Last May, one of the greatest NFL players of all time and a local icon died. Normally, the community would gather together after the death, remember all the good the person has done, and then try to continue with their lives, but when the death was due to a self-inflicted gun-shot wound to the head, these feelings and reactions become a little more complex.
The deceased in the aforementioned is San Diego legend, linebacker Junior Seau. While alone in his San Diego house, Seau decided to take his own life by firing a shotgun through his skull. He was found dead by his girlfriend when she returned home.
As for Seau’s family, they are among the many confused by the sudden loss. Due to the fact that Seau was known for his helpful, positive nature, they cannot believe that this is the same man who would become so distraught with his life that he thought it not worth sustaining. This is what has prompted his family to search so hard for an explanation, and after a recent biopsy of Seau’s brain, they believe they have finally found it.
The biopsy revealed that Seau was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which was brought on by the excessive hits he took to his head while playing football. This discovery has compelled the Seau family to join the thousands of other people suing the NFL over the long-term damage players and retirees are experiencing due to the nature of the game and the NFL’s inability to fix it.
Reports indicate that more than 3,800 players have teamed up in their efforts to bring light to this growing issue citing over 175 cases in which players have experienced serious head injuries. Seau’s family responds to the tragedy stating, “We know this lawsuit will not bring back Junior. But it will send a message that the NFL needs to care for it former players, acknowledge its decades of deception on the issue of head injuries and player safety, and make the game safe for future generations.”
Now it is not that these plaintiffs misunderstand the violent nature of the game, but as claimed in the lawsuit, they believe that the NFL is in fact promoting brutality instead of safety and creating an atmosphere in which punishing your opponent “is a badge of courage which does not seriously threaten one’s health.”
As Junior Seau himself points out in a 1993 documentary, “If I can feel some dizziness, I know that the guy is feeling double (that).”
The abovementioned example represents a group of people trying to hold another group accountable for their negligence. When an injury has impacted you or someone you loves life, and with greater responsibility, could have been avoided, then you have an obligation to hold the culpable party liable for what they done so that you can not only receive compensation for your personal tragedy, but also stop them from affecting other people’s lives in such adverse ways.
If you or someone close to you has been injured, and in particular, suffered some sort of brain injury, then contact an attorney who is skilled in this area of practice who can help you with the process of recovery and accountability. Make a difference and put an end to those acting recklessly.