In May, President Obama took traumatic brain injury (TBI) onto the national stage at a standing-room only conference at the White House.
Traumatic brain injury occurs when the brain, inside the bony protection of the skull, is injured through force or penetration. TBI is a common injury after an automobile accident or a fall. All TBI is serious and often disabling. When former players in the National Football League (NFL) began talking about dementia and suicide, the issue gained legal traction and public attention.
The dialogue at the White House Conference centered on how to approach concussion in sports and protect young players:
- Steve Tisch, owner of the New York Giants, donated $10 million to fund the UCLA BrainSPORT program, to be renamed after him. Immediate objectives of the program are to create testing tools and protocols to evaluate concussion and determine treatment plans.
- Each state in the country has developed guidelines and laws for the treatment of athletes who suffer brain injury. The regulations protect athletes from returning to play too soon after injury and provide valuable guidance to coaches and parents.
- Attention was called to reevaluate violence in sports while preserving the competitive and commercial nature of the American culture of sports.
It is time for prevention of TBI to take center stage. If you have questions about a serious automobile accident or brain injury in Manatee County, talk to an experienced injury attorney in Bradenton.