NFL Concussion Lawsuit Attorneys
Nearly $1 billion will be paid by the National Football League (NFL) in a settlement between the organization and more than 21,000 of its retired players. This settlement is intended to pay for concussion and head-trauma related injuries suffered by professional football players during their careers.
Attorney Dan Chamberlain helps victims of traumatic brain injury. He recently sat down with WISHTV8 to discuss a recent study conducted on brains of former NFL football players that found nearly all showed signs of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy).
Traumatic brain injury is a lifelong, ongoing disease process with no cure. Victims of brain injury often suffer from symptoms including:
- Memory loss
- Headaches
- Cognitive & behavioral issues
- Vision changes
- Muscle weakness and other neurologic issues
- Nausea
Brain injury attorney Dan Chamberlain talks about the NFL Concussion Lawsuit Settlement. Watch the video below. More specific questions are answered below the videos. Click the titles to learn more!
Who is covered in the NFL Settlement Class?
The settlement will essentially cover people in three categories: Retired NFL Players, Representative Claimants, and Derivative Claimants. Retired NFL players include all living NFL players who retired prior to July 7, 2014 from the National Football League or any Member Club.
Representative Claimants include authorized representatives for deceased, legally incapacitated, or incompetent retired NFL football players.
Derivative claimants include spouses, parents, dependent children or other person with a qualifying relationship to a living or deceased retired NFL football player. Our traumatic brain injury attorneys are available to talk with you further regarding the settlement class requirements if you have a specific question or would like additional information.
What does the settlement cover?
Qualifying Diagnoses: The approved settlement will provide funds to compensate retired players who submit proof of certain neurocognitive and neuromuscular impairments. Retired players may receive the following maximum monetary awards for qualifying diagnoses:
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Death with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) – if the player died before April 22, 2015
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Level 2 Neurocognitive Impairment
- Level 1.5 Neurocognitive Impairment
Monetary awards may be as high as $5 million per player. There are several factors that determine the monetary award for a qualifying diagnosis. Contact us to discuss your specific situation and learn about your legal rights and options.
Baseline Assessment Program: In addition to a monetary award for a qualifying injury, any retired player who played at least half of an eligible season can receive a free baseline assessment examination. The baseline assessment program (BAP) provides for a neurological examination performed by credentialed and licensed physicians selected by a court-appointed administrator. Supplemental benefits including medical benefits, further testing, treatment, counseling, and pharmaceutical coverage may be given to retired players diagnosed with a Level 1 Neurocognitive Impairment under this settlement.
Education Fund: An education fund of $10 million will be created to promote safety-related initiatives in youth football as well as educate retired players about medical and disability benefits under the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Important Deadlines
Registration Deadline: Registration opens on February 6, 2017. All qualifying NFL players (fully retired prior to July 7, 2014) have until August 7, 2017 to register for NFL concussion litigation settlement benefits and participate in the settlement.
Baseline Assessment Program (BAP) Deadline: These are based on the retired player’s age as of the effective date of the settlement December 12, 2016
- Retired players 43 and older must have a BAP completed by December 12, 2018 to qualify for benefits.
- Retired players under the age of 43 must have a BAP completed by December 12, 2016 to qualify for benefits
Appeals Process for Retired Players Denied Settlement Proceeds
Additional information regarding the appeals process will be posted here as the settlement progresses.
