Many New Haven residents are familiar with the National Football League and many of its players. For millions of Americans, football is the ultimate sport to watch and play. Sunday fans from across the nation tune in to watch their favorite teams battle it out for the win. But what most people do not realize is the high rates of injury that most of the players will experience in their lifetimes. In fact, playing football has caused several players to suffer massive brain injuries from years of playing.

From taking a heavy hit to getting sacked over and over, there are many ways an NFL player can suffer a brain injury. Over the years, numerous former players have come forward blaming the NFL for the brain-related injuries from which they now suffer. At least 4,200 players have claimed that the NFL withheld evidence from the players about the damages of concussions from the sport. Many of them have filed lawsuits against the organization claiming that it did not do enough to protect players from concussions.

In order to combat the problem, the NFL has been working with Neuralstem, Inc for a potential treatment for traumatic brain injuries. The treatment would involve taking a new drug that is currently being tested for depression, but that could have other benefits. After many tests on rats, the drug appeared to stimulate the creation of brain cells. The drug has a long way to go, however, before it is approved by the government.

Brain injuries can cause serious and detrimental damages to victims. Any New Haven resident suffering from a brain injury caused by another individual or entity may be entitled to compensation for their injuries. Until a new treatment is available for such injuries, brain injury experts say that football players should abide by a new rule: “when in doubt, sit it out.”

Source: CBS News, “NFL may test brain injury treatment on retired players,” April 24, 2013