NFL Concussion Settlement Lawyer in Tampa, FL
In 2015, the National Football League (NFL) finalized a roughly $1 billion class action lawsuit that concerned concussions and head trauma individuals suffered while playing in the NFL. Today, settlement funds are still available for many former professional athletes and their loved ones. However, filing a settlement claim and getting it approved is a difficult task, the Washington Post and other sources have reported.
An unfortunate number of people have been denied benefits that they need for medical care, essential services, and more. Additionally, the NFL has only recently removed “race norming” from its settlement evaluation process. This unfair practice prevented numerous Black NFL retirees from receiving claim benefits.
Schedule a free consultation with a Tampa NFL concussion settlement lawyer today. Call (813) 851-2286 or submit our online contact form.
Serving Tampa, St. Petersburg, & the Surrounding Areas
Whether you have attempted to file a settlement claim or are preparing to do so, turn to Stallworth Law. Since the NFL began paying settlement funds, we have aggressively sought compensation that numerous individuals and families deserved. Navigating the steps of making a claim and determining what actions to take if yours has been denied is stressful and complicated. You do not have to go through these things alone. Our dependable firm is prepared to go to work for you.
NFL Concussion Settlement FAQ
To shed some light on NFL concussion settlements and clarify issues you might be encountering, we have compiled a list of frequently asked questions. Please review the list for essential information about who qualifies for compensation, how the NFL’s settlement determines eligibility, and more. If you still have questions or need further information about local resources, do not hesitate to schedule a free initial consultation.
Those eligible for compensation from the NFL are called the “settlement class.”
The settlement class includes:
- Retired NFL players: Any football players who have retired from the NFL, AFL, NFL Europe League, NFL Europa League, or World League of American Football prior to July 7, 2014. Players who were part of the roster of these leagues who participated in pre-, regular, or post-season can also be part of this settlement class.
- Derivative claimants: These include spouses, children, and other family members whose relationship to a deceased NFL retiree makes them eligible to pursue a claim.
- Representative claimants: These are any officially authorized representatives of incompetent, legally incapacitated, or deceased retired NFL players, such as estate administrators.
Two “subclasses” are also eligible to seek compensation:
- Subclass 1: Players who retired before July 7, 2014, and have not been diagnosed with concussion-related injuries or conditions (but may be in the future).
- Subclass 2: Players who have retired before July 7, 2014, and have already been diagnosed with listed conditions.
It is important to note that former players who retired before July 7, 2014, are eligible to seek settlement benefits even if they are enrolled in the NFL retirement plan.
What Conditions Does the Settlement List?
The concussion-related conditions noted in this settlement are:
- ALS
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Level 1.5 neurocognitive impairment/early dementia
- Level 2 neurocognitive impairment/moderate dementia
- Parkinson’s disease
- CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy)
- Death
Are Current NFL Players Part of the Settlement Class?
No, current NFL players and others who are part of the Member Clubs mentioned are not included in the settlement class.
What Is Level 1, 1.5, & 2, Neurocognitive Impairment?
The NFL concussion settlement class action includes patients who suffer from several forms of mental illness or debilitation, as well as three general definitions of neurocognitive impairment: Levels 1, 1.5, and 2.
These three levels are categorized by the evidence of a diagnosable or recordable decline in the brain’s functions related to critical thinking, learning new facts, recalling memories, maintaining focus, or any combination of these abilities.
How Do I Know if I Medically Qualify?
At Stallworth Law, we have a network of qualified specialists who can help you determine whether you medically qualify for this settlement. Our network sources include doctors, neurologists, neuropsychologists, and other medical physicians.
This group of professionals can provide clear and compelling documentation of your cognitive condition and support your eligibility to receive compensation under this settlement. Evaluations conducted by our networked professionals come at no additional cost to clients and are part of our comprehensive services. Our firm is dedicated to doing what is right for you and your family.
Should I Get a Baseline Examination from a Doctor I Do Not Know?
After you opt into the NFL concussion settlement class action, a third party may contact you to schedule a physical and cognitive examination. This examination is often meant to study the extent of cognitive damage compared to the retired football player’s age.
Before you agree to any medical examination, speak with our team at Stallworth Law. In many cases, it is better to work with our network of qualified monetary award fund (MAF) doctors than to allow a third-party physician to manage your examination.
How Will I Receive Benefits?
Receiving money as part of a class action settlement requires registering before any applicable deadlines expire. All settlement classes must do this in order to be evaluated and recognized as eligible to submit a claim. Registration time will be limited and may vary from case to case.
The deadlines to submit a claim are as follows:
- March 4, 2024: This is updated the deadline for those who now qualify for an award under Section 2.7 of the Norming Agreement.
- January 7, 2082: This is the final deadline for making a claim based on a qualified MAF physician diagnosis.
New claims for qualifying diagnoses received on or prior to February 6, 2017, are no longer accepted. However, if your claim is denied or if the determination of your compensation is not satisfactory, resubmissions and appeals are possible. This is particularly important for former players whose medical conditions worsen over time and need to be reconsidered for financial relief.
What Proof Do I Need to Provide to Get Compensation?
A diagnosis from our network’s MAF doctors should serve as ample evidence. According to the NFL’s concussion settlement notice, you do not have to demonstrate that the diagnosis is linked to an injury you sustained while playing football in the NFL or another qualifying league.
I Already Received a Cognitive Injury Diagnosis—Is There a New Time Limit on My Case?
As mentioned above, you may be unable to join the class action settlement if you received a qualifying diagnosis on or before February 6, 2017, and have not already filed a claim. If you received a diagnosis after this date, you have two years to make a claim. You should not hesitate to contact our firm as soon as your MAF physician diagnoses a qualifying brain injury or debilitation.
In personal injury cases, it is difficult to predict exactly how much a plaintiff will receive. This is true even in a controlled class action environment. However, the NFL concussion settlement class action has outlined maximum awards based on qualifying diagnoses.
The qualified diagnoses and corresponding maximum awards are as follows:
- ALS: $5 million
- CTE-related death: $4 million
- Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease: $3.5 million
- Level 2 neurocognitive impairment (defined as moderate dementia): $3 million
- Level 1.5 neurocognitive impairment (defined as early dementia): $1.5 million
The awards may increase by 2.5% each year to adjust for inflation. Retirees who played for at least five seasons and are younger than 45 can receive the listed maximum awards.
Those who played for fewer than five seasons may receive a reduced award. The lowest reduction amount is 10%, and the greatest reduction is 97.5%, which is reserved for retired players who participated in less than half a season.
Class action awards can also be reduced by up to 75% depending on the number of strokes or other cognitive issues a settlement class member experienced before entering the NFL or another qualifying league.
An older settlement class member with a qualifying condition will also receive less compensation than a younger one with the same qualifying condition; this is due to an assumption that an older individual will experience less debilitation due to a shorter predicted lifespan.
Can I Receive a Monetary Award on Behalf of a Loved One Who Passed Away?
Representatives of the estates of deceased NFL players may be eligible to opt into the class action. It might be necessary for there to be preexisting medical evidence that the decedent had suffered some sort of brain trauma in their lifetime.
The estate representatives of retired NFL players who passed away before January 1, 2006, may not be eligible for the class action but could potentially still have the legal ability to file a wrongful death claim.
Can I Still Receive Workers’ Compensation If I am Part of the Class Action Settlement?
Being part of the class action settlement does not prevent you from claiming workers’ compensation and other disability and medical benefits.
However, if you choose to opt into the class action, you cannot pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the NFL or any of the other aforementioned parties.
Be sure to speak to a workers’ compensation attorney, such as ours at Stallworth Law, if you have questions about your benefits and what you can or cannot receive as a member of the settlement class.
Can I Be Removed from the Class Action Settlement?
Some retirees with qualifying neurocognitive disorders may want to attempt to sue the NFL or other applicable parties and organizations in an individualized injury claim. Class members who have already voluntarily opted into the class might be unable to opt out. Speak with our Tampa NFL concussion settlement attorney to learn if you can opt out, as well as why you might want to choose this legal alternative.
I Was Denied Compensation Through the Class Action—What Are My Options?
Many potential class members will experience an initial denial when attempting to opt into the NFL concussion settlement class action. Denial is not a permanent exclusion from settlement class member status. If your medical condition changes—and the change is recognized by a doctor’s diagnosis—you can attempt to rejoin the class action through a new petition. You may also attempt to appeal the denial if you believe it was unjust or based on erroneous judgment.
Does the NFL Concussion Settlement Benefit Other Groups?
Yes, it does. At least $10 million has been allocated so far to promote youth education safety programs to prevent young football players from suffering head injuries. The same pool of funds will also support efforts to help retired NFL players understand and utilize their medical coverage and rehabilitation options.
Do I Need a Lawyer to Receive Compensation?
It is expected during this process that all claimants will be represented by counsel. The court has appointed a team of attorneys that potential claimants can contact free of charge. While the details are yet to be determined, these attorneys will receive up to 5% of each monetary award, depending on what they ask of the court.
At Stallworth Law, our fees are always contingency-based and clear upfront—not a “to be determined” percentage that a team of lawyers will eventually decide they deserve. This is because we believe in being straightforward with clients and ensuring they always know what to expect from us.
Partner with Stallworth Law
Attorney Mark Stallworth and our firm staff believe strongly that you have suffered enough. If you choose our Tampa office, we will not treat you as just another case. Instead, we will work tirelessly to support you and advocate for what you deserve.
Tell us your story and get answers to questions in a free consultation. Schedule yours by calling (813) 851-2286 or reaching out online.
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