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New Studies Link Concussions to Permanent Brain Damage

Home » New Studies Link Concussions to Permanent Brain Damage
December 31, 2015
Edward Smith

Concussions Linked to Brain Damage

Concussion Linked To Brain Damage

Studies conducted in the past few years have established that those who suffer repeated concussions – even if each concussion might be considered “minor” – are at an increased risk for developing permanent brain complications and conditions. This is not only bad news for participants in contact sports such as boxing, football, and hockey who can suffer repeated blows to the head, but it is also troubling news for those whose jobs might put them at risk for suffering a blow to the head (such as the military and the construction industry).

These studies underscore the importance of having an experienced and talented Sacramento TBI attorney examine your case as soon as possible after your injury. You may be entitled to compensation for your injuries: you want to make sure that your compensation award takes all of your losses and expenses, past and present, into account.

What Does the Research Show?

In recent years numerous former professional football players began filing civil lawsuits against the National Football League (NFL). These suits alleged that the NFL did not do enough to protect the players from the long-term effects of concussions. Many individuals wrongly believe that a concussion will always include a loss of consciousness. While a blow to the head or a “whiplash”-type injury – the very definition of a concussion – may result in a temporary loss of consciousness, a person can suffer a concussion and remain conscious. Other symptoms of concussions include:

  • Confusion and disorientation;
  • Nausea and vomiting;
  • Headache;
  • Moodiness or changes in emotion;
  • Amnesia;
  • Depression;

But this list represents only the immediate symptoms that might accompany a concussion. Research now suggests that those who suffer repeated concussions can face long-term consequences and brain damage. Studies conducted on football players and others show:

  • Older athletes who suffered concussions years ago exhibit symptoms similar to a patient with Parkinson’s disease;
  • Years after suffering a concussion, brain wave activity is still described as abnormal;
  • Those most at risk for long-term permanent damage include those who suffer repeated concussions close together.

The prognosis for TBI victims improves depending in part on how quickly the victim receives medical attention. That is why it is important for anyone who suffers a concussion – especially young children participating in sports – to be evaluated quickly by a qualified medical professional.

Can I Recover Compensation for My TBI?

If you suffer a blow to your head or suffer a “whiplash”-type injury because another person acts carelessly or negligently, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. This compensation can include a monetary to cover not only medical treatment expenses and diagnostic costs but long-term care as well. Receiving the maximum amount of compensation depends on:

  • The severity of your TBI;
  • How closely you follow the treatment directions and instructions of your doctor(s);
  • How well your ongoing treatment needs are documented and supported by medical or other empirical evidence.

Your TBI attorney can assist you in gathering the evidence you need and guiding your actions so that you preserve your opportunity to recover the compensation you need for your care and recovery.

Your California TBI Attorney is Here to Assist You

I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Brain Injury Lawyer and if your child has suffered a TBI as a result of another person’s careless or negligent actions, I want to fight for you to recover compensation to help you pay for your child’s medical needs.  I’ve been helping California parents whose children suffer TBIs through the negligence of others recover financial compensation for years. Call me at (916) 921-6400 for free, friendly advice. Read more about us on our website, www.AutoAccident.com.

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Image Attribution: Wikimedia Commons shiny-brain-1254880-m