Search Results for: encephalopathy

I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento brain injury lawyer. A new report has linked the beginning of  chronic traumatic encephalopathy to repeated blows to the head with or without concussion. This research sheds light on the origin of CTE and will be instrumental in identifying and preventing it in the future.

Traumatic Brain Injuries and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy New research has shed light onto the long-term effects of concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and the results are not encouraging. Those who suffer traumatic brain injuries and concussions can experience both short- and long-term symptoms and impairment. In fact, nearly all individuals who suffer a […]

While contact sports such as football and boxing are usually associated with injury to the head, baseball-related brain injury occurs often. It ranks third after bicycling and football in terms of the number of head injuries. Boston University researchers found evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in major league baseball players. Ryan Freel, a major league utility player, committed suicide in 2012 after suffering 10 concussions in his career. At autopsy, it was found that Freel suffered from CTE. Since baseball season is about to begin, let’s look at baseball-related brain injury and rule changes that have the potential of decreasing TBI in players.

Concussions have been a hot-button issue recently for multiple reasons. According to a recent study that was published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, one of the potential complications following a concussion is an increased risk of depression. While depression is already widespread throughout society, concussions can make this worse.

Traumatic injuries occupy a significant portion of the media spotlight because of the impact that they can have on someone’s life. There are many different accidents that can lead to injuries and some of these injuries are more serious than others. Recently, concussions have received a lot of attention. This is because scientists and researchers are learning more about concussions every day. Some of the statistics on concussions that have been published The Head Case Company include:

In the year 2012, close to 4 million concussions were reported
This is double the number of concussions that were reported in 2002
Between 4 million and 5 million concussions occur annually, with an increasing number of these occurring in children
9 out of 10 concussions do not lead to a loss of consciousness, making them harder to diagnose
Concussions increase the chances of someone developing a permanent neurological disability
More than 5 million Americans are currently living with a disability related to a traumatic brain injury
While every concussion needs to be taken seriously, the consequences of repeated concussions could include serious injury or even death. Because of this, concussions need to be spotted quickly and accurately so that individuals can receive the medical attention that they deserve.

Spotting a Concussion: The Symptoms
A concussion is an injury to the head that causes an alteration in the function of the brain. While many people believe concussions require a loss of consciousness, this is not always the case. Some of the ways that concussions can develop include:

Contact sports where someone might suffer a blow to the head
A slip and fall injury where someone strikes their head on the ground
An auto accident where the individual hits their head on the steering wheel, window, or dashboard
Not every blow to the head will lead to a concussion. Some of the symptoms of a concussion can occur immediately, including:

A headache
Temporary loss of consciousness
Altered mental status, confusion, or a mental “fog”
Dizziness or vertigo
Nausea or vomiting
Difficulty speaking, chewing, or swallowing
Feeling tired
Concussions can also lead to delayed symptoms. These signs may not show up immediately following an impact to the head but can occur later. Examples include:

Trouble concentrating
Irritation that is made worse by bright lights or loud noises
Feeling irritable or having a “short temper”
Difficulty sleeping at night
Mental health issues including depression or anxiety
Finally, concussions can be difficult to spot in children. Unfortunately, they are becoming more common. Because concussions can lead to serious problems, like other traumatic brain injuries, it is important for parents to be watchful. Examples of concussion symptoms in children include:

Difficulty balancing
Trouble walking
Falling often
Crying excessively
Lack of desire to engage in fun activities
Sleeping constantly
Appearing confused
Anyone who has suffered a concussion needs to seek medical care immediately. It is important for everyone who has suffered a concussion to refrain from activities where a head injury might be sustained. The consequences of repeated concussions can be severe.

Consequences of Repeated Concussions
In recent years, a disorder called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) has been discussed by researchers and the national media. This disorder stems from repeated blows to the head, which can lead to a concussion. While it has been studied in football players and boxers, CTE can develop in anyone who has suffered multiple concussions. Some of the recent studies have shown that CTE can lead to mental health problems later in life. Furthermore, autopsies that have been performed on individuals who have been suspected of having CTE has demonstrated microscopic findings consistent with neurological degeneration. This is the cause of the dramatic complications that individuals with CTE can develop.

Serious Complications
When someone suffers repeated concussions, there are life-altering consequences that can develop. Among these are different forms of dementia. Some of the early signs of dementia include:

Difficulty with hearing or vision
Trouble balancing
Subtle changes in personality, such as increased irritability
As the disease progresses, the symptoms of dementia will become more dramatic. Some of these include:

Forgetting the names and faces of family members and friends
Exhibiting inappropriate behaviors in public settings
Dementia, hallucinations, and delusions
Getting lost in places that were once familiar
Severe memory loss
Obviously, these are issues that can impact the entire family. Therefore, concussions need to be diagnosed early so that they can be avoided. Where can families turn to for help?

Contacting a Lawyer
Clearly, concussions are a serious injury. Those who suffer repeated concussions could develop lifelong issues. This impacts not only the individual but also their family members and friends. Those who sustain a concussion in an accident should ask for help from a personal injury lawyer. There are many ways that an attorney can provide assistance, including:

Reviewing the records of the accident to ensure that no detail has been overlooked
Working with professional accident re-constructionists to ensure that the reports are correct
Making certain that the liability in the accident has been properly assigned
Helping families pursue damages that are related to their injuries, pain, and suffering
Taking a case to court, if necessary
No family should ever feel like they have to fend for themselves following an accident, particularly one that leads to injuries. For this reason, please contact a trained and compassionate personal injury lawyer in Stockton today. You and your loved ones might be deserving of a financial reward.

Stockton Personal Injury Injury Lawyers
I’m Ed Smith, a Stockton personal injury lawyer. Repeated concussions can lead to severe, permanent neurological damage that could impact the entire family. If you or a family member has developed injuries in an accident, call me at (209) 227-1931 or for free, friendly legal advice.

I am a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

You can see our verdicts or settlements here.

Visit Yelp, Avvo, & Google to see our past client reviews.

The Consequences of Repeated Concussions in Accidents: AutoAccident.com

Image Attribution: The image at the top of this page is found in its original form at Unsplash.com. The image has been reproduced here with permission/ The Consequences of Repeated Concussions in Accidents.

:dr 0p

With the fall football season underway, doctors are looking for a better way to diagnose a concussion on the sidelines. Virtual reality concussion diagnosis might just provide that tool. Last season, over 291 players suffered a concussion in 2017. However, many others suffered hits to the head but were not diagnosed with a concussion and allowed to resume playing. Let’s take a look at how virtual reality may help doctors on the sidelines diagnose concussion on the field, and remove the injured player from the game.

I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento wrongful death lawyer. The father of a former Ohio high school football star has filed a lawsuit against the makers of helmets worn by his son since he was eight years old. The suit alleges that due to the faulty design of the helmets, his son developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE. The young man died after suffering a seizure in 2016 and drowned. An autopsy showed that he had the characteristic lesions of CTE.  

I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento brain injury lawyer. A new discovery in the fight against chronic traumatic encephalopathy was announced by researchers in Illinois. This may help in the eventual treatment of the disease, which results from repeated head injury.

I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento brain injury lawyer. It was announced that a lawsuit is being filed by the daughter of former tight end for the New England Patriots, Aaron Hernandez. The former ball player committed suicide in his jail cell in April at age 27. The lawsuit is also being filed against the National Football League. Hernandez had been sentenced to life in prison in Massachusetts in 2013 for the first-degree murder of his sister’s fiance. During the trial, Hernandez was charged with two additional counts of murder but was acquitted in 2017.

Contact Information