Concussions are one of the most common types of personal injuries, and they can occur as the result of even a minor bump, blow, or jolt to the head. While the symptoms are often subtle, going unnoticed, or taking days and even weeks to appear, the impact they can have on your physical health and overall well-being is significant. The following outlines important facts about concussions, along with the information you need to be aware of if you have previously suffered any type of head injury.
Facts About Concussions
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), concussions can occur under a variety of circumstances, often as the result of accidents or while engaged in sports and recreational activities. Anytime a bump, blow, or sudden jarring movement causes your head to whip back and forth, it can cause the brain to bounce or twist in your skull. As a result, chemical changes in the brain and damage to brain cells can have subtle, yet significant impacts on both your abilities and your personality.
As one of the most common types of traumatic brain injury (TBI), the CDC reports that a concussion can have both short- and long-term impacts on the following areas:
- Your thought processes, impacting reason and memory
- Language skills, including your ability to form sentences or understand what is being said
- Your sensory system, including your ability to see and your sense of balance
- Your emotions, causing depression, increased agitation, and fits of rage
Many of these symptoms may not be apparent in the immediate aftermath of a personal injury, which is why it is important to see your doctor right away any time an even minor head injury occurs. Patients should be monitored closely in the days after and should be alert to potential impairments or changes in physical or emotional health, even if it is months after their injury occurred.
Previous Head Injuries
If you suffer a concussion as the result of a personal injury, it is important to inform your medical providers if you have ever had a similar head injury in the past. Research is continuing in order to learn more about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which occurs in those who have suffered repeated head trauma.
The condition is gaining attention among pro-football players, with high school and college coaches taking extra precautions in protecting young athletes. Those who have previously been in any type of motor vehicle, slip and fall, or other incident in which they suffered a head injury should be aware of the potential risks. CTE causes slowly progressing physical, mental, and cognitive impairments, and can end up resulting in total memory loss and dementia, mimicking Alzheimer’s disease.
Contact a Virginia Accident Attorney for Assistance
Brain injuries can leave a victim both physically and financially devastated. Even minor brain injuries can require an extended recovery period, resulting in high medical bills and loss of income from being unable to work. If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury caused by another party’s negligence, contact a Virginia brain injury attorney to find out what legal recourse you may have for your pain and losses.
The legal team at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp has successfully advocated for many clients who suffered brain injuries in obtaining the financial compensation they deserved for their injuries, including a record-setting injury verdict for $60 million, which was settled while on appeal. Call us today for a free case evaluation.
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