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Serious Concussions and Permanent Brain Injury

Can a Concussion Cause Permanent Brain Damage?

January 12, 2021

No organ in the human body is as crucial as the brain – nor is there an organ as delicate. Fortunately, the skull usually does a good job of protecting us against bumps and jolts that would otherwise damage the brain.

However, when an impact is intense enough, it can cause serious trauma to the brain. Concussions, a mild form of traumatic brain injury (TBI), are the most common type of injury to the brain.

Although they are classified as “mild,” concussions should always be taken seriously. A Louisville brain injury lawyer at the Karl Truman Law Office can investigate the accident and pursue the compensation you deserve.

What Is a Concussion?

The brain is an intricate organ that fulfills a wide variety of functions. Due to its complexity, how the brain responds to trauma can be unpredictable.

Trauma occurs when there is a blow to the head, causing the brain to bounce against the inside of the skull. This can cause damage to the structure of the brain and may also alter the chemistry of the brain.

Symptoms that typically accompany a concussion include:

  • Temporary loss of consciousness
  • Confusion
  • Forgetfulness
  • Blurry vision
  • Nausea
  • Headache

These symptoms can continue over days or weeks. Other symptoms may emerge as time passes, including irritability, light and noise sensitivity, depression, and more.

While most people who suffer mild concussions see these symptoms resolve in a few days or weeks, that is not always the case. In some cases, the symptoms linger and become an ongoing struggle.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of a Concussion?

Studies show that even single concussions can lead to long-term effects. In many cases, these effects can be extremely debilitating, including:

  • Chronic headaches
  • Cognitive problems
  • Hearing loss
  • Memory loss
  • Impaired decision making

These conditions can be difficult to treat, requiring neurological care. They may also impact your ability to perform your job, potentially resulting in serious career limitations.

If, for example, you are required to work in an office but you are unable to after a concussion because of persistent, debilitating headaches, you may have to change jobs. Such a change can diminish your long-term earning potential.

Unfortunately, part of the difficulty of concussion symptoms is that you don’t know how long they will last and if you will be able to find relief. In some cases, the effects of a concussion resolve on their own; in others, medical treatment is required; and, in others, the consequences of a concussion are lifelong.

The important thing is for anyone who has experienced a concussion to seek immediate medical treatment, along with follow-up treatment if the symptoms don’t go away. Not only is this the right thing to do for your health and well-being, but it will also establish the seriousness of your injury if you pursue a personal injury claim against a negligent party or parties.

What If I Suffer a Subsequent Brain Injury?

Unfortunately, the danger of a concussion is not limited to the initial effects of the injury. Suffering one concussion can sadly exacerbate the effects of any subsequent concussion(s).

If you suffer a second concussion (especially if this happens shortly after the first), it can lead to serious problems, including potentially fatal swelling of the brain. This is known as edema, and it can become life-threatening without timely medical intervention.

The cumulative effects of multiple concussions have become a major topic of discussion within professional sports in recent years. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has become an area of deep scientific study in football players especially.

The long-term effects of multiple concussions are very serious, and may lead to an increased risk for:

  • Dementia
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Alzheimer’s disease

CTE is also associated with psychiatric disorders, including depression, elevated aggressiveness, and suicidal ideation and actions.

Contact a Louisville Brain Injury Lawyer

Concussions are not to be taken lightly, no matter how mild they may initially seem. The consequences of a brain injury might not be immediately obvious, which is why receiving medical attention is crucial.

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for concussions and other brain injuries to be caused by the negligence of another party. At the Karl Truman Law Office, we often see victims of the following incidents suffer TBI and other serious injuries:

Brain injuries can be expensive to treat, and they may require ongoing treatment for a full recovery. Depending on the circumstances, injured accident victims may be able to recover compensation for damages such as the cost of medical treatment, lost income, pain and suffering, and more.

Please call the Karl Truman Law Office at (502) 222-2222 today for a free case review. Our Louisville brain injury lawyers pursue compensation on behalf of clients injured throughout Kentucky.