Many people assume that concussions are little more than a headache. They do not take them seriously.
However, if you suffer a concussion, the Brain Injury Association of America warns that it could be very serious. It is a traumatic brain injury (TBI), after all — a term that reflects the potential danger. Any blow to the head, such as striking your forehead on the window in a car accident, can lead to a concussion. For Americans, no type of TBI is more common.
Complications from a concussion can include:
- Completely losing consciousness
- Damaging cranial nerves
- Stretching and damaging the brain’s blood vessels
- Fracturing your skull
- Suffering bleeding on the brain
- Experiencing brain swelling
- Suffering from a blood clot inside the brain. In the worst cases, this can be a fatal injury.
- Not healing for months or even years
- Suffering permanent or temporary damage due to a diffuse axonal injury
New studies have also found that concussions can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This is a degenerative brain disease that literally kills your brain cells over time. It has been linked to behavioral changes, depression, attitude changes and many other complications. Long-term, it may be connected to memory loss and impaired judgment. It can eventually lead to dementia, perhaps at a relatively early age.
Have you been involved in a car accident and suffered a concussion? Do not take this lightly. Do not assume that you’re going to be fine in a few days. Make sure you know all of the legal options you have to seek out financial compensation.
Source: Brain Injury Association of America, “Types and Levels of Brain Injury,” accessed April 26, 2018
