Statistics show that there is an increase in head injuries and concussions during the summer months, due to an increase in activities such as water sports, motorcycle riding, bicycle riding, sports camps and other outdoor activities.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability for people between the ages 15 and 24. It is important that if you suffer a head injury or if you witness someone else suffering a blow to the head that you seek medical attention right away.
We’ve seen too many kids and younger adults suffer from bicycle accidents caused by cars – the effects can be terrible.
Signs and symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury include:
- Loss of consciousness for a few seconds or minutes
- No loss of consciousness, but being in a state of confusion
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Sensory problems such as blurred vision or ringing in the ears
- Memory loss
- Problems concentrating
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Changes in mood
- Fatigue or drowsiness
- Difficulty sleeping
- Sleeping more than usual
Signs and symptoms of a more severe brain injury can include any of the symptoms listed above, plus:
- Loss of consciousness for a longer period of time
- Profound confusion
- Slurred speech
- Inability to wake up from sleep
- Chronic headache
- Convulsions or seizures
- Dilation of the eyes
- Unusual behavior
- Agitation or combativeness
Signs of brain injury in young children can also include:
- Persistent crying
- Unusual irritability
- Inability to pay attention
- Change in sleeping habits
- Change in eating habits
- Loss of interest in favorite pastimes
- Acting depressed or sad for no reason
It has been proven than more than 85 percent of all traumatic brain injuries are preventable. If you are participating in outdoor activities this summer such as hiking, bike riding, riding a jet ski or participating in other water sports, playing football or any other high impact activities, it is important to be careful and to pay attention to others around you. If someone suffers a blow to the head and is showing any of the signs listed above, you should make sure he or she is treated immediately.
Traumatic brain injuries can result in changes that can affect a person for the rest of his or her life. Timely treatment is crucial to a person’s recovery and can make a difference in the outcome.
As a Miami personal injury law firm, the attorneys at Baron, Herskowitz, and Cohen are experienced in handling traumatic brain injury cases. If you or someone you love suffers a head injury due to another’s negligence this summer, we may be able to help you seek compensation. To learn more, contact us today.
