Participation in sports comes with a number of benefits, including camaraderie, athleticism, and socialization. However, sports can also be dangerous, especially when the proper precautions are not taken. Generally, the school association or professional league overseeing the sport is responsible for ensuring players are reasonably safe as they participate.
On occasion, however, a league or school administration fails to take adequate precautions to guard against player injuries. Alternatively, the players may not be properly warned of the dangers involved in participating in the sporting activity, or parental consent may not be obtained prior to a student’s participation. In these situations, anyone injured as a result of their participation in the sporting activity may be entitled to compensation though a Maryland personal injury lawsuit.
Research Study Finds CTE More Common Than Originally Believed
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain disease that is found in those who suffer repeated blows to the head. Symptoms of CTE include depression, anxiety, substance abuse, memory loss, cognitive impairment, and suicidal thoughts or actions. Over the past few years, researchers have linked CTE to participation in professional football. However, until recently, it was not understood how common CTE was among players.
According to a news article detailing a recent study out of Boston University, CTE was found in over 99% of the professional football players involved in the study. Since CTE is only diagnosable posthumously, the study looked at the brains of 202 football players across all levels of play, from youth leagues to the NFL. The results of the study were staggering. The following are the numbers of players found to have CTE:
- 110 out of 111 NFL players;
- 48 out of 53 college players;
- 9 out of 17 semi-professional players; and
- 3 out of 14 high-school players.
In all, 177 out of the 202 players surveyed were found to have CTE.
The researchers are quick to note that, while this was the largest study of CTE in football players, further research must be conducted. Specifically, the researchers are interested in whether other contact sports such as hockey, rugby, and soccer present similar risks of developing CTE.
With the risk of developing CTE as significant as it appears to be, high-school and professional leagues should warn players accordingly. Indeed, the NFL is currently facing a lawsuit brought by hundreds of former players and their families, claiming that the NFL should be held responsible for the players’ injuries, based on the NFL’s failure to warn the players of the risks involved.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Sports Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in any kind of Maryland sports accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation through a Maryland personal injury lawsuit. As noted above, high-school and professional leagues have a duty to their players, and if that duty is breached, players may be eligible for compensation. To learn more about Maryland sports injury law, and to speak with a dedicated personal injury attorney about your injuries, call 410-654-3600 to schedule a free consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Court Determines Zip-Line Is Not a “Dangerous Condition,” Upholding Government Immunity in Recent Personal Injury Case, Maryland Accident Law Blog, June 22, 2017.
Appellate Court Determines Slip-and-Fall Plaintiff’s Case Should Have Been Presented to the Jury, Maryland Accident Law Blog, July 10, 2017.