Concussions Have Major Consequences

Many people believe that a hit on the head is no big deal. But, over the years we have learned that concussions can have serious and even devastating consequences. Several concussions over a period of time can lead to a disease cause CTE or Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. There are also times when you may fall or experience a sudden jerk, such as in a car accident, and suffer a concussion or other form of brain injury without even realizing it.

The impact of a soccer ball can be as strong a football player.

Skulls, Space and Concussions

Our brains are not set tightly in our skulls. Rather, there is space between them, filled with fluid. If we suffer an impact the space allows our brains to bounce around in the skull, hitting the sides and causing damage to the brain. It does’t even take much of a hit to to cause brain damage. For example, when a goalie in a soccer game takes a goal kick to the head from half field, the impact is as great as when a Division 1 football player hits a line backer. Of course, in the soccer player’s case, there is no head protection. Imagine then, the amount of damage which can occur if you are rear-ended in even a slow speed car crash? In such an accident, even if you don’t hit your head, it may whip back and forth, causing your brain to hit your skull.

Whiplash and Brain Damage

An MRI showing the space between a brain and the skull. The brain can literally bounce against the skull.

“Whiplash is a neck injury due to forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck, like the cracking of a whip.” The most common source of whiplash injuries are rear-end car accidents. But they also occur when people are physically assaulted, or during sports. In most cases, whiplash simply causes a sore neck which will heal in the space of a few months with proper treatment. The treatment often will include physical therapy and medication. However, sometimes, especially in cases where people have experienced prior concussions, more substantial injuries occur. Age can also impact how likely you are to suffer a brain injury due to whiplash.

Concussion Symptoms

It isn’t always possible to know whether you have a concussion, but there are common systems:

• Physical Symptoms
  

  If you hit your head or suffer whiplash, it is important to be checked by a doctor as soon as possible.

  • Headaches
  • Nausea
  • Fatigue
  • Blurred vision
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Numbness in the arms
• Cognitive Symptoms
  • Difficulty thinking
  • Unable to concentrate
  • Amnesia
• Emotional Symptoms
  • Irritability
  • Depression
  • Sleep disturbances

If you experience any of these symptoms after you hit your head or you suffer any sudden jerking such as whiplash, please get to the doctor as quickly as possible. It is better to go to the doctor any time you hit your head than to wait for symptoms to appear.

Head Injury? Contact Us

If you find that you suffered whiplash or a head injury due to an event that wasn’t your fault, contact the attorneys at Lowenthal & Abrams. Brain injuries require expensive treatment and can have a huge impact on you and your loved one’s lives. Don’t pay for someone else’s mistake. Let our personal injury attorneys fight on your behalf.