Hidden Dangers Of Head Injuries

The head is one of the most delicate parts of the body and any trauma to the head can cause severe damage to the skull and/or the brain, making it a particularly dangerous type of personal injury. Many head injuries have immediate signs and symptoms, including confusion, loss of consciousness, fatigue, decreased motor skills, and more. However, even the most minor head injuries can have lasting effects even if there are no obvious symptoms at the time. Many of these symptoms are difficult to identify and diagnose yet can still have a substantial impact on a victim’s life.

With the lawsuits against professional sports leagues in recent years and the release of the motion picture, Concussion, bringing attention to the long-term effects of repeated head trauma, additional medical research has been performed regarding the neurological effects of this type of injury. One recent study of a deceased athlete’s brain yielded shocking information regarding the risks of head trauma.

Young Football Player Struggles With Degenerative Brain Disease

Medical professionals know that multiple conditions may develop in individuals who have sustained repeated blows to the head, including early onset Alzheimer’s or dementia, depression, and more. One particularly dangerous condition that stems from this type of injury is chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is particularly dangerous because of its widely varying and progressive symptoms and the inability to diagnose the disease while a victim is still alive.

Recently, a 25 year-old former football player donated his brain to researchers at Boston University upon his death and the researchers found that CTE had progressed in his short life as seriously as a victim 20 years older. This indicates that even young victims of brain injuries can suffer from serious degenerative conditions. The player had suspected he had CTE because, after sustaining at least 10 concussions on the field from ages six to 22, he was experiencing severe headaches, confusion, memory loss, loss of communication abilities, violent personality changes, and more.

While many studies regarding head trauma involve athletes in contact sports since they are known for a high risk of head trauma, the lasting dangers of head injuries can affect anyone who has experienced trauma to the head or brain. Such head injuries can occur due to workplace accidents, falls, motor vehicle accidents, and more. Furthermore, an individual does not have to experience multiple head injuries to incur long-term effects, as a single severe traumatic brain injury can leave a victim permanently disabled.

Call A Boca Raton Personal Injury Lawyer For Help

If you or your child has sustained a serious brain injury, you may have the legal right to compensation and it is always worth discussing a possible legal case with an experienced personal injury attorney. At the law office of Lavalle, Brown & Ronan in Boca Raton, we offer free consultations and will fully evaluate your situation to advise you of your rights and options under the law. No matter what type of personal injury you sustained, call our office today at 888-646-1315 for more information on how we can help you.

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