“Mild” Concussion Symptoms

Concussions are a type of brain injury. Doctors sometimes refer to them as a “mild” traumatic brain injury, but the truth is there is nothing mild about them. They are serious injuries that can cause long-term health and life consequences.

Specific symptoms associated with a mild concussion can vary depending on what concussion grading system is used. Varying symptoms of a mild concussion include brief confusion, post-traumatic amnesia and a mild headache. Loss of consciousness is one symptom that should never occur with a mild concussion.

Many times, the symptoms of a “mild” concussion are not immediately recognizable until physical or cognitive impairment occurs such as confusion or amnesia. One of the more common signs of a mild concussion is temporary confusion in the form of poor concentration, inability to process information or sequence tasks that can last up to 15 minutes.

What is a Concussion?

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that results from a blow to your head that disrupts normal brain function. A concussion can also be caused by a bump or violent jolt to your body that is strong enough to cause your head to forcefully jerk backwards, forwards or side to side. Concussions are not typically life-threatening. However, the effects from a concussion can be serious and last for days, weeks or even longer.

A single concussion usually does not cause permanent damage to your brain. Multiple concussions over a lifetime may result in structural changes in your brain. Also keep in mind that you do not have to lose consciousness to have a concussion. In fact, most people who have a concussion never lose consciousness.

Common Symptoms of a “Mild” Concussion

To repeat, there is nothing “mild” about a concussion. It is a traumatic brain injury with potentially life-changing consequences.

You may experience confusion regarding what is happening to you at that moment. You may experience dizziness and have equilibrium issues. Your ears might even ring, a condition which doctors call tinnitus.

You may have temporary short-term amnesia, especially about the incident that was the initial cause of the concussion. If you have long-term memory loss, that indicates a more severe injury.

You also might suffer temporary consciousness loss. You will probably be out for a few seconds or a couple of minutes. Longer consciousness loss probably means a worse injury.

If you suffer any sort of blow or jolt to your head or body and experience any of the following common signs of a “mild“ concussion, then seek immediate medical treatment:

• Temporarily losing consciousness (for seconds) at the time of the concussion
• Headache
• Blurry vision
• Confusion
• Ringing in the ears
• Nausea or vomiting
• Drowsiness or fatigue
• Amnesia surrounding the time of the concussion or the event that caused it
• Delayed response to questions
• Dazed appearance

Common Causes of “Mild” Concussions

The term concussion is typically associated with an accident that caused the head or upper body to be violently shaken, such as a blow to the head. However, a concussion is technically a brain injury that results from these types of accidents. This type of brain injury can impact your concentration, memory, balance, judgment and coordination and can even cause headaches.

A concussion causes injury to the brain that will need time to mend. In many cases, these injuries are mild and the patient is capable of a full recovery. Always seek medical attention immediately after any incident that inflicts a violent blow or jolt to your head or body.

• Vehicle accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Slips and falls
• Playing sports and other activities
• Active combat

Groups At-Risk for Concussions

Anyone can suffer a concussion. However, some groups face a higher-than-average risk:

• Children ages 4 and under who tend to fall more often than adults and have an underdeveloped appreciation for risk
• Adolescents due to bike accidents and sports-related head injuries
• Older people (65+) due to their risk of falls
• Athletes, especially those who play contact sports in which the head and/or body sustain repeated, jarring blows
• Military personnel due to exposure to explosive devices
• Anyone involved in a car accident
• Victims of physical abuse
• Anyone who has had a previous concussion

When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention

Danger Signs in Adults

In rare cases, a dangerous blood clot that crowds the brain against the skull can develop. The people checking on you should take you to an emergency department right away if you have:

• Headache that gets worse and does not go away
• Weakness, numbness, or decreased coordination
• Repeated vomiting or nausea
• Slurred speech
• Look very drowsy or cannot wake up
• Have one pupil larger than the other
• Have convulsions or seizures
• Cannot recognize people or places
• Are getting more and more confused, restless, or agitated
• Have unusual behavior
• Lose consciousness

Danger Signs in Children

Take your child to the emergency department right away if they received a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body, and:

• Have any of the danger signs for adults listed above
• Will not stop crying and are inconsolable
• Will not nurse or eat

How a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Can Help

It may not occur to many people to speak with a lawyer after suffering a concussion. However, the fact is that many concussions occur because someone else failed to take necessary actions to keep the victim safe from harm. The concussion victim may have the right to seek compensation from that party, and may very well need compensation to treat long-lasting, debilitating, concussion symptoms.

An attorney experienced in representing brain injury victims can represent a concussion victim in seeking money damages from parties with legal liability. The public might think suffering a concussion is no big deal but lawyers for concussion victims know that there is nothing truly “mild” about a concussion. It can severely disrupt a person’s life, and it deserves meaningful compensation if it resulted from someone else’s unreasonably dangerous decisions or actions.

Have You Suffered A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?

Cases involving traumatic brain injury are very complex and involve a multitude of legal and medical issues. Even the medical profession continues to consider the inner workings of the brain something of a mystery. Often, personal injury litigation law firms lack the resources and technical experience to take on a traumatic brain injury case.

Despite traumatic brain injury prevention, if you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury due to somebody’s negligence, a lawsuit can be filed against the responsible party. An experienced brain injury attorney will ensure you receive adequate compensation for your losses.

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury and have questions about seeking legal action, call us now at 1-877-241-9554 to learn more about your options. A free consultation is just a phone call away.