Was My Head Injury a Concussion?

By Bruce A. Hagen | October 9, 2014

Concussions are head injuries that cause trauma to the brain and can range in intensity. The major difference between a mild head injury and a concussion is that the former causes no lasting damage, while a concussion can.

The Symptoms

head injuryNo one can look and instantly know if a person has experienced a concussion, but there are symptoms that can point to one if it does occur. The intensity of an injury can affect which of these is present, but even in the mildest of cases, it’s important to recognize any and all symptoms that could reveal a concussion.

The most common symptoms that arise from a concussion are persistent headache, amnesia, and confusion. Victims of a concussion often cannot remember the incident that caused the injury, or the recent time before it. Headaches experienced are often more severe than normal, and may persist for longer than expected. Finally, the victim might experience confusion about their surroundings and circumstances, as well as the loss of control of simple processes.

Symptoms of a concussion can include:

  • Loss of consciousness
  • Dizziness or “seeing stars”
  • A ringing sound in the ears
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Impaired speech or reaction
  • Fatigue

How to Prevent Concussions

Most instances of concussion arise from a lack of safety measures in place. Wearing a seat belt whenever in a moving vehicle will help prevent accident-related head injuries that could lead to a concussion. In places with heavy supplies being used in suspensions, such as construction sites, a hard hat or other protective headwear is recommended.

When to Get Help

If you believe that someone is suffering from a concussion, the best course of action for a said person is to visit his or her physician. Contact your doctor immediately if any of these circumstances arise:

  • The victim of a head injury is unconscious for 30 seconds or longer.
  • The victim suffers from consistent and repeated vomiting.
  • The victim experiences changes in mood over the course of hours or days.
  • The victim suffers from slurred speech, confusion, or loss of dexterity.

You should also contact your doctor if multiple symptoms above are present in the victim of a head injury.

It might also be that the cause of the head injury could have been prevented by better planning and caution and that someone is to blame for the concussion. If this is the case, you should also contact a lawyer to help you with filing a lawsuit. Authorities of a workplace and responsible parties in non-work situations need to be held accountable for any lack of discretion that causes you physical harm, and a concussion is a serious injury to sustain. Contact Bruce Hagen, Attorney at Law, if you were injured due to the indiscretion of others.

Posted in Personal Injury