Sports can be thrilling, but they can also be risky, and the fallout of an accident can be life-changing. For those affected by brain injuries and sports accidents, legal advocacy is crucial.
What Are Sports Injuries and How Do They Affect the Brain?
Sports injuries that affect the brain often fall under the umbrella of traumatic brain injury (TBI), which can range from mild concussions to severe injuries involving swelling, bleeding, and long-term neurocognitive damage.
Symptoms may appear immediately or be delayed and can include headaches, memory problems, dizziness, trouble concentrating, behavior changes, and coordination issues. Because symptoms can evolve, sports-related brain injuries are often not diagnosed until days or weeks later after the incident.
Liability in Sports Brain Injury Accidents
Sports-related brain injuries must be treated as serious medical events and can give rise to legal claims when negligence or defective equipment is involved. Recovering compensation typically requires legal expertise because a personal injury claim must show the following:
- That the defendant owed a duty of care
- That they violated that duty of care
- That their violation of the duty of care caused the brain injury
- That the victim suffered actual harm
Possible defendants in sports brain injury accident cases can include sports facility owners, event organizers, coaches, trainers, supervisors, equipment manufacturers, and fellow athletes. Contact a personal injury attorney at Sullivan and Sullivan to discuss your case, identify all liable parties, and pursue compensation.
What Personal Injury Lawyers Do in Sports-Related Brain Injury Cases
Your personal injury attorney can conduct a thorough investigation to gather eyewitness statements, video footage, incident reports, and maintenance records. They can also collaborate with medical experts to connect the brain injury to the sports accident. Their services often involve inspecting and testing equipment, as well as obtaining relevant documentation, such as training protocols, safety guidelines, and inspection logs.
However, that’s only where the process begins. Because brain injuries can be subtle, personal injury attorneys often engage specialists to help diagnose and quantify neurological deficits, project future medical needs, rehabilitation costs, and the impact on earning capacity or quality of life.
Valuing a Personal Injury Claim
Compensation valuation can vary depending on several factors, but a strong claim for brain injuries and sports accidents will typically include:
- past and future medical expenses
- lost wages
- costs of future care, such as assistive devices and home modifications
- pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- loss of enjoyment of life
- diminished life expectancy
Experienced personal injury attorneys know how to frame these damages in persuasive legal terms. Your attorney will also handle correspondence and negotiations with insurers to aggressively push for fair compensation while protecting you from lowball offers.
4 Reasons to Consult a Personal Injury Attorney Early
An attorney with personal injury experience can help you avoid leaving money on the table, but early engagement is essential. Here’s why:
- Brain injury symptoms can emerge later, which risks losing evidence or fading witness memories.
- Statutes of limitation can bar personal injury claims after certain periods.
- Insurance companies may exploit a victim’s lack of legal knowledge.
- Victims often need someone to manage technical, legal, and medical complexities so they can focus on recovery.
Seek medical attention immediately, then contact Sullivan and Sullivan to handle liability and compensation with expert legal resources. After all, sports should be about competition, teamwork, and health, not long-term medical problems and impairment.
Contact Sullivan and Sullivan Today
If you are loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to a sports accident, schedule a free consultation with Sullivan and Sullivan today, and let our team help you navigate the legal process.
