March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. It is a time to let people know more about traumatic brain injuries and how they can be prevented. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, there more than 1.4 million traumatic brain injuries occur each year in the United States. Of this number, about 50,000 people die and almost a quarter million people are hospitalized. Traumatic brain injuries, TBIs, occur for a variety of reasons. Vehicle collisions, accidents, and participation in contact sports such as boxing and football account for most of the injuries.

Symptoms and Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injuries
There are many various symptoms of TBI. A person may suffer from a few or more of these and they may not all appear at once. The common signs include headaches, dizziness, confusion, blurry vision, slurred speech, extreme fatigue, memory loss, and nausea. An injured person could also have mood swings.

A TBI needs to be diagnosed and treated as quickly as possible. The longer an injury goes untreated, the worse it may become. A doctor will perform tests to determine the extent of a brain injury. The most common diagnostic tools used for initial diagnosis are the CT scan and MRI. The doctor will also perform an assessment using the Glasgow Coma Scale. 15 areas are assessed, which include such things as speech, body movements, and response to directions.

Someone with a mild TBI will score between 13 and 15 points, moderate TBI from nine to 12 points, and severe TBI from three to eight points. A score of fewer than three points indicates that the person is in a vegetative state. Treatment for TBI varies greatly based on the specific injury. Some people will require physical therapy, speech therapy, medication and lifestyle modification. Some people will be able to recover almost completely while others may suffer from a lifelong disability.

Proposed Ban on Youth Tackle Football
Some California legislators have introduced a bill that would ban tackle football for children under the age of 12. This comes after research continues to show that the effects of continued hits to the head can cause long term brain damage, particularly to young children. The cumulative effect of successive concussions has been found to be a possible cause of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, CTE. The symptoms of CTE may not appear for years after the person suffered head injuries. A recent study found a significant connection between CTE and professional football players who suffered a series of head injuries during their careers. Those who experience concussions as a child may be more likely to suffer from CTE.

Some states already have legislation in place to ban tackle football for youngsters. Children or adults who suffer from serious head injuries as the result of a sport such as football may be able to take legal action. The team or organization should take proper precautions to prevent head injuries from occurring. Their failure to do so could be negligent and they may therefore be liable for a resulting injury.

If you suffered a severe head injury due to playing professional sports, contact the legal team at the Law Office of Patrick G. Shea to discuss the details of your case.

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