How “Concussion” Could Be Game-Changer
- December 29, 2015
- Sandy
LOS ANGELES – If you enjoy the movies, you might be looking forward to the premiere of the movie “Concussion,” opening on Christmas Day. On the other hand, you might not because it could change the way the nation views sports and other high-contact activities.
For decades, sports were thought of as a ‘healthy’ means of exercise. For some, it was also a way to ‘toughen up’ teenagers and young adults – but that was then.
“We simply know more about the damaging effects of head injuries,” John Sheehan, a Los Angeles brain injury attorney at The Barnes Firm said. “Gone are the days when teams would throw a concussed player back onto the playing field – and even off the field, concussions are a serious topic.”
The first laws regarding concussion protocols only began to be introduced six years ago. In May 2009, the state of Washington introduced a bill called the Lystedt Law. Named after a young athlete who became permanently disabled following a concussion, the law requires licensed health care providers to clear a child before they return to play.
A month after Washington passed concussion protocols, Oregon passed a similar law and between 2009 and 2012, 43 states drafted and passed ‘Return to Play Laws.’
Although the laws are a step toward making games safer, many safety advocates argue athletes of all ages still aren’t protected.
Steve Barnes, a founding partner of The Barnes Firm, says many athletes – both student and pro – continue to suffer the dangerous “Second Impact Syndrome,” which occurs when a second concussion affects the brain before it can heal from a previous injury.
“More than a dozen high school football players were killed in 2015,” Barnes said. “Almost all of these deaths could have been prevented with the proper oversight, protections and rules.”
In October, Kenney Bui, a high school senior, died from a traumatic brain injury he suffered during a football game a week earlier. Bui was playing in the state of Washington, the same state which introduced the first laws to protect students.
According to The Guardian, Bui died from ‘massive internal bleeding.’
Many high schools throughout the country have been re-thinking their athletic strategies and some schools have outright banned high-contact sports like football. CBS News recently reported that “the number of high school football players in the U.S. has declined by 25,000 over the past five years,” and some states have either canceled or cut football seasons short due to injuries.
“The more we learn about concussions, the more we start to question,” Barnes said. “Sports may have brought these injuries into focus but we can link these injuries to other accidents – car crashes, slip and falls, work place injuries; the list goes on.”
Currently, concussion protocols are only required for some sports. However, if a student is concussed in a separate incident, like a skateboarding accident, that child could easily attend practice or participate in a game without having to see a physician. This scenario could expose a child to the potentially deadly “Second Impact Syndrome.”
“Kids today already know much more about concussions than children did 20 years ago,” Sheehan said. “As we continue to learn more about brain injuries, we expect to see changes in the way children – and adults – respond to these injuries.”
Even if a head or neck injury appears or feels minor, Los Angeles personal injury attorneys recommend speaking with a physician. Doctors say that identifying a brain injury is the first step toward recovery – and vital in preventing more serious injuries.
Brain injuries have been linked to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Amyotyophic Lateral Scleroisis (ALS), dementia, and other life-altering diseases.
Although there’s a larger focus on preventing and addressing these serious injuries, doctors and safety advocates say more can be done to avoid concussions and the critical “Second Impact Syndrome.” Whether a concussion was suffered in a car crash, at a sporting event, or in another type of accident, attorneys at The Barnes Firm say any head injuries should be evaluated by a qualified physician. In many cases, an experienced personal injury lawyer can help secure financial benefits for an injured person and their family.
“As much as we try to prevent them, concussions will still happen,” Barnes said. “The issue is; what can we do about it?”
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