Injury In Idaho

Collision and Contact Sports May Cause Brain Injury

The New York Rangers ice hockey team had to play without winger and fifth-leading scorer Mats Zuccarello during the Stanley Cup playoffs, and for good reason. In a game against the Pittsburgh Penguins, Zuccarello was struck in the head by a teammate’s slapshot.Although Zuccarello skated off the rink, he had suffered a brain contusion along with bleeding in the brain and a hairline skull fracture. The seriousness of his injury was publicized five weeks later when the team revealed that the player had been hospitalized and lost all ability to speak for 4 days. With the help of speech therapy, Zuccarello’s speech is returning and he is expected to be fit to play for the 2015-2016 season.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Zuccarello’s accident is an example of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). TBIs result from a violent blow or jolt to the head or body, or when an object like a bullet or a skull piece penetrates the skull.

Mild brain damage can result in temporary dysfunction of brain cells such as Zuccarello’s temporary loss of speech. More serious injury can cause long-term negative health effects like memory loss and behavioral changes, and even death.

Sports Brain Injuries Not Limited to Hockey

Players in collision sports like hockey, football, boxing and lacrosse as well as contact sports like basketball and soccer have a higher risk of experiencing a severe brain injury. In the fall of 2014, after years of denial, the National Football League admitted that long-term cognitive problems will develop in nearly a third of retired players – and at younger ages than the general population.

Attorney James Bendell, personal injury attorney in northern Idaho, has represented individuals who have suffered TBIs in non-sports incidents such as bicycle and car accidents, falls and violence. Youth are particularly vulnerable to TBIs as they may be unable to articulate their specific symptoms and their brains are still growing and forming.

Be sure to see a doctor as soon as possible for any head injury that concerns you or that produces dizziness, agitation or weakness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has compiled a helpful list of mild TBI symptoms.

Another’s Negligence May Cause TBI

If you or a family member has experienced a TBI, another may be to blame. Was the injury the result of a bike or car accident or at a school sports practice or event? The Bendell Law Firm in Coeur D’Alene has represented many individuals who suffered brain injuries due to another’s negligence. Call us at or visit our website to schedule a free consultation so we can assess your personal injury case.

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