New York Concussion

The statistics regarding concussions are startling. Nearly 2 million people, many of whom are New Yorkers, suffer concussion injuries each year. A concussion is a brain injury that results from a blow, strike, or jolt to the head. As a result the normal functioning of the brain is disrupted. While there are a variety of causes of concussions and other brain injuries, far too many victims suffer concussion because another person was careless. Brain injuries are challenging because they affect the victims physically, they also affect the victim behaviorally and cognitively. If you have a concussion that you sustained in fall, car accidents, or some other event that was caused by another person’s negligence, immediately contact a New York concussion lawyer as you may able to recover significant compensation based on your medical bills, lost wages, and your other losses.

The leading causes of concussions are falls, vehicle accidents, struck by or struck against events, and assaults. Falls are the leading cause of concussion, accounting for over 35% of concussion injuries. For children ages 0-14, falls account for 50% of concussions. Over 300,000 children lose consciousness from concussions each year while participating in sporting events such as football, gymnastics, horseback riding, hockey, and baseball. Many more suffer concussions, but do not lose consciousness.

Symptoms of mild concussions include headaches, confusion, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, irritability, sensitivity to light, brief loss of consciousness, and behavioral changes. In some cases the symptoms appear immediately, while in other cases they may not appear for days or even weeks after the injury. In most cases victims who suffer mild concussions recover completely. However, victims who suffer one concussion are at a higher risk of sustaining another one. Victims who suffer multiple mild concussions in a short period of time are at risk for permanent brain damage because the brain has not yet healed from the first or previous concussion.

Victims of moderate concussions experience symptoms that are similar to the symptoms for mild concussions. However, they lose consciousness for a few minutes are longer. Severe concussions are life-threatening. Victims lose consciousness for multiple days. Some fall into comas and others end up in vegetative states. Victims of severe concussions often suffer permanent cognitive deficits and are at risk for Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s.

Of the nearly 2 million people who suffer concussions each year, 85,000 suffer long-term disabilities. Even in cases where the concussion is mild a significant number of victims continue to suffer symptoms for a year or longer. Treatment for mild concussions may include only pain medication. For moderate and severe concussions, treatment may require surgery and medication, followed by rehabilitation. Rehabilitation involves working with a variety of therapists to improve alleviate the lingering symptoms, or to provide the victim with tools to cope with the symptoms.

Because of the long treatment and rehabilitation time for concussion victims, costs associated with recovery can be significant. Even if the hospital stay is brief, and little rehabilitation is necessary, many victims of mild concussion face financial challenges because they are not able to consistently work a full schedule for a while because of linger and recurring concussions symptoms. For example, severe headaches, sensitivity to light, and sensitivity to sound make it difficult to function in many workplaces. Because of this victims worry about their finances. As an experienced concussion lawyer in New York will explain, if a concussion was caused by another person’s negligence, you have the right to demand that the negligent person pay for your medical expenses associated with the concussion. This includes not only bills associated with the initial treatment at the emergency room or in the hospital, but for rehabilitation and long-term care as well. You also have the right to demand payment of the pay you missed because you were not able to work.

If your concussion occurred in a workplace accident, your medical care should be covered by workers’ compensation benefits.

For two decades the concussion attorneys serving New York at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates have helped injured victims hold negligent individuals accountable for the injuries they caused through their negligent actions. If you believe your concussion was caused by the negligence of another person, we can help. Contact a New York concussion lawyer at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.