condition is not known at this time, but she is listed in critical condition at a hospital close to the ski resort. Read the full article on the actress’s brain injury by following the link.

A 12 year old boy from Nebraska suffered a traumatic brain injury while playing football. Despite suffering serious injuries to both sides of the brain, the boy has begun walking and eating on his own. Periodically, traumatic brain injuries in sports can result from faulty equipment provided by the athletic league or school district. Details on the cause of the brain injury are unknown at this time. To read more about this brain injury story, please click here.

Tom McHale, a former NFL player who died last year of a drug overdose, was suffering from a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (or CTE). It has been revealed that six of seven former NFL players who died by the age of 50 had this disease, which is caused by repeated head trauma. Symptoms of CTE include losing emotional control and lack of impulse control. To find an Illinois Lawyer practicing in this area, please contact Levin & Perconti. To read more about this brain injury story, please click here.

A study released by the department of neuropsychology at the University of Montreal has revealed that a young adult’s suffering of even one concussion through violent sports such as hockey and football may cause a decline in the ability to retain information and focus as the athlete ages. Brain injury lawsuits can sometimes follow the negligent supervision or faulty equipment provided the student athlete by the school district and coaching staff. To find an Illinois lawyer with experience in brain injury litigation, please contact Levin & Perconti. To read more about the long term effects of concussions on athletes, please click here.

A former high school football player in Chesterfield, IN has filed a lawsuit against the school district claiming the use of a faulty football helmet has led to his brain injury. This head injury lawsuit claims the football coaches were aware the helmet was defective but ordered the player to practice anyway. At this time, the head injury damages sought are unknown. To read more about this head injury story, please click here.

Two days after being declared brain dead, Jayne Campbell Soliman, a former British ice skating champion, gave birth. Mrs. Soliman was kept alive with machines after suffering from a brain hemorrhage in order to give doctors time to perform an emergency caesarian section, removing her baby girl. Swift action and excellent care from her physicians and medical team made this miracle possible. Soliman was air-lifted to the hospital soon after developing the brain injury, where she was pronounced brain dead shortly after arrival.

To read more click here.

An 11-year-old North Carolina boy was left with a permanent brain injury after doctors made numerous medical mistakes during his treatment. After falling from a tree, the boy received treatment riddled with instances of medical malpractice. After detecting a shoulder injury, the boy was given herapin, a blood thinner, to treat a blood clot in his shoulder. The boy’s brachial plexus nerves of his spinal cords had been damaged and that injury had gone unnoticed, and as a result, the herapin caused bleeding in the spinal cord. Additionally, a mass called a subdural hematoma was located in his skull and doctors placed a halo around his head to stabilize his spine. One of the four screws used to keep the halo in place was screwed in ¾ inch too far by a medical resident, which caused further bleeding in the brain. As a result, the child suffered a significant brain injury and will be forced to live with severe cognitive impairments, preventing him from ever living independently or holding a job. A jury ruled in favor of the boy in the medical malpractice lawsuit, awarding him over $10 million from the various defendants. For the full story, click here.

While helmets have come a long way from the leather caps that football players once wore, recent serious brain injuries and wrongful deaths occurring on the football field have people wondering whether helmet technology can ever go far enough. Communities throughout the country have felt the devastation sometimes associated with brain injuries.

For the full article.

TBI Clubhouses are opening around the nation to help support brain injured victims. Brain injuries can occur for a variety of reasons from participation in contact sports to involvement in a car accident or bike accident. Brain injuries leave some victims unable to function or carry out daily tasks to live on their own. Traumatic Brain Injury homes exist to provide support, a social network and medical care to victims of brain injuries. A mother whose son experienced a brain injury after a truck accident has opened a new Midwest clubhouse to provide support to families who struggle similar to herself. Brain injury bills are high whether due to medical expenses or trial expenses and some foundations help in meeting those costs. To read more about this courageous mother’s story click here.

To help reduce athletic concussions, public school officials have begun to take steps to reduce the number of concussions that student athletes suffer. The school district will implement a computerized program that allows coaches and administrators to assess an individual’s baseline and post-brain injury neurocognitive abilities. Concussions are a form of brain injury and any step to reduce their prevalence is a step in the right direction.

For the full article.

According to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate, children aged 5-18 suffer at least 96,000 sports-related brain injuries yearly. As many as twenty percent of all high school football players sustain concussions annually. These brain injuries are especially troubling because teenage brain tissue is still developing. However, most high schools and colleges fail to provide athletes the kind of neuropsychological testing that is needed to assist in their recovery.

For the full article.

The recent injuries suffered by Dominic DiAngi who was hit by a foul ball while watching the Cubs play at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois have brought to public attention some risks of watching baseball. If a fan is struck by an errant ball while at a field, the team while not likely be held legally responsible. Teams are practically immune in almost all cases, so the injured fan will bear the cost of his injuries. Exemplifying this is the mini contract printed on the back of each ticket warning that the holder “assumes all risk and danger incidental to the sport of baseball.” However, the teams are not completely immune, for example, legal precedent requires netting to be placed in front of the most dangerous areas of the stands, but fans are still liable for any balls or bats that make it past that netting. Laws in Illinois in the 1990s emphasized immunity from lawsuits for clubs that do put up netting.

It may seem like a remote possibility that a fan will be injured at a game, but about 300 people a year are hospitalized after receiving injuries from being struck by foul balls at major and minor league games. In 1970, a 14-year-old was killed after being struck in the head by a foul ball. Read more here.

A youth injured at a Chicago, Illinois White Sox Game may face a serious medical surgery. The nine year old was hit by a ball at the game resulting in personal injury and a brain injury. The boy remains optimistic as his family hopes he will recover from the freak accident with ease. Serious injuries are common at sporting events but rarely result in personal injury lawsuits due to the “assumption of risk” doctrine. Suprinsingly the youth still remains a Chicago, Illinois White Sox fan…a result that Cubs fans would say is just another side effect of the personal injury he suffered. To read the full story on this brave little boy click here.