Raizner Slania filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of a former Mississippi State University football player against the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for their reckless disregard of the health and safety of student athletes.
During the course of a college football season, athletes can receive more than 1,000 impacts greater than 10g’s (gravitational force); many hits to the head can exceed 20g’s, with some approaching as much as 100g’s. While this amount of force might be hard to conceptualize, it is the equivalent force experienced by a person hitting the windshield of their car in an accident at 25 mph.
The plaintiff played for Mississippi State from 1974 to 1978 as a cornerback. During his time on the field, this former athlete was subject to countless concussive or sub-concussive hits, but was simply told to “shake it off.” The plaintiff was denied the appropriate medical treatment to reduce the severity of potential brain injuries.
As a result of his time playing for Mississippi State, the plaintiff now suffers from severe memory loss, chronic headaches, and other debilitating medical issues. The NCAA and the SEC failed to implement appropriate health and safety protocols that would monitor, manage, and mitigate risks associated with concussions.
The SEC is regarded as one of the most victorious conferences under the NCAA and is extremely financially successful. In 2015 alone, the SEC distributed $455 million to its fourteen member schools, including Mississippi State. Despite the financial success of the NCAA, its universities, and its conferences, very little care is taken to protect the wellbeing of the student athletes responsible for this success.
Raizner Slania: NCAA Concussion Attorneys
If you or a loved one have experienced brain trauma as a result of a head injury while playing for an NCAA regulated team, please contact the attorneys at Raizner Slania today. The NCAA, its universities, and its conferences have a responsibility to provide the proper care after a student suffers a concussion during athletic play, not to be a silent party to their injuries. Our consultations are free and you won’t owe us anything unless we help you recover compensation for your injuries.