Concussion injuries are serious, even though they usually do not result in permanent brain damage. They may cause serious symptoms, such as headaches or depression. Concussions can also make one more vulnerable to future brain injuries. Understanding concussion injuries and the next steps to take if you suffer one is important.
If you’ve suffered a concussion in an accident in Georgia, reach out to an experienced personal injury lawyer today to review your case.
How Concussion Injuries Occur
Your brain is protected by your skull and the cerebrospinal fluid in which it floats. Your hard skull protects your brain from external impacts, and the CSF cushions your brain against your inner skull, acting like a shock absorber.
Concussions occur when a violent event, such as a fall, car accident, or other impact causes the brain to slide within the skull. If this movement is forceful enough, the brain can collide with the inner skill, causing a brain contusion. This is a serious injury and may cause bleeding in the brain, pressure on the brain, or even a coma. Concussions damage blood vessels, resulting in loss of brain function (usually temporary), and may cause chemical changes in the brain.
What Are Common Causes of Concussions?
Concussions are caused by violent or traumatic events. They may be caused by direct head traumas, such as falling, being hit on the head, or being in a car accident. They may also be caused by a rapid acceleration and deceleration, such as whiplash.
In addition, blast injuries can also cause concussions. The explosive shock can pressurize CSF in the skull, squeezing the brain and resulting in injury. This type of injury has been known to occur in combat-wounded soldiers and workers in industries that use explosives.
What Are the Symptoms of a Concussion?
Concussions can affect memory, judgment, reflexes, speech, balance and muscle coordination. People who suffer a concussion often report experiencing a feeling of amnesia or forgetfulness and have difficulty remembering what happened before or after the injury. They may appear confused or disoriented to those around them.
Symptoms may take up to 48 hours to develop. It’s important to watch for signs of a concussion if you or someone you love may have suffered a head injury.
The most common concussion symptoms include:
- Headache
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Blurred vision
- Slurred speech
- Drowsiness
- Confusion or brain fog
- Amnesia or forgetfulness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Mood changes
Concussion symptoms may vary in type, intensity, and duration. Symptoms may also take time to appear in some people.
Brain injury experts emphasize that there is no such thing as a “minor concussion,” though some may be less serious than others. That’s why it’s important to seek medical attention if you think you or someone you love may have suffered a concussion.
What Types of Damages Are Available if I’ve Suffered a Concussion Injury?
If you’ve suffered a concussion in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, then you can seek compensation for your injuries.
The primary remedies available in personal injury cases are compensatory damages, divided into two categories: economic and non-economic.
Economic Damages
Economic damages compensate an injured party for the financial consequences of an accident or injury. These damages include medical costs, lost wages, property damage, and reduced earning capacity. The amount of economic damages you may be entitled to depends on many factors, including the extent of your injuries and property damage caused by the accident.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages aim to compensate an injured party for the emotional or psychological consequences of an accident or injury. These damages may include pain and suffering, emotional anguish, diminished quality of life, and more. Economic damages are particularly relevant to concussion injury victims, who may experience mood changes, personality changes, or brain damage.
How Common Are Concussion Injuries?
In 2020, there were over 200,000 hospitalizations for concussion or traumatic brain injury (“TBI”) events. In 2021, there were over 69,000 traumatic brain injury related events. These numbers don’t reflect the concussions or other traumatic brain injuries that were treated in clinics and urgent care centers or those that went unreported. The highest incidence of concussions and other TBI occurred in people over the age of 75, children aged 0-4 years, and individuals aged 15 to 24 years.
How To Prevent Concussion Injuries
There are ways to reduce your risk of concussion injuries. You should wear a helmet when engaging in sports like football, baseball, softball, cycling, hockey, skiing, wrestling, and skateboarding. If you are swimming, never dive into pools shallower than nine feet deep or above-ground pools.
If you are in a car, always wear a seat belt, obey all traffic laws, and never drive or ride with someone who is under the influence of alcohol. In your home, remove hazards that create a fall risk, such as unsecured rugs, loose electrical cords, toys, or other obstacles.
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help With Your Concussion Injury Case in Georgia
If you suffered a concussion due to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, then you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries. The personal injury claim process can be complicated, but hiring an experienced Georgia concussion injury lawyer can simplify the process.
A seasoned personal injury lawyer can review your case, gather facts and necessary evidence, contact the insurance company on your behalf to negotiate a settlement and take your case to court if needed.
Contact a Georgia Concussion Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Concussion injuries are serious injuries and shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you’ve suffered a concussion due to someone else’s negligence, don’t hesitate to seek legal advice to ensure you receive the appropriate compensation for your losses. Contact Hawk Law Group today at (706) 722-3500 to schedule a free consultation with our Georgia concussion injury lawyer.
