What to Be Aware of Regarding Brain Injuries

March has been designated as Brain Injury Awareness month to educate the public about concussions and the other types of brain injuries that people suffer every day throughout the United States.

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of a concussion, knowing when to get help, and obtaining compensation from those responsible for causing a brain injury are all important factors in overcoming any brain injury accident.

Concussions Are Common Injuries in the United States

A concussion is a type of brain injury resulting from a physical blow or bump to the head. The trauma and jostling of that bump can affect not just your skull but also your brain. The symptoms of a concussion may be unpleasant, but mild cases will usually not result in any permanent damage.

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) estimates that as many as 3 million concussions are caused yearly in sports and recreational settings. This number does not include concussions in other contexts, such as car accidents or incidents involving firearms. 

Among high school athletes, UPMC reports that girls’ soccer and girls’ basketball see the second and third-highest numbers of concussions each year, respectively.

What is more, UPMC estimates that as many as one out of every two concussions are either not reported or not detected. The number of concussions reported, therefore, is likely quite smaller than the actual number of people who suffer a concussion in any given year.

Concussions Are Not the Only Type of Brain Injury

While concussions are common, they are merely one type of traumatic brain injury. A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is any injury to the brain caused by a traumatic or forceful event. These brain injuries are easily distinguishable from non-traumatic brain injuries, which happen as the result of some genetic or organic cause like Alzheimer’s.

In a whiplash injury, you may not strike your head on any object but your head is violently shaken from one side to the other. This most often happens in car accidents, where your seat belt restrains your body but your head moves forward and then backward due to the forces involved.

A piercing brain injury is when a foreign object breaks through the skull and directly harms the brain. In this type of injury, the damage is inflicted directly onto the brain and not from blows or forces that stay outside the skull. Acts of violence and gunshot wounds are two of the most common types of piercing brain injuries.

How to Tell if You Suffered a Concussion or Traumatic Brain Injury

Not all blows to the head will result in a concussion, and not all injury accidents result in traumatic brain injuries. However, a prerequisite to suffering any type of brain injury is that your head suffers some sort of damage. If you did not suffer any injury to your head in an accident, there is virtually no chance you sustained a traumatic brain injury.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to tell how severe a brain injury is or will become without medical scanning, so if you did suffer an injury to your head, it is best to get to a hospital emergency room for evaluation as soon as you can. 

Be aware of any of the following symptoms that may indicate a traumatic brain injury:

• A discharge of clear fluid coming from your nose or ears
• Losing consciousness, even for a few seconds
• Dizziness and sensitivity to light
• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures or involuntary muscle spasms
• Headaches, especially if they become worse or do not go away

Brain injury lawyers will also advise you to watch for sudden and unexplained changes in behavior, such as becoming irrationally angry. These mood swings are also indicative of a brain injury and should be examined by a medical professional.

Compensation Available After a Head Injury

The expenses associated with a brain injury, especially one that is severe, can be considerable. When your head injury is due to an event like a car accident or slip and fall at a store, you may have the right to file a lawsuit to seek compensation. 

These legal actions are most often filed with the help of a brain injury attorney who will pursue a case against the responsible party. Typically, the compensation that you receive can be used to cover:

• The medical expenses you already incurred and future expenses you could incur
• Lost wages from missed work and reduced future earnings due to your brain injury 
• Rehabilitative therapy services you need to reach your maximum recovery
• Counseling services to address any depression or anxiety you are experiencing
• Emotional distress and suffering caused by your brain injury

Meeting with a brain injury attorney can help you better understand the compensation you could be entitled to. This can help you make a decision on whether to proceed with filing a claim for damages.

Speak with Your Brain Injury Law Firm Today

You have only a limited amount of time following an injury accident to file for compensation. Take advantage of this opportunity by reaching out to Kennedy Johnson Schwab & Roberge and ask to speak with one of our experienced brain injury lawyers. 

Your brain injury attorney with KJSR will review the facts of your case and equip you with information so you know what rights you have and what you can do about them. When you are ready to move forward, your brain injury lawyer will lead the way, advocating for you in and out of court and fighting for justice for you and your loved ones.

Contact Kennedy Johnson Schwab & Roberge today and ask to talk with one of our brain injury lawyers.