Brain Injury in Sport Legal Claim
Rylands Garth is representing hundreds of rugby union, rugby league and football players who are suffering with neurological issues as a result of head trauma sustained during their playing careers.
We are bringing legal claims against the governing bodies of contact sports, with the following aims:
- To secure compensation for the players affected and their families.
- To drive change to brain injury protocols, making sport safer for current and future players.
If you are showing symptoms of brain damage, such as headaches, confusion and mood changes, you may be eligible to make a claim.
Contact us today on 0122 385 7676 or by email to discuss your case. Alternatively, you can fill in our online claim form below.
Rylands' concussion litigation gains media momentum
We’ve received extensive media coverage for this concussion in sport group action claim:
- BBC: Brain injury legal action: Former amateur rugby union players state case for claim
- The Guardian: 'Matter of life and death': Rugby league brain injuries claim heading for court
- Reuters: Over 150 ex-soccer, rugby players join concussion lawsuit
- Daily Mail: 'Being tackled by a modern-day rugby player is like being hit by a TRUCK': How bone-crunching collisions have exploded as body-building professionals replaces beer-swilling amateurs of old
- ESPN: 475 ex-athletes seek to combine concussion lawsuits
- Sky News: Gavin Henson and Phil Vickery among over 200 ex-rugby stars taking legal action over brain injuries
What are the symptoms of CTE?
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a brain condition widely believed to be associated with repeated blows to the head and commonly experienced by sportspeople participating in contact sports.
Symptoms include:
- memory problems
- tiredness
- vertigo
- confusion
- headaches
- difficulty controlling bladder or bowel movements
- personality changes
- mood changes, such as aggression, depression, and even suicidal thoughts.
We believe CTE and other forms of neurological impairment in contact sports should be treated like an industrial disease, such as work-related hearing loss or lung disease contracted after working around heavy fumes.
Do these group actions apply to me, even if I haven’t suffered many concussions?
You can suffer a concussion without experiencing a complete loss of consciousness. It’s possible to sustain concussive injuries without realising it.
Additionally, brain damage can result from the accumulation of sub-concussions. For instance, repetitive heading in football may contribute to this accumulation, leading to a substantial amount over time. Similarly, in rugby, with tackling, ball carrying, rucking and mauling.
Sportspeople engaged in contact sports for an extended period of time might have encountered tens of thousands of sub-concussions, potentially resulting in severe brain trauma and increasing the risk of dementia later in life.
Who is eligible to make a claim?
If you believe you are suffering symptoms of CTE or another neurological impairment due to participating in contact sports governed by the Rugby Football Union (RFU), Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), Rugby Football League (RFL) or the Football Association (FA), you may be eligible to take part in the group claims.
Can amateur players make a claim?
Yes. We are representing both male and female professional and amateur players in these group action lawsuits. We also represent the estates of players who have sadly died.
Will you represent players of other sports?
We are currently running group claims for those who have played rugby union, rugby league and football. We are also investigating neurological conditions developing in other contact / collision sports so if you have participated in horse racing, motorcross racing and hockey etc., and you are experiencing symptoms of a neurological condition, please do get in touch.
Will the claim affect individual clubs or medics?
At present, our primary focus is on the governing bodies of various contact sports, as it is the governing bodies that establish and then enforce the rules and regulations of these sports.
We believe that the governing bodies of these sports are negligent in failing to protect their players from concussions and sub-concussions, and do not fully highlight to players the extent of the risks they take when playing contact sport.
Do I have to pay legal fees?
Should you join one of these claims, you can make your claim on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis, also known as a ‘conditional fee agreement’.
It means that if your compensation claim is unsuccessful, you will not have to pay any legal fees for our services. We can also cover all other costs involved in the claim, including court fees, medical reports and other expenses.
If you win your claim, we will take a percentage of your compensation to cover our fees. This percentage is capped.
We also have litigation finance to fund specific claims and are happy to discuss this in more detail with you.
What could the value of my claim be?
If you have sustained permanent brain damage, then you may be entitled to significant compensation. The amount will depend on the severity of your injuries and could range from thousands to millions of pounds. This would cover any current and future healthcare needs, as well as providing compensation for your ‘pain and suffering’.
If we believe you have a case, then you could also be eligible for past and future loss of earnings. This covers instances where you were forced into early retirement due to your injuries.
How do I make a claim?
If you believe that you have a potential claim, you should get in touch with us as soon as possible.
One of our specialist sports concussion lawyers will assist you through the claims process and determine whether your symptoms suggest neurological impairment.
Should you display symptoms, we will then arrange for you to undergo an advanced brain scan and other testing to confirm whether you have brain damage.
Email us today. Alternatively, you can fill out our contact form here.
If I sign up for the action, how much time will I have to dedicate to this?
If you or your loved one is experiencing symptoms, we would kindly request an in-person evaluation by our neurologist. This will take up to a day to conduct, as you will undergo an advanced brain scan and other tests.
How long will the claim take?
Unfortunately, litigation can be notoriously slow. A trial could take several years to reach; however, we will be pushing for an early settlement to these claims and hope to achieve that sooner than any trial.