September 17, 2021 is National Concussion Awareness Day®
One of the tragic results experienced by a wide variety of accident victims is a traumatic brain injury (TBI), where the brain suffers significant trauma during the incident. Brain injuries are well-known dangers for those playing contact sports, from the youngest of soccer players to the veteran NFL star. TBIs are also a significant risk for those who are involved in motor vehicle accidents, semi-truck crashes, motorcycle accidents, and falls on work sites (especially those working construction from a height).
In a concussion, there is a loss of normal brain function caused by external forces in an accident that has caused the victim’s head and brain to move very fast, backward and forwards. This movement harms the victim as the brain is jerked about, inside the skull. The brain is bruised, and there is a bodily chemical reaction as well.
When the accident victim loses consciousness or sustains an obvious wound to the head or neck, the existence of a severe TBI is readily understood. However, for many accident victims there can be a serious and potentially life-altering trauma to the brain which is not respected at the time of the accident, or even for hours or days after the event.
These brain injuries are considered by medical professionals as “mild traumatic brain injuries” or “concussions.” It is vital that accident victims in Indiana and Illinois understand concussions are traumatic bodily injuries which deserve immediate and substantial consideration and care.
For more about Traumatic Brain Injuries, read:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) Dangers for Children and Teens in Winter Sports: Do You Know the Risks?
- The Fight Against Protecting People from Concussion and Brain Injury (TBI)
- New Movie “Concussion” Already Helping Educate Parents and Doctors on Dangers of TBI and Sport Head Injuries.
Determining the Severity of the Accident Brain Injury: the Glasgow Coma Scale
Brain injury severity is measured by health care professionals using the Glasgow Coma Scale (“GCS”). The GCS continuum spans an assessment score from three (3) for the most severe traumatic brain injury to fifteen (15) for the least severe (mild) traumatic brain injury. Sight, verbal responses, and motor skills are tested.
On the GCS, any accident victim receiving a score of eight (8) or less is considered to have suffered the most serious form of traumatic brain injury, a “severe TBI,” while those who get a score of thirteen (13) to fifteen (15) are diagnosed with a brain injury that is categorized as a “mild TBI,” or a concussion.
What is a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury or Concussion?
According to the Brain Injury Association of America, a “mild traumatic brain injury” (mTBI) or concussion is a head injury caused by either (1) blunt trauma or (2) acceleration or deceleration forces, resulting in one or more of the following conditions after the head injury, either at the time of the incident, to hours or even days afterward:
- Any period of observed or self-reported transient confusion, disorientation, or impaired consciousness;
- Any period of observed or self-reported dysfunction of memory (amnesia) around the time of injury;
- Observed signs of other neurological or neuropsychological dysfunction; and/or
- Any period of observed or self-reported loss of consciousness lasting 30 minutes or less.
The experts at the BIAA are quick to point out that “…[t]he term mild refers to the severity of the trauma, not the consequences,” and that while brain scans (CT, MRI) may report as normal, this cannot confirm the accident victim has not suffered harm to the brain. There can be traumatic brain injury even if the scans come back normal.
Concussions cause serious bodily harm to the accident victim which can result in permanent injury with lifelong consequences. They may not reveal themselves in a scan.
Common Symptoms in Accident Victims Suffering mildTBI / Concussion
Family members, friends, colleagues, teachers, coaches, and caregivers should all be alert to the following concussion symptoms which can manifest after an accident:
Physical Symptoms of a Concussion / mildTBI
- Headache
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Tinnitus (Ringing in Ears)
- Blurred Vision
- Sensitivity to Light/Noise
- Dizziness/Balance
Behavioral/Emotional Symptoms of a Concussion / mildTBI
- Irritability
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Impulsivity
- Lack of Initiation/Drive
- Impaired Awareness
Cognitive/Thinking Symptoms of a Concussion / mildTBI
- Feeling “In a Fog”
- Attention Problems
- Trouble Remembering
- Trouble Finding Words
- Difficulty Filtering Noise & Keeping Up with Conversations
Sleep Symptoms of a Concussion / mildTBI
- Drowsiness
- Excessive Sleep
- Difficulty Falling Asleep
- Altered Sleep Patterns
- Awaking from Sleep Feeling Drained vs. Refreshed.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and Post -Concussion Syndrome (PCS)
For some brain injury victims, there may be a series of concussions that are sustained over time which can result in a particular type of harm called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This is a particular risk for those playing sports, such as high school and college football, as well as professional athletes who experience a series of mildTBIs or concussions over time. Another risk for accident victims who suffer concussions is the potential development of post-concussive syndrome (PCS).
What is chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)?
According to the Mayo Clinic, CTE involves degeneration of the brain itself as a result of a series of brain traumas or concussions. It is not known how many hits to the head, or how great the force of these incidents, are needed before the victim develops CTE. For more on CTE, read: Football Brain Injuries: How Dangerous Is It To Play Football?
What is post-concussive syndrome (PCS)?
The Mayo Clinic describes PCS as the accident victim continuing to experience symptoms of concussion after health care providers perceive that these symptoms should have subsided with the brain healing from its traumatic injury. Concussions may take weeks or months before the victim has an end to mildTBI symptoms. There are some situations where concussions take a year or more to heal.
With PCS, the concussive symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, and problems with concentration and memory, continue past the expected date of recovery. If a mildTBI accident victim does not have resolution of their concussion symptoms in three to six months’ time, then as a general rule they will face a PCS diagnosis.
National Concussion Awareness Day®: Friday, September 17th, 2021
This Friday, September 17, 2021, will be National Concussion Awareness Day ® for Illinois, Indiana, and the rest of the country. It is a national campaign designed to increase public understanding of the serious nature of mildTBI / concussion injuries among all sorts of victims, from students who suffer a sporting injury, to motor vehicle accident victims, and those injured in falls. The effort also encourages discussion on awareness of concussion symptoms as well as the various needs of concussion victims which include both physical and psychological assistance and support.
We encourage the efforts to engage the public and increase awareness of the potential dangers of a mildTBI injury and knowledge of concussion symptoms among accident victims whose injuries have all too often gone unnoticed or have been minimized in the past.
Justice for Concussion / mildTBI Victims
Sadly, the fact that the brain injury victim does not bleed or lose consciousness may mean that a serious brain trauma escapes diagnosis and treatment for a critical time after the injury has happened. Concussions can cause serious harm to the brain of the brain injury victim.
In these instances, it is important that the concussion victim and their loved ones consider whether or not a breach of a legal duty of care and safety has caused the brain trauma or has exacerbated its harm by a failure to discover, diagnose, or treat the brain injury.
Both Indiana and Illinois have laws designed to help traumatic brain injury victims and their families in their pursuit of justice, based upon negligence, workers’ compensation, medical malpractice, and personal injury.
For more, read:
- Student Athletes Hiding Concussions to Keep Playing the Game
- Kids and Sports: New Study to Determine How Dangerous Football and Other Contact Sports May Be for Kids Playing School Sports Today
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Risk in Motorcycle Accidents
- Slip and Fall Accidents in the Workplace: Severe Injury or Death on the Job
- Traumatic Brain Injury Accidents: the Cost of Care and Treatment
- Head Injury in an Accident: Varied Causes of Permanent Brain Injuries.
Concussions and mildTBIs are a danger to the young and old here in Indiana and Illinois. These brain injuries can be serious and accident victims need to be monitored for the possibility they have suffered an undiagnosed mildTBI. Please be careful out there!
