Former Bears player sues NFL for brain injuries.
Being injured at work can be a scary and life changing event. Those that are professional athletes encounter risks and dangers during practice and play. These dangers could mean serious injuries that could affect their career and their long-term health.
Recently, Gale Sayers, a former running back for the Chicago Bears who was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame, is suing the football league for negligently handling traumatic brain injuries during his tenure from 1965 to 1971. He alleges that he suffers from short-term memory loss and headaches after his retirement.
Moreover, he claims that he was put back into games after suffering a concussion, and that the NFL did not do their part or to protect him from traumatic brain injuries. In addition, he further claims that the NFL failed to warn Sayers of the potential for permanent brain damage caused by concussions and other brain injuries caused by playing professional football.
The lawsuit by Sayers is part of a series of lawsuits alleging negligence on the part of sports leagues such as the NFL in failing to protect their players from brain injuries. Last month, the NFL reached a $765 million settlement with 4,500 former players alleging that the NFL hid evidence of the negative health impacts of brain trauma. The NFL agreed to no wrongdoing in the settlement, which does not include those currently playing in the NFL.
Traumatic brain injuries incurred by playing professional sports such as football can have serious health consequences. One of these is the development of a disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Symptoms of this disease include memory loss, depression, and loss of control over impulses. Eventually, this disease leads to progressive dementia. It has been cited as the cause of a number of suicides for former sports players, and has been linked to cases of aggression and violent behavior by former players.
Anyone who has suffered a traumatic brain injury while playing professional sports may be entitled to seek a personal injury lawsuit if negligence can be proven. Also, he or she may file for worker’s compensation, due to the fact that he or she was injured on the job of playing professional sports.
Those who have suffered traumatic brain injuries while playing professional sports have the right to seek a just and fair compensation for their injuries. The process might require additional investigation and filing of paperwork, so it is advisable to seek the guidance of a qualified professional to help them through the suit.
Source: Chicago Tribune, “Gale Sayers sues NFL, claims memory loss from head injuries,” Ellen Jean Hirst, Sep. 20, 2013