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Mon 22nd May | 2017

What You Need to Know About Concussions

Brain Trauma BY

In a previous blog, we discussed traumatic brain injuries (TBI), their potential for causing significant short- and long-term consequences, and why they should always be taken seriously. Even though all brain injuries should be taken seriously, there are different forms of TBI that range in severity according to the nature of the initial impact or accident. The most well-known are concussions.

Concussions are brain injuries, and they occur as a result of sudden blows or forces to the head. While we have become familiar with hearing about concussions, they are nothing to take lightly. They still pose the potential for not only impacting the daily life of victims who suffer from post-concussive symptoms but also life-threatening complications.

Our Florida personal injury attorneys at Clark, Fountain, La Vista, Littky-Rubin & Whitman are known nationally for effectively advocating for seriously injured victims, including those who suffer brain injuries. We understand the tremendous and far-reaching impact brain injuries can have on the lives of victims and their loved ones, which is why we focus on ensuring they have the facts and support needed to navigate difficult times, protect their rights, and secure a full and fair recovery of their damages.

Here are some important facts about concussions:

  • Initial injury – Concussions often result from sudden blows or jolts to the head. These impacts are common in sports, car accidentsbicycle accidents, and falls. Concussions can also occur without any visible injuries or direct impact to the head, as sudden forces can cause damage when the brain rapidly accelerates and decelerates in the skull. This is common in rear-end collisions where drivers experience whiplash. Concussions may also occur with or without a loss of consciousness.
  • The symptoms – Concussions may result in a number of physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms. The most common symptoms include headaches, sensitivity to light or sound, dizziness, changes in mood, and feelings of fogginess. Some symptoms may present themselves immediately after an injury, while others may not present themselves until weeks after the initial trauma. The severity and duration of concussion symptoms are largely unpredictable and will vary from person to person. Still, they can greatly limit a person’s ability to handle daily tasks and enjoy their life. In many cases, victims find that symptoms will dissipate over time in a matter of days or weeks. In others, symptoms can be persist for months or even over a year.
  • Serious Complications – Concussions have the potential to cause more serious problems than those presented by the most common symptoms. These include considerable long-term risks associated with repeated concussions. As made famous by the NFL lawsuit, researchers have found that chronic concussions can lead to debilitating difficulties with movement, speaking, and learning, as well as conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, and ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). The initial force of a concussion can also pose risks of brain hemorrhaging which, when left unaddressed, can be fatal.

Being informed about concussions is important to protecting yourself or a loved one after a head injury, and to ensuring that you seek medical treatment as soon as possible after an accident. In addition to seeking medical treatment for a concussion, victims may also have grounds to bring legal actions for compensation when their head injury was caused by the negligent, careless, or wrongful acts of another.

Our legal team at Clark, Fountain, La Vista, Littky-Rubin & Whitman has earned national recognition for our dedication to fighting for the rights of injured victims and families throughout Florida and the United States. Over the years, our award-winning lawyers have recovered more than a billion dollars in compensation for our clients, including those who suffered concussions in preventable accidents. If you have questions about your rights and how our firm can help, contact us today.