A St. Louis Blues fan attended a hockey game at The Scottrade Center in January 2016. An unruly fan fell on her from a seat above her. She became seriously injured and was taken by ambulance to the hospital. Her doctors ran tests and determined she had suffered a closed head injury as well as cervical strain. She brought a personal injury lawsuit against the St. Louis Blues in November of that year.
The district courts entered a default judgment against the St. Louis Blues, requiring them to pay the victim $1.2 million. The St. Louis Blues appealed the order, but the appeals court rejected their argument. The appellate court also held that the St. Louis Blues failed to show that the trial court acted unreasonably and denied its request for a continuance. In short, the appeals court upheld the district court’s order, and the St. Louis Blues must pay the victim the full jury award.
The Victim Was Diagnosed with Post-Concussive Syndrome
The victim’s doctors diagnosed her with post-concussive syndrome. Post-concussive syndrome occurs when a person’s concussion symptoms last beyond the typical recovery period after the initial injury. The victim continued to experience dizziness, headaches, depression, fatigue, and short-term memory loss. After visiting a neurologist due to memory issues, vertigo, and nausea, the neurologist diagnosed her with post-concussive syndrome.
What is Post-Concussive Syndrome?
A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) that typically occurs when someone experiences a blow to a head or is involved in an accident. Concussions can also be caused by violent movement or shaking of the head. Contrary to popular belief, patients do not have to lose consciousness to suffer from a concussion.
Most patients who experienced a concussion recover within a few weeks to three months. However, there is a percentage of concussion victims who continue to experience serious symptoms well after a year of their injury. Victims who are diagnosed with post-concussive syndrome can experience the following symptoms:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Memory and concentration problems
- Insomnia
- Light sensitivity
- Ringing in the ears
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Fatigue
Recovering Compensation After a Traumatic Brain Injury of Injured Fan
If you or a loved one have suffered a traumatic brain injury because of another person’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Under Missouri law, when someone’s negligent or reckless behavior causes an accident that results in another person’s injuries, he or she is liable.
Successful plaintiffs can recover compensation for their non-economic damages and economic damages. Non-economic damages include the pain and suffering they have endured from their traumatic brain injury. Economic damages include easily quantifiable damages, such as medical bills, property damage, and lost wages.
Contact a TBI Lawyer Today
The sooner you discuss your traumatic brain injury case with a lawyer, the better. At Griggs Injury Law, we focus a large part of our legal practice on obtaining compensation for TBI victims. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.
