How Similar Are Concussions to TBIs?
A TBI or traumatic brain injury is an injury caused by a blow to the head or puncture wound that causes damage to the brain. In the most severe cases of TBIs, recovery may be impossible or involve years of therapy, surgeries, and/or medication. Victims of a traumatic brain injury often find it difficult to live the life they once knew. We tend to think that TBIs are rare, but over 1.4 million Americans suffer from some form of a traumatic brain injury today.
One form of TBIs that many individuals do not know about is MTBIs, or minor traumatic brain injuries. An MTBI is the most prevalent form of TBI and is defined as any impact or forceful motion of the head which causes a brief change in mental status or consciousness. Severe TBIs often cause long-lasting changes in mental status or consciousness, but when an individual loses consciousness for even a brief second or two, this can still be defined as an MTBI.
How Similar Are Concussions to TBIs?
Under this definition, concussions are categorized as minor traumatic brain injuries. Most Americans are familiar with concussions since they are very common during impact sports like football. Most medical sports professionals are not overly concerned when a player receives a concussion since concussions usually only cause brief changes in mental status/consciousness or may not even seem noticeable. Head injuries should always be a cause for concern, however.
A concussion is still technically defined as a traumatic brain injury anytime there’s a change in mental status or consciousness. New research is also suggesting that athletes who experience successive concussions—even when they happen weeks or even months apart—may suffer from severe consequences years after the initial injuries occur. Successive concussions may lead to brain disease, permanent brain damage, and other life-altering consequences.
Don’t Take Chances with Head Injuries
It’s best to take every precaution possible after you or a loved one is a victim of a head injury that may lead to traumatic brain injury of any type. Even a minor head injury like a concussion can have major implications.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of a head injury, be aware of any of these following symptoms and get medical attention immediately if any are experienced:
- Loss of consciousness that lasts for longer than a few seconds
- Altered mental state
- Memory loss
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Headache
- Nausea
- Visual disturbances
- Trouble concentrating
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Loss of smell
- Loss of equilibrium
If your head injury was caused by negligent, careless, or wrongful acts of another in the state of Nebraska, you may also be comforted to know that legal assistance may be available to you and your family. If your injuries are severe, you may find it difficult to pay for recovery costs. Filing a lawsuit against the guilty party may make it easier to receive financial peace of mind as well as mental peace of mind.
When negligence or wrongful/careless acts cause an accident, the person or party who’s responsible deserves to be held liable. This helps protect other possible victims. To learn more or to receive a zero-obligation case consultation, get in touch with Welsh & Welsh today. We can pair you with an Omaha, NE traumatic brain injury lawyer who can help.
