Los Angeles Football Player Suffers Permanent Brain Injury, Lawsuit Filed Against Helmet Manufacturer
A brain injury lawsuit was filed late this month in connection with the permanent and catastrophic brain damage suffered by a Garey High School high school football player due to a defective helmet, according to the Salient News website. Edward Acuna, now 18, suffered a permanent brain injury during a 2009 football game when he was hit in the front of his helmet. The suit argues that Acuna’s brain hemorrhaging, left subdural hematoma, and severe mental, physical, and nervous system damage resulted from the poor design of the Riddell Sports Inc. football helmet. Though Riddell manufactures the “official helmet of the NFL,” the helmets have a “known and defective” design, specifically to the pad on the front of the helmet. According to the lawsuit, litigation goes back 10 years regarding the dangers and risks of Riddell’s helmet design, and the manufacturer has known about the defects for at least that long. The attorneys claim that Riddell failed to inspect the helmet, perform proper safety tests on it, and take action to remedy the known problems with available low-cost, alternative designs.
In regards to the teen’s permanent disability, partial paralysis, and requirement for long-term care and treatment, the lawsuit is seeking damages against Riddell for product liability and punitive damages. The suit not only claims that Riddell was negligent for the careless manufacture, design, and distribution of helmets, but also that the helmet makers failed to warn of the helmet’s potential dangers and risks.
When California brain injuries result from another party’s negligence, whether in a car accident, from medical malpractice, or due to a defective product, a Los Angeles brain injury claim may be possible. For free resources and answers to questions concerning your unique brain injury case, contact Los Angeles brain injury attorneys Steinberg & Spencer online or toll-free at 800-350-8888.
August 29, 2010
Tags: brain injury lawsuit, California brain injuries, catastrophic brain damage, helmet, Los Angeles brain injury, permanent brain injury, Riddell Posted in: Incidents of Traumatic Brain Injury, Sports & TBI
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