Can you get a concussion without hitting your head? The short answer is, yes you can. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head. It can also be caused when something hits the body that causes the head to move back and forth rapidly. When this happens, the brain may bounce around or get twisted in the skull, resulting in chemical changes in the brain and sometimes damaging the brain cells.
Common Causes of Concussions Without Hitting Your Head
There are many ways that a person can get a concussion without hitting their head. A blow to the head, neck or upper body that causes the brain to forcefully slide back and forth against the walls of the skull can cause a concussion. Other common causes of concussions include:
- Falls on hard surfaces such as a tiled floor, or from heights such as the top of a staircase;
- Rear-end and front-end collision car crashes that cause a passenger’s head to rapidly snap back and forth;
- Participating in high-risk contact sports such as football, soccer, hockey, or rugby;
- Explosions and bomb blasts and
- Physical assaults such as shaking and pushing.
Persons who have had prior concussions are at a higher risk of suffering another concussion.
Symptoms of a Concussion
Concussion symptoms vary from the less obvious feeling of discomfort to the more serious loss of consciousness. The most common symptom of a concussion is a headache. Other symptoms include:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blurry vision
- Disorientation
- Fatigue
- Memory loss
- Mood swings
- Loss of consciousness
In most cases, patients experience one or more of these symptoms soon after the injury. However, in some cases, symptoms may take a few hours or days to show up. If you have been in a situation that is known to cause concussions, it is important to monitor your symptoms and seek medical attention if you experience any of them, or if they get worse.
Post Concussion Complications
While most patients will make a full recovery from a concussion with rest and reduced physical activity, there is a small proportion of people whose symptoms may persist. If a person’s symptoms persist beyond 3 months, they are characterized as persistent post-concussive symptoms. Some of the symptoms that may persist include headaches, dizziness, and cognitive difficulties.
Seeking Compensation for Your Concussion
If you or a loved one have suffered a concussion without hitting your head you may be entitled to financial compensation if the concussion was the result of another person’s careless or reckless actions.
Determining the cause of your concussion is important in order to identify the parties to hold financially responsible. However, this can be a difficult task, which is why you should speak with an experienced San Diego brain injury lawyer with the legal expertise and resources to help you determine the cause of your concussion and the legally responsible parties. A skilled personal injury lawyer knows how to gather the evidence required to prove all the elements of a claim against the responsible parties.
If your concussion was caused by a negligent party, there is no reason why you should bear the cost of your injury by yourself. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, decreased earning potential, and pain and suffering. Call the passionate San Diego personal injury lawyers at CaseyGerry to find out how we can help you get the compensation you deserve. We offer free consultations, so call us today at 619-679-9972 to schedule your appointment.
