Mild traumatic brain injuries, also known as concussions, are often not taken as seriously as other types of brain injuries. These injuries can occur during a sports event, a car accident, fall, or other type of collision and they can cause long-term complications if they aren’t treated. In order to recover, it is important for accident victims to receive both emergency treatment for their concussion, as well as follow-up care. Unfortunately, follow-up care for mild brain injuries is lacking, according to the TRACK-TBI study.
TRACK-TBI surveyed 1,316 patients with mild traumatic brain injuries who had a Glasgow Coma Scale Score of 13 to 15. Of the 1,316 patients, less than half of the patients reported seeing a doctor at their 2 weeks and 3 months follow up visit. The more frequent follow-up care was associated with injury severity and among those with clinical symptoms. Even with the poor rate of follow up care, many patients still reported persistent symptoms, such as headaches, dizziness, and sleep disturbances. Even worse is that 48% of patients with significant post-concussive symptoms were not seen by a medical practitioner at 3 months.
Even though many discount the effects of a mild traumatic brain injury, studies show that these injuries can result in significant and long-lasting pain and suffering. Mild traumatic brain injuries can cause persistent physical, neurological, and cognitive symptoms that can significantly impact their overall quality of life.
Further Reading: How to Keep Your Child Safe from Bike Injuries
Concussions & Long-term Effects
The symptoms and effects of a concussion usually don’t linger for long. Most accident victims who suffer from a concussion will not suffer long-term effects. They may, however, experience dizziness, headaches, ringing in the ears, fatigue or confusion for a few days or even a few weeks. While most recover fairly quickly, up to 20% of concussion victims will suffer from post-concussion syndrome where they will experience symptoms after 6 weeks. The more concussions you get, the more likely you are to suffer from long-term consequences, especially if you sustain multiple concussions in a short period of time.
If you have sustained a concussion after a car accident or sporting accident, it is important to know that you may not recover as quickly as you hope. Long-term consequences are more common than many people realize. As such, it is important to have an experienced Colorado Springs car accident lawyer on your side from the very start. Your lawyer will need to ensure that you have the compensation you need to tackle whatever long-term complications arise as a result of your injuries.
Contact Our Colorado Springs Car Accident Lawyers
Concussions may be mild traumatic brain injuries but they should be taken seriously. If you’ve been injured, we can help. Contact the experienced Colorado Springs car accident attorneys at the Green Law Firm today to schedule a no-obligation consultation and discuss your case. Call us today at 1-719-694-8515.
