The help of an NFL concussion attorney can make a big difference for former football players who make a claim from the big NFL concussion settlement.

Under the terms of the settlement, former NFL players who have developed certain neurological conditions associated with repeated head trauma may be eligible for compensation of up to $5 million.

With the aid of an NFL concussion attorney, the settlement also provides for medical exams for former players.

Conditions covered under the settlement include Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (or Lou Gherig’s disease), Parkinson’s disease, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Player’s Brain “Decimated” by CTE

Kevin Turner, one of the lead plaintiffs in the NFL concussion litigation, suffered from advanced chronic traumatic encephalopathy, according to researchers from the Boston University CTE Center.

A former player for the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, Turner died this past March at age 46 of complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gherig’s disease. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy has been known to lead to symptoms of ALS.

Researchers from the Center had the opportunity to examine Turner’s brain after his death. They found that at the time of his death, Turner was suffering from the fourth and highest stage of chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Center director Dr. Ann McKee commented that the severity of Turner’s chronic traumatic encephalopathy was “extraordinary and unprecedented for an athlete who died in his 40s.”

Dr. McKee said that while a link between chronic traumatic encephalopathy and ALS has not been confirmed, she was convinced that Turner’s CTE was what caused his ALS and eventual death. She said Turner’s CTE had “decimated the motor cortex of his brain at a young age, likely leading to his A.L.S. symptoms.”

Before Turner’s death, he was one of thousands of retired NFL players who brought litigation against the league. Players argued that the league should have done more to warn players and to protect them from the severe danger of repeated head trauma.

The settlement provides that the estates of deceased players who had documented CTE from before the settlement was approved may receive up to $4 million. Turner’s estate is likely to receive $5 million due to his concurrent ALS diagnosis.

How Can an NFL Concussion Attorney Help?

Even players who feel they have a cut-and-dry settlement claim may be able to benefit from the help of an NFL concussion attorney. The procedure for making a claim can be involved, and a mistake in making the claim could result in a denial.

The 150-page settlement is full of details that could make the difference between a substantial payout and an outright denial. Entitlement can vary depending on details like the qualifying neurological condition, the number of qualifying seasons the claimant played

There’s a particular process for making a claim, including certain forms to fill out and deadlines to be met. Medical evidence is also needed to show that the claimant has a qualifying medical condition.

Players who qualify to participate in the investigation can get a consultation with an NFL concussion attorney at no cost to them.