– Updated on September 11, 2024
Lawsuits against the NCAA’s college football division have placed the organization under fire citing safety concerns for the players. College football is a full contact sport. Even with great helmets and appropriate pads, concussions still happen.
What Is A Concussion?
A concussion may not seem like a serious issue, but they can be. A concussion is a brain injury. They can be minor or severe in nature. When someone like a college football player is hit hard, their head can be rocked in a violent motion. This motion can cause the brain to move inside of the skull. It hits the skull and could suffer bruising or even active bleeding.
Most people recover from a concussion and have no future problems. Yet, college football players usually receive multiple concussions throughout the life of their career. Concussions have the possibly of causing problems with coordination, memory, and balance. It could also cause headaches, personality changes, and depression.
The Rise Of Concussion Lawsuits
The NCAA faced 43 concussion lawsuits over the last year. The lawsuits were given class action status. A class action lawsuit takes a group of plaintiffs who have the same complaint against the same defendant or defendants and enables them to be heard as one case. Once a settlement or a verdict is decided, the plaintiffs would all receive part of the settlement or awarded damages. The benefit of the concussion lawsuits receiving class action status is in how quickly a resolution was determined when compared with each case waiting for its day in court.
Settlement In Concussion Lawsuits Reached
Despite the fact that more concussion lawsuits are being filed in relation to college football, the NCAA recently agreed to a settlement. The settlement of $75 million will be split between providing 50 years of medical monitoring for the plaintiffs along with current and future college football players and other NCAA student athletes and researching the prevention, treatment, and effects of concussions. Federal Judge John Z. Lee approved the settlement terms.
Chief Legal Officer of the NCAA, Donald Remy, stated that they were happy with the decision of the court. “We are pleased the settlement is moving toward final approval. Student athlete well-being has always been our priority.”
The Signs Of A Concussion
If you’re an NCAA student athlete involved in college football or in any other sport, you must understand the signs of a concussion. If you believe that you have a concussion, let your coach know. You need to be evaluated by a medical professional. Signs of a concussion include:
- Headache or a feeling of pressure in your skull
- A temporary loss of consciousness
- Feeling confused
- Not remembering what happened
- Dizziness
- Ringing of the ears
- Nausea or vomiting
- Slurred speech
- Delayed response when answering questions
- Sleep problems
- Trouble concentrating after the event
Do not return to playing until you’ve been evaluated and cleared by a medical professional.
Free Case Evaluations for Concussion Lawsuits
If you are an NCAA college athlete and you sustained a concussion, you may benefit from filing a concussion lawsuit. To learn more, schedule your free case evaluation with Goldwater Law Firm.
The Goldwater Law Firm is on mission to help as many people as possible with the fierce, compassionate legal aid only The Gold Standard of Injury Law can offer. If you suffered serious side effects or were diagnosed with an illness because of a defective drug or product, or if you were injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, Attorney Bob Goldwater and the Goldwater Law Firm is ready to serve as your compassionate partner in the fight to seek the compensation and justice you deserve.
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