The CDC estimates that around 4 to 5 million individuals suffer from a concussion each year, and an overwhelming 5.3 million Americans live with an ongoing traumatic brain injury related disability. It’s important to recognize the different types of concussions and the recommended strategies for dealing with each.
The Three Types of Concussions
There are three main types of concussions that are defined by their severity. A Grade one, or minor concussion, will usually not result in a loss of consciousness. The victim may experience transient confusion, but they typically are back to normal within 15 minutes or less. Individuals may experience nausea, a lack of balance and a headache. Grade two concussions are more moderate. Sufferers may have memory loss, nausea, dizziness, blurred vision and pain for up to 24 hours. Most often the person has not lost consciousness. Grade three concussions are the most severe, and this category includes any concussion that results in a loss of consciousness. Victims usually have memory loss, an inability to concentrate, difficulty seeing and constant headaches. These types of serious injuries can result in persistent traumatic brain injuries. It’s recommended that individuals seek medical treatment after a grade two or three concussion.
No matter what the type of concussion, the victim’s brain remains very vulnerable for at least the next few days after the event. Additional concussions—sometimes termed “mini-concussions”—can compound and worsen the damage caused by the first. Sadly, a second concussion can be fatal, an event which is sometimes called second impact syndrome. Even if a second impact is avoided, symptoms of a concussion can persist for years or even decades—what is termed post-concussion syndrome. Symptoms include persistent dizziness, headaches, nausea, anxiety, memory lapses and trouble sleeping and concentrating. Worse yet, the symptoms of post-concussion syndrome are often invisible to CT and MRI scans. There is also evidence that multiple concussions can contribute to a patient’s risk of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. A patient who has experienced at three concussion events in their lifetime is 5 times more likely to develop early-onset Alzheimer’s.
Contact New Jersey’s Personal Injury Attorneys at Andres, Berger & Tran
Traumatic brain injuries can cause life-altering disabilities. If you’ve suffered a TBI as a result of someone else’s negligence, then you may be entitled to seek out full financial compensation in court. Contact the experienced and knowledgeable attorneys at Andres, Berger & Tran at 856-317-6558 to schedule an appointment at the office located at 264 Kings Highway East in Haddonfield, New Jersey. Or, leave a brief description of your legal issue and your contact information on our online form to hear back from one of our attorneys as soon as possible.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
