Many people see concussions as minor head injuries – nothing to worry about. In reality, a concussion is a traumatic brain injury that can have several immediate and lasting symptoms for a victim. Severe or multiple concussions can lead to long-term and even life-threatening damages and disabilities. If someone else’s negligence gives another person a concussion, the at-fault party may owe the victim compensation for past and future damages in Omaha. Learn more through a consultation with a personal injury attorney.
Cognitive Deficits
Research into concussions has shown that a brain with this type of injury can experience abnormal brain wave activity years later. Even a minor brain injury can impact brain wave activity for years after the accident. A concussion can also cause the deterioration of motor pathways in the brain – an issue that could cause attention deficits and other problems. Someone with a concussion could experience symptoms such as forgetfulness, memory loss, confusion, disorientation, trouble communicating, gaps in comprehension, trouble paying attention and other cognitive deficits for a long time after the injury.
Emotional and Behavioral Changes
Aside from cognitive issues, a concussion could also affect a victim emotionally and behaviorally. Living with a brain injury can lead to conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. Damage to the brain, no matter how minor, could influence a patient’s moods and actions. Many patients with concussions experience mood swings, outbursts, disrupted sleep, fatigue, personality changes, aggression and social inappropriateness for weeks or months after the accident. Emotional and behavioral changes from a concussion could have a lasting effect on the patient’s relationships, work and personal life.
Degenerative Diseases
Researchers have linked concussions and other brain injuries to a long list of related conditions. A traumatic brain injury such as a concussion could lead to long-term conditions such as epilepsy, seizures, Parkinson’s disease and degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer’s. The risk of developing a brain condition increases in correlation with the number of brain injuries the patient has had. Sustaining multiple concussions, especially close together, increases the risk of long-term brain disorders and related conditions. Repeated concussions can cause catastrophic brain injuries over time that may even be fatal for the patient.
Post-Concussion Syndrome
Post-concussion syndrome is a disorder in which a patient experiences the symptoms of a concussion long after the date of the injury. While most patients with minor concussions stop experiencing symptoms after a few weeks, someone with post-concussion syndrome may continue to notice them for months or longer after the accident. Concussion-related symptoms can include dizziness, headaches, confusion, sensory changes, fatigue, irritability and insomnia. It is unclear what causes post-concussion syndrome or how to prevent it in a patient.
Fight for Fair Recovery for Long-Term Concussion Symptoms
As the victim of a concussion in Omaha, it may not be enough to accept a fast settlement in the days following your head injury. Hire an attorney to analyze the potential effects of the concussion on you in the following weeks, months or years. A lawyer may advise you to wait until you reach the point of maximum medical improvement to accept a settlement. Only at this point, when your physician says you most likely will improve no further, will you be able to comprehend the full extent of your brain injury.
You may qualify for compensation for the long-term symptoms and damages you face because of a concussion. A recovery award could include past and future medical expenses, surgeries, physical and emotional therapies, rehabilitation, prescription medications, medical devices, nursing care, lost wages, and lost future earning capacity. A settlement or judgment award could also pay for your concussion-related physical pain and emotional injuries. If you or someone you love has long-term effects from a concussion in Omaha, speak to an attorney for legal advice. One or more parties may owe you compensation.