Concussions are common traumatic brain injuries occurring within and outside of sports settings. However, sports like football, soccer, and ice hockey have a heightened risk of causing this type of head injury.
In 2019, roughly 1 in 450 Canadians aged 12 years and older reported suffering from sport-related concussions or other types of brain injury. Home to the largest multipurpose facility in Canada, Nova Scotia has a considerable share of reported concussion cases.
In Nova Scotia, approximately 11,300 people experience a concussion every year. While concussions are not usually life-threatening, their effects can be devastating. Some can lead to permanent brain damage and disability, especially when left untreated.
It’s a common misconception that concussions always result in a loss of consciousness. That’s why many accident victims don’t realize they have suffered a concussion. They often leave the accident scene without going to the emergency room, only to discover later that they suffered a severe brain injury.
Suppose the concussion results from another person’s negligence. The injured victim may seek compensation for the resulting losses with the help of a personal injury lawyer. However, knowing the signs of a concussion is crucial to getting proper medical treatment, which is a critical factor in pursuing a legal claim.
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Key Takeaways
- A concussion is one form of mild traumatic brain injury, typically caused by a sudden impact on the head.
- When left untreated, concussions can result in long-term complications and permanent damage.
- Signs and symptoms of a concussion can fall into four categories: physical, cognitive, emotional, and sleep-related.
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Understanding Concussions and Their Potential Causes
Medically, a concussion is termed mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBIs are characterized by a physical injury to brain tissue that can cause temporary or permanent impairment in brain function.
While concussions are the most common form of TBI, they are also the least serious. Unlike more severe TBIs, concussions don’t show evidence of any visible structural brain injury in imaging studies.
Although the damage to the brain cells is microscopic, concussions can significantly impact cognitive function. A recent study finds that repeated concussions, typically three or more, are associated with a further decline in brain function during the later stages of life.
A forceful bump, strike, or jolt to the head is a common cause of concussions. Any impact on the body that forces the rapid back-and-forth motion of the brain within the skull can also trigger a concussion. Note that you can suffer a concussion without directly impacting the head.
Besides participating in sports-related activities, there are various ways to experience an impact and sustain a concussion. Typical situations include the following:
- Getting involved in a car crash
- Slipping and falling due to workplace hazards
- Waking on icy sidewalks during the winter
How To Know You Have a Concussion After an Accident
The symptoms and long-term effects of concussions can vary for every person, depending on their severity.
Doctors across the globe use a grading system to diagnose a concussion. It helps them assess the injury’s severity and anticipate potential symptoms. This grading system consists of three grades of concussions:
- Grade 1: This concussion is mild, with symptoms typically lasting for a few days.
- Grade 2: This concussion is moderate, distinguished by more severe symptoms that will persist longer than a mild concussion.
- Grade 3: The most severe type of concussion, with symptoms that can last months and carry the risk of permanent brain damage.
Regardless of the severity, concussions can pose significant health issues. They can lead to permanent symptoms that negatively affect your regular activities and quality of life. Early concussion detection is critical for ensuring timely treatment and preventing complications.
Without visible injuries, detecting a concussion injury can be tricky. For starters, here are some essential points to remember if you suspect a concussion after an accident:
Look for signs and symptoms of concussion
Identifying whether you have a concussion isn’t always easy. Although indicators can be wide-ranging, the signs and symptoms of concussions can fall into the following categories:
Physical symptoms
Typically, these symptoms are manifestations of bodily sensations, and they can vary among those who have sustained concussions. Common physical symptoms include:
- Headaches or migraines
- Dizziness
- Blurry vision
- Balance problems
- Nausea and vomiting
Cognitive symptoms
Even people who experience a single concussion may suffer from cognitive difficulties. Each additional concussion can have a more pronounced and long-term impact on cognition. Common cognitive symptoms associated with concussions include:
- Feeling confused or disoriented
- Trouble concentrating
- Difficulty remembering
- Amnesia or memory loss
- Slow reaction times
- Long-term personality changes
Affective symptoms
Emotional and psychological manifestations may also present in people with concussion injuries. Since they’re less noticeable than physical symptoms, they can be trickier to connect to concussions. These affective symptoms typically include:
- Changes in mood
- Intense feelings of sadness
- Irritability or easily angered
- Excessive worry or anxiety
Sleep-related symptoms
Concussions can damage the neurons responsible for controlling the sleep-wake cycle. As a result, injured victims are likely to experience disturbances in their sleeping patterns. The following are some of the common symptoms specific to sleep:
- Excessive daytime drowsiness
- Difficulty falling asleep at night
- Increased sleep needs
- Sleep disruption
See a doctor for immediate medical attention
See a doctor immediately if you or a loved one loses consciousness or experiences a brief loss of consciousness. Even a momentary loss of consciousness must be taken seriously. Repeated vomiting, slurred speech, and decreased coordination are some of the dangerous symptoms of concussions.
Even when there are no visible signs and symptoms of concussions, seeking immediate medical attention after getting involved in an accident is vital. If a medical professional suspects a concussion, they may perform physical exams to assess your balance, coordination, and reflexes.
It’s worth noting that the presence of a concussion isn’t always visible on MRI or CT scans. Thus, expect a doctor to conduct neuropsychological tests. Such tests will help detect any emotional changes or difficulty with cognitive function.
Watch out for post-concussion syndrome
Some people eventually make a complete recovery after sustaining a concussion. However, there are instances where the effects of the injury are permanent. Post-concussion syndrome occurs when the injured person experiences concussion symptoms that last longer after the initial injury.
The specific timeline varies for different healthcare providers. But mostly, post-concussion syndrome is diagnosed when symptoms persist longer than three months or a year after the injury. Those who forgo appropriate medical care are at risk of experiencing post-concussion syndrome.
Legal Options When You Sustain a Concussion After an Accident
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The injured person may be able to seek compensation if the concussion resulted from a negligent or wrongful act of another individual or entity. An experienced concussion injury lawyer can give you legal advice about the relevant laws that apply to your situation and the best action to take.
In Nova Scotia, Canada, the possible legal options available to people who sustain a concussion after an accident may depend on the type of accident. Let’s say you get a concussion after a car accident. You may file a personal injury claim and obtain compensation from the at-fault driver.
Suppose your concussion injury is the result of a workplace accident. You may be eligible to claim compensation under the provincial/territorial workers’ compensation programs. Meanwhile, you can file an occupier’s liability claim if you suffer a concussion due to unsafe conditions on another property.
It’s worth noting that your eligibility for these claims may depend on the specifics of your injury and the strength of your evidence. In most cases, you’ll need a lawyer to prove that someone else is at fault for the accident and that their negligence contributed to your concussion injury and resulting losses.
Did you know?
There were 5,590 cases of major traumatic brain injury (TBI) during a 16-year study period in Nova Scotia, with an overall annual rate of 36 per 100,000 population. The primary cause of injury was falls, which account for 45 percent of cases.
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Contact Diamond & Diamond Nova Scotia for Legal Guidance
You may qualify for financial compensation if your concussion injury was someone else’s fault. However, cases involving traumatic brain injuries can be complex. They often necessitate a lawyer well-versed in the federal or provincial personal injury laws.
It’s always in your favour to have legal guidance, even if you think your injury isn’t enough to require a lawyer. Contact Diamond & Diamond Nova Scotia to protect what you’re eligible to recover. We have a team of Nova Scotia lawyers who can handle and fight for your case.
Have you sustained a concussion after an accident? Let Diamond & Diamond Nova Scotia lawyers protect what you’re legally entitled to recover.
