Catastrophic Injury – NFL Player’s Union Forms Brain Injury Panel

Friday, January 29, 2010

Participation in tough and aggressive athletic sports such as football can result in severe personal injury, including traumatic brain injuries. National Football League Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood has joked that he can not even remember how many concussions he has had since he began playing the sport at the age of twelve. However, he does not disregard the severity of the damage he has absorbed as a result of the game. 

The former football star was one of the speakers at the first meeting of the Mackey-White Traumatic Brain Injury Committee last week. The organization was named after two Hall of Fame football players that have been directly affected by brain injury: tight end John Mackey was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease, while defensive lineman Reggie White died at age forty-three because of aggravated injuries. The group was formed by the NFL Players Association and is comprised of a variety of professional athletes, former and current NFL players, as well as numerous doctors and scientific experts. It was formed in order to have open discussion of the brain injuries that many players sustain as a result of playing professional football and has a goal of developing solutions to the safety issues players face in order to keep them safer during practice and games.

Since then, the National Football League has created stricter guidelines for players who are showing concussion symptoms. In order to ensure that players do not return to the field too quickly, each team must enlist the services of an independent neurologist for advice. Additionally, a partnership has been formed with Boston University brain researchers who have been very influential of the league’s rules governing concussions because of tests they conducted on football helmets. It is hoped that the committee will serve as a “superconductor” of information in order to spur decisive progress towards protecting football players from traumatic brain injuries.

Sustaining catastrophic injuries as a result of a recreational accident is life-changing and will likely have permanent consequences. An experienced personal injury attorney can help answer many of the questions that an injured individual will likely have regarding their case. If you have traumatic brain injuries as the result of an accident, you may be entitled to damages for your pain and suffering. A hard-working and aggressive personal injury lawyer can provide the legal advice and legal representation necessary to be successful. The Law Offices of Bredell and Bredell have years of experience fighting for the rights of injured persons, and are ready to do the same for you.

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Injured Firefighter Receives $12.7M in Worker’s Compensation Damages

Monday, November 2, 2009

Some occupations require more risk than others, and have the potential to result in accidents. For the injuries sustained in accidents that occur while on the job, the injured party is likely entitled to worker’s compensation damages.

Such an example is seen recently, as a Seattle jury awarded $12.7 million to a firefighter who was severely injured when he fell down a fire pole shaft while on-duty. Mark Jones, who was an experienced outdoorsman and former member of the Honor Guard, was unable to return to work following the accident because his injuries were so severe.

On December 23rd, 2003, Jones awoke around 3:00 a.m. to use the bathroom. He mistook the door leading to the station’s fire pole as the door to the restroom, ultimately falling eighteen feet to the first floor. The safety light intended to denote the fire pole alcove had burned out, and a chain that would have restricted access was unlatched. As a result of the fall, he suffered ten broken ribs, multiple pelvic fractures, and other minor injuries. Unfortunately, he also suffered a catastrophic brain injury when he fall, that greatly damaged his brain and spine.

A lawsuit was filed in 2006, accusing the city of being negligent in the accident. The city is being blamed for failure to safeguard the nook that contained the station’s fire pole. A state Department of Labor and Industries investigation resulted in the fining of the Fire Department for serious safety violations. Originally, Jones was only receiving minimal worker’s compensation benefits under Washington state’s current system. While the older system had a “safety net” intended for catastrophic injuries, the new system does not cover firefighters. However, following a six-week trial, the the jury agreed with Jones awarding $12.7 million in his favor. The verdict includes Jones’ caretaking and medical expenses.

Since the accident, the fire department has installed more safety measures. Reflective tape has been put around the fire pole shafts, as well as protective glass doors with special handles that will not open unless they are pushed inward. In more modern stations, the doors won’t even open unless the fire alarm sounds. This is meant to prevent accidents from Jones’ to happen again.

Regardless of the occupation, it is possible for accidents to occur on the job. Injuries that are sustained while working may be protected under worker’s compensation disability claims. It is important to investigate the options available, and The Law Offices of Bredell and Bredell are here to help. Should you or a loved one be injured at working and feel you are entitled to worker’s compensation, please do not hesitate to contact us.

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