Brain Injuries Not Only a Concern for Athletes

By: CPR @ Mar 25, 2014

As we’ve become more aware of brain injuries in America, there has been a tendency to link them only to athletes. Be it a football player taking a brutal hit, a skier falling on a jump attempt, or a gymnast landing on their head, the perception is that athletes are at a higher risk than others for brain injuries.

That’s not completely true. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.7 million Americans suffer a brain injury annually. In addition, another 5.3 million suffer from lifelong symptoms associated with traumatic brain injuries. Thirty five percent of all brain injuries are sustained during falls, 17 percent from car crashes and 10 percent from assaults.

The other 21 percent of TBIs are classified in another category, “other causes;” this is where sports injuries are counted­. While athletes in contact sports may seem to be at a higher risk, just based on repetition, anyone can suffer a brain injury at any time.

Since it can happen at any time, it’s very important that the public continue to educate itself on the symptoms and treatments for brain injuries. According to the CDC, 475,000 children sustain brain injuries yearly. In fact, kids and senior citizens are the groups most likely to suffer a TBI.

What’s worse is that many don’t even realize they’ve sustained a brain injury when it occurs, and as a result fail to take proper precautions, putting themselves in further jeopardy. No two brain injuries are the same, and though a concussion is considered a minor brain injury, the symptoms can languish for days, weeks or longer.

People need to know what to look for. Symptoms of concussions include:

• dizziness
• disorientation
• memory loss
• balance problems
• vomiting
• lack of energy
• irritability
• sadness
• depression
• difficulty in thinking/concentration issues

Parents of children involved in contact sports, and the loved ones of people who have been in an accident or have suffered a recent fall, need to be watchful of concussion-related symptoms. A headache that won’t go away is a good sign that a brain injury may have occurred, and you should seek medical attention immediately.

In situations where liability can be established in brain injury cases, it’s best to consult with a highly qualified personal injury attorney, with in-depth knowledge about the dangers of brain injuries.

At Cohen Placitella and Roth PC, we have established a reputation for fighting for our clients who have been harmed by personal injuries. Contact our personal injury attorneys today for your free consultation. Call 1-215-567-3500.

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