All Concussions Are Traumatic Brain Injuries—What You Need to Know
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) cause disturbances in brain activity and function and can have long-lasting negative effects on a person’s quality of life. In severe instances, traumatic brain injuries can even lead to death. In fact, in 2019, there were 61,000 TBI-related deaths just in the United States.
Even mild concussions qualify as traumatic brain injuries despite the long-standing and pervasive misconception that concussions are not serious. Immediately seek help from a medical professional after suffering a concussion or experiencing a concussive incident.
The Three Types of TBIs:
- Closed Brain Injury
- Penetrating Brain Injury
- Non-Traumatic Brain Injury
A closed brain injury occurs when there is non-piercing damage to the head that does not result in a break or fracture of the skull. Quick changes in momentum that result in jolts to the head can cause the brain to shake violently within the skull, resulting in bruising of and damage to brain cells and tissue.
These types of traumatic brain injuries occur most often in motor vehicle accidents, falls, and sports.
A penetrating brain injury occurs when the skull is pierced, causing direct damage to the brain.
Gunshot wounds (self-inflicted or otherwise) are the most common causes of penetrating brain injuries.
A non-traumatic brain injury occurs when there is no external assault, force, or trauma that causes direct damage to the brain.
Aneurysms and strokes can lead to non-traumatic brain injuries.
The Three Severity Levels of TBIs:
- Mild TBI or Concussion
- Moderate TBI
- Severe TBI
There are three severity levels of traumatic brain injuries. For today, we will focus on the first, concussion, as it is the most common TBI.
Minor falls, collisions, blows to the head, and car accidents can lead to mTBIs. We also see concussions often in contact sports such as American football, boxing, and hockey. However, they are also common in “non-contact” sports such as soccer where players routinely hit the ball with their heads.
At The Yost Legal Group, we most often see concussions as a result of motor vehicle accidents. Even minor crashes can lead to concussions. What’s more, a victim’s head does not need to make contact with a part of the vehicle to suffer a concussion. The jolt and sudden change of momentum are often enough to cause a concussion—just as we mentioned above when detailing closed brain injuries.
Common Symptoms of Concussions
- Blurred Vision
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Sensitivity to Light
- Sensitivity to Sound
Please seek out a medical professional if you or a loved one has been involved in a slip-and-fall incident or motor vehicle accident and are experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms. You may have a concussion, and medical intervention or monitoring might be necessary.
The experienced TBI attorneys at The Yost Legal Group are actively pursuing compensation for individuals who are the victims of traumatic brain injuries caused by the negligence of others. If you are a victim and have been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, please contact us as soon as possible: 1-800-YOST-LAW. Time is of the essence.