According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC, a concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. Concussions disrupt normal brain function, and the effects of a concussion can last for days, weeks, or longer.
While concussions are generally not life-threatening, they do result in chemical changes in the brain. Multiple concussions can cause permanent brain damage.
While not all accidents are preventable, recognizing and understanding concussions and the common misconceptions surrounding concussions can help you protect yourself and your family from their lasting ramifications.
Misconception One About Concussions
A concussion victim must lose consciousness to have a concussion.
Loss of consciousness is rare in concussion victims. Every person is medically different as is every concussion depending on where the injury occurs. Therefore, immediate symptoms of a concussion may vary or be nonexistent.
Some concussion symptoms can include:
Dizziness
Fatigue
Headache
Nausea
Loss of concentration.
Head trauma victims must seek medical attention whether or not they lose consciousness. Only trained medical practitioners have the diagnostic tools needed to screen for internal brain damage.
Misconception Two About Concussions
Helmets and mouthguards prevent concussions.
Sports and other activities may be safer with the use of helmets and mouthguards, but research has shown that neither prevents concussions. Helmets are designed to protect the skull, not the brain it encases.
While helmets and mouthguards absorb blows and provide stability, they cannot eliminate the movement of the brain within the skull.
Misconception Three About Concussions
Never let a concussion victim go to sleep.
After a thorough medical examination, it is beneficial for a concussion victim to rest. Sleep is restorative to a brain recovering from trauma.
After an appropriate period of rest and recovery, a physical rehabilitation program will aid a concussion victim in returning to any normal activities and competitive sports. Immediately returning to sporting activities without a doctor’s clearance is ill-advised even if symptoms seem to have cleared.
Misconception Four About Concussions
Concussions result from direct blows to the head.
Concussions result from any force or blow to the head, neck, or body that causes the brain to collide with the skull. Concussions are not limited to sports injuries and car accidents.
Concussions may also result from household falls or hits to the neck or jawline.
Speak with an Experienced New Haven Personal Injury Attorney Today
Concussions are serious brain injuries and require frequent medical attention and rehabilitation to ensure a complete recovery. If you or your loved one suffered a concussion through no fault of your own and need more information about treatment or legal representation, the personal injury attorneys at Weber & Rubano want to help.
At Weber & Rubano, we provide dedicated, aggressive representation that you and your family can trust. Let us put our more than 75 combined years of legal experience to work for you.