All types of head trauma can cause significant damage to the brain. Brain injuries are some of the most serious injuries you can experience, potentially leaving you with cognitive issues that could include memory loss. That’s the case even with the mildest type of head trauma — concussions.
If you have been in an accident that caused a concussion and you have experienced issues like memory loss, it’s vital to know what your next steps should be. Learn more about how these injuries occur and what damages you can claim in a personal injury case.
What Is a Concussion?
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury that occurs when your brain shifts or twists in your skull. Because these injuries happen relatively often, people assume they’re not serious, but that’s not true. Although they’re not usually life-threatening injuries, they can result in severe symptoms.
When your brain moves or twists in your skull, it can stretch and injure nerves and blood vessels. This results in chemical changes that cause your brain not to work as it should. To protect itself, the organ redirects all of its energy to the healing process, which means sending signals throughout your body telling your various systems to slow down.
As that process starts, you can experience numerous symptoms, including:
- Balance problems
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Ringing in your ears
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Loss of consciousness
- Confusion
- Feeling slowed down
- Trouble concentrating
- Fatigue
- Sleep problems
- Mood swings
- Irritability
One symptom that can sometimes take people by surprise is memory loss. Depending on what areas of the brain were impacted, your brain can struggle with processes like encoding, storing, and retrieving memories.
Concussions can also cause neurovascular coupling dysfunction, affecting the brain’s ability to regulate blood flow. Some brain regions may not receive the level of oxygen-rich blood they need, affecting one’s ability to make new memories or recall old ones.
Concussions most often result in short-term memory loss, though suffering long-term memory issues is also possible. In most cases, concussion symptoms, including memory impairments, resolve in a couple of weeks. In some instances, however, post-concussion syndrome could mean still struggling with some problems for months after the accident.
Common Causes of Concussions
Concussions happen when there’s significant force exerted on your head, causing your brain to move.
One of the most frequent causes of these injuries is collisions. Car accidents can cause you to hit your head against a surface like a window, and even the force of the deploying airbag could lead to these injuries. Motorcycle accidents could also cause you to hit your head severely.
Falls are another common cause of concussions, especially among the elderly. Slipping and falling can cause you to hit your head against hard surfaces.
Workplace accidents can also lead to concussions, primarily if you work with heavy machinery. For example, if a piece of machinery hits you, that could be enough to jostle your brain.
Damages After Suffering Memory Loss from a Concussion
Suppose you sustained a concussion that left you with memory loss and other symptoms, and the injury only occurred because of another party’s conduct. In that case, you can file a claim and potentially receive damages. These can be economic and non-economic.
Economic damages address the financial losses you suffered because of the injury. Medical expenses make up a large part of these. You may have needed to stay at the hospital or required care from a nurse, which is costly.
Additionally, you may need to take time off from work. If you experience memory loss, that could interfere with your job, making it impossible to do your everyday tasks. Economic damages will cover your lost wages.
Although most people will fully recover from a concussion, if you still struggle with memory loss significant enough to keep you from working, you can receive compensation for loss of earning potential.
Non-economic damages address losses that don’t come with a price tag, such as pain and suffering. Not being able to remember crucial information, moments of your life, or even the names of loved ones, can be devastating and highly distressing. You deserve compensation for that.
Contact the Chicago Personal Injury Lawyers at Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys for a Free Consultation
After sustaining a concussion and experiencing memory loss because of another party’s misconduct, you may be able to begin a personal injury claim to recover losses. However, this is not a process you should ever consider undertaking alone.
Our team of Chicago personal injury lawyers provides the ongoing support you need during this difficult time. Contact Zayed Law Offices Personal Injury Attorneys at (312) 726-1616 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our attorneys.
