Missouri Personal Injury Lawyer Blog

The union that represents players in the National Football League (NFL) recently provided a $100 million grant to Harvard University, according to a news article by Reuters. The grant is earmarked for the study of brain damage, heart conditions, and other medical conditions that affect current and former football players.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School plan to use the grant to study former and current players. Their goal is to understand and to limit the long-term damage that football players suffer after years of taking hits on the field. Researchers have recently found that even mild blows to the head, built up over the years, can cause life threatening injuries or permanent disability.

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Over 1.7 million people in the United States suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About three quarters of those who suffer these injuries recover, but many people suffer long-term mental, emotional, and physical impairments after a TBI. If you or someone you love has suffered a serious head injury in Missouri, the following tips provide ways in which you may be able to promote a more complete recovery.

• Don't rush recovery; an injured brain needs time to heal. Rest as much as possible for as long as your doctor recommends and avoid work (including household chores and child care, if possible) during your rest period.
• Avoid activities that could cause another blow or jolt to the head. Have someone help you when walking to avoid a fall if you feel dizzy or unsteady.
• Ask your doctor whether it's safe for you to operate a car, bicycle, or heavy equipment. Your reaction times may be slower after a brain injury.
• Take the medications your physician has prescribed for your injury.
• Write down information if you have a hard time remembering things. If you have excessive trouble with memory, speech, or any normally routine activity, talk to your doctor. You may need therapy to help you regain certain skills, regardless of how mild or severe your TBI is.

Traumatic brain injuries can have life-long consequences. If you or someone you love has suffered a TBI, please don't hesitate to call the experienced Missouri brain injury attorneys at Page Law. We can help you understand your legal rights and options and take the steps you need to get the compensation you deserve. Call us today at (314) 322-8515 for a free and confidential consultation.

Concussions, a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that results from a blow to the head, often occur in certain types of sports, especially those played by middle- and high-school students. Missouri’s Youth Sports Brain Injury Prevention Act is the most recent state law passed to help prevent concussions and the long-term damage they can cause, according to a recent article in The Marshfield Mail.

The Act was passed by the Missouri legislature in 2010 and signed by the governor in July 2011. The law requires Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services to work with parents, coaches, and players of youth sports so that everyone understands the symptoms of concussion, the risks involved, and the need for players to leave the game if there is any indication that a bump or blow to the head may have caused brain damage. School districts are also required to provide information about concussions to student athletes and their parents, and to get the parents’ signatures indicating they have received the information before the student is allowed to play.

Finally, the new law requires students who show symptoms of a concussion to sit out of play or practice for at least 24 hours. In addition, the student must be evaluated by a competent health care professional before they may go back into the game.

Nearly 20 percent of injuries suffered in high school sports matches are concussions. If ignored, a concussion can cause irreversible brain damage, which can affect a student’s ability to learn or to communicate for life. If you or someone you love has suffered a concussion in an accident, the experienced Missouri brain injury attorneys at Page Law can help you understand your legal rights and options. For a free consultation, call us today at 314-322-8515.

In 2009, Missouri’s motorcycle helmet laws changed to allow adult riders to choose whether or not to wear a helmet in many situations. Many riders opt not to wear helmets, believing that a helmet restricts their vision and hearing or won’t protect them in a crash.

However, research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates that motorcycle riders who wear helmets are less likely to die in a severe Missouri motorcycle accident, and they are also less likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury.

The category “Traumatic Brain Injury,” or TBI, covers a wide range of injuries to the brain, many of which are caused by a blow to the head. The effects of a traumatic brain injury range from a few days of dizziness to paralysis or even death, depending on how bad the injury is and which parts of the brain it affects.

According to the NHTSA study, riders who wear motorcycle helmets are less likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury in an accident and usually have less-severe traumatic brain injuries when a severe accident occurs. The study also found that wearing a helmet increases a motorcyclist’s chance of surviving a crash by 37 percent.

Wearing a helmet is one way motorcyclists can protect themselves while they’re riding. Even with a helmet, however, injuries may still occur. If you’ve been injured in a Missouri motorcycle accident, call the experienced St. Louis motorcycle crash lawyers at Page Law today. We’ll examine your case carefully and fight to hold any negligent parties responsible for their actions. For a free and confidential consultation, call Page Law at 314-322-8515.

The Missouri House of Representatives recently passed a bill that requires high school athletes to “sit out” a game if they show symptoms of a concussion or a similar traumatic brain injury. Before the student can play or practice again, he or she must sit out at least 24 hours and be cleared to play by a licensed physician or health care professional.

The purpose of the bill is to protect high school athletes from compounding a Missouri traumatic brain injury by ensuring a concussion has time to heal before the student risks another blow to the head. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), even a mild bump or blow to the head can result in a concussion. Common symptoms include dizziness, nausea, headache or head pain, blurry or double vision, and concentration or memory problems.

When an athlete suffers a second traumatic brain injury before the first has had time to heal, the athlete faces a significant risk of permanent brain damage. Keeping students out of the game and having them evaluated by a health care professional can prevent more serious brain injury.

Traumatic brain injuries like concussions can have a lasting impact on a person’s life, especially if the injury is severe. If you or someone you love has suffered a concussion or other brain injury, the experienced Missouri traumatic brain injury attorneys at Page Law may be able to help. For more information or to schedule a free and confidential consultation, call Page Law today at 314-322-8515.