With Cleveland Browns’ Training Camp in full swing, we are excited and hopeful for a winning season! Like you, I enjoy cool fall days, watching Sunday games, and listening to the buzz that surrounds Cleveland football.
As an injury attorney, I can’t help but cringe at the sound of bones cracking and heads slamming against the ground. What many people don’t consider is the debilitating or even fatal injuries that occur on the field. All the money in the world isn’t worth a permanent brain injury or other catastrophic injury.
Instances of neck or head injuries, broken limbs and torn muscles make national news – but many serious injuries are not readily detected until years later when former players present with dementia, memory loss and other horrible physical impairments.
The National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research releases a survey of football related injuries each year, and the results are horrifying.
Three types of fatalities covered in this annual study are direct, indirect and non-exertion.
- Indirect fatalities can be secondary, like an infection that lead to death, or as a result of exertion, such as a heat related injury.
- Direct fatalities are as they sound, an injury on the field such as a head, spine or limb injury.
- Non-exertion fatalities are relatively new to the annual study, and involve deaths that did not occur on the field, but are suspected to be related to cardiac health.
In 2014, 6 football-related deaths were reported as a direct fatality
Of the 6, 5 occurred in high school sports and 1 at the collegiate level. No direct deaths were reported at semi-professional, professional or youth levels. 10 additional deaths were reported as indirect, ranging from cardiac, heat and water causes. Another 5 deaths were reported as cardiac related, non-exertion fatalities.
The numbers may be small, but the potential for injury is staggering
If you or a loved one have been injured during organized sports practice, conditioning or in games, it is important that you contact me today.
