South Carolina Injury Lawyer Blog

Charleston Brain Injury attorneys want you to know that brain damage and football. The seventeen days following the Big Bone Game, a traditional Thanksgiving Day at San Jose City College versus two local high schools, are blank in Matt Blea’s memory but with the worst seventeen days of his parent’s lives. Blea was sixteen year old and playing football for his high school football team. He remembers the opening plays but the minute his helmet hit the Astroturf surface, he does not remember a thing.

Blea was in a drug-induced coma for a week to prevent traumatic brain swelling and then two months after the crushing hit. Dave Blea, Matt’s father, had an agreement with his wife that “if he was ever diagnosed with a concussion in his youth football days, he was going to be out for the year.” Blea is physically fine now, but is suffering a broken heart because his love and passion, football, is now prohibited. Matt Blea will never play football again.

The National Football League recently has been paying more attention to concussed players. The league is now implementing new restrictions affecting the amount of time a concussed player is required to wait until allowed to play again. After the National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study released a figure that startled parents and players. They reported that in 2008 there were an estimated 68,000 concussions in the high school football season. Professor Dawn Comstock of Ohio State helped organize the study and stated that “ up to 60 percent of sports concussions go unreported,” so this number is most likely higher.

Continue reading "South Carolina Football Players Warned of Damages of Brain Injury" »

South Carolina Brain injury lawyers recently learned that Adrien Gault had played football all of his life, but after suffering numerous concussions and somehow still being awarded clearance to play by the district, Gault slipped into a coma and suffered a subdural hematoma. Gault filed suit against Sequim Chiropractic Clinic owner and operator Dr. Robert D. Bean and his wife, as well as the Sequim School District. Gault filed his suit for damages from his brain injury in 2006 with the Clallam County Superior Court on January 13, 2010.

After suffering numerous concussions one may wonder how Adrien Gault was still allowed to play football and why he was not taken out of the game after a pre-game concussion on October 20, 2006. The district and district doctors never told him he was unfit to play.

Gault was violently hit in a warm up drill before the October 20, 2006, game versus North Mason High School. He played a full quarter of the game and part of the second quarter before complaining of headaches and being taken out of the game. What happened next alarmed coaches, teammates, and fans.

Gault collapsed on the sidelines and was carried off the field. Just hours later, he suffered a subdural hematoma, which is when the brain swells and bleeds as a result to a traumatic brain injury. Gault was then airlifted to a neighboring hospital where they had to remove part of his skull to reduce pressure on the brain. After this horrifying incident the plaintiff does not have full control of his left arm, has constant headaches, and cannot remember things at times.

The plaintiff alleges that the proper medical attention was not sought out after he complained of headaches following the hit he endured in warm-ups. Usually medical attention is required if a player complains of headaches, due to the common nature of concussions in football. Concussions, especially players who have suffered concussions before, are not to be taken lightly.

Source: Peninsula Daily News- “Former Sequim Football Player Sues District, Chiropractor over Brain Injury.” January 22, 2010.

Have a brain injury in South Carolina? South Carolina brain injury lawyers know the details of our state's personal injury laws. Howell and Christmas brain accident attorneys know that traumatic brain injuries can occur from a variety of different things and can range in seriousness from the mild, which are commonly known as concussions, to the severe. Brain injuries can disrupt the way the brain normally functions and should be taken very seriously and handled with precaution. Sometimes the symptoms of a brain injury show up almost immediately, but in other cases, symptoms may take up to three or four days to appear or worsen with time. This might signify a more serious injury that requires immediate medical attention.

According to Dr. Beth Slomine of the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, there are many simple precautions that one can take to dramatically reduce their chances of having a brain injury. One should always use seatbelts, airbags, and child restraints while driving in the car, and should also avoid the use of cell phones or other distractions while driving. It is important to wear helmets and other protective gear while participating in sports and physical activities.

If an injury to the head does occur, Dr. Slomine says it is extremely important to seek medical attention if you lose consciousness, are confused, or have physical symptoms, such as headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, lethargy, weakness, numbness, or visual difficulties.

Continue reading "Signs and Symptoms of Brain Injury" »