OSU Player’s Death May Be Linked to Brain Injury
Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) December 24, 2014 -- Ohio State University football player/wrestler Kosta Karageorge was found dead in a trash bin last month. Attorney Herb Auger of Auger & Auger says he might still be alive if not for a history of head injuries.
Karageorge joined the OSU football team as a senior, but is better known on campus for his three years of wrestling for the university, according to NBC (Published 12.1.2014). He had never taken the field in an OSU game, a fact that his teammates said didn’t deter his love of the game.
“This is a young athlete who adored competition,” Auger said. “You see this wonderful love of life cut short in the most tragic way possible.”
Karageorge died of a gunshot wound, which police say was likely self-inflicted. Shortly before his death he texted his parents, "I am sorry if I am an embarrassment but these concussions have my head all f----- up."
“Suicide is, sadly, not uncommon after suffering multiple head injuries,” Auger said. “Head injuries can cause depression or intensify existing mental problems. And they can cause periods of confusion.”
“Getting your players the right medical help can end up saving their lives,” he said. “That includes pulling them from a game or match when they have a head injury.”
Karageorge’s wrestling coach says he did not have any documented concussions. But one of his teammates says his history of concussions was well known. Auger says the lack of documentation is part of the problem.
“Coaches aren’t always trained to recognize the signs of a concussion and aren’t required to pull a player who has one,” he said. “Just because a concussion isn’t documented doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous.”
A special autopsy is being conducted to determine whether Karageorge suffered from a traumatic brain injury. But Auger says that other athletes will still be at risk until the rules are changed.
“No one warns a college athlete what can happen if they hit their head,” he said. “These kids aren’t being protected.”
About Herb Auger:
Herbert W. Auger, Esquire is a Charlotte car accident lawyer with over 20 years of experience helping victims of auto accidents receive fair compensation. A founder of Auger & Auger law firm, Herb Auger believes in an aggressive results-oriented approach that maximizes the awards his clients receive. He can be contacted at:
Auger & Auger
717 S. Torrence Street
Suite 101
Charlotte, NC 28204
704-323-5427
http://www.augerlaw.com
Herb Auger, Auger and Auger, http://www.augerlaw.com/, +1 704-323-5427, [email protected]
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