According to ESPN, former National Football League running back, Jahvid Best, who played for the Detroit Lions, has filed a personal injury lawsuit against the NFL, Riddell and Easton-Bell Sports, for the concussions that he sustained while playing football, which ended his professional football playing career.
It will be particularly interesting to see what information is gained through litigation against Riddell and Easton, who make the helmets that the NFL players wear. Have these companies been withholding relevant concussion information from consumers? Can football helmets be made in a way that, when used properly, including helmet to helmet hits (which are part of football), the players wearing the helmets do not suffer concussions? Is there a better helmet that could have been designed and used that is not being used so that teams can save money? Hopefully the litigation process will divulge this information.
It is understandable if some people see this lawsuit and do not believe the suit has merits. Some may argue that Mr. Best knew full well the risks of playing football before he agreed to be paid a lot of money to play. However, more and more information keeps emerging about the damages of a concussion. It is very important for people to remember that a concussion is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is a serious injury that cannot be taken lightly. If certain companies intentionally withheld safety information, including the damaging effects of concussions, from users of the products the companies manufactured, or if the league did not disclose the risks and dangers of concussions to its players, we can understand why there would be personal injury liability on those parties.
In our Los Angeles injury law firm, we have many clients who have suffered traumatic brain injuries in accidents. Those brain injury accidents have included car accidents, truck accidents, and fall injuries. We understand the seriousness of a TBI and know how to get our clients the proper therapy, which often includes a neurologist and a psychologist, to help deal with post concussion syndrome.