The brain is a powerful organ. Among its many functions, it helps you store and recall memories. The ability to remember people, events, and details is crucial. Unfortunately, it can easily be taken away after a brain injury like a concussion.
You may have legal recourse if you’ve suffered memory loss due to a concussion. Discuss your situation with a qualified personal injury attorney.
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What Is a Concussion?
A concussion is one of the most common types of traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries affect the brain’s ability to function normally after suffering a significant blow to the head.
Concussions occur after the brain is injured in a traumatic event like a car accident. When you suffer a concussion, the alteration in brain function typically occurs right away, which can result in loss of consciousness and other symptoms.
A concussion can affect the brain in many ways, causing noticeable symptoms.
Some of the more common symptoms indicating concussion include:
- Headache
- Vision problems
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness
- Ringing in the ears
- Difficulty concentrating
- Sensitivity to light
- Trouble sleeping
- Loss of taste or smell
Memory loss and confusion are also among the signs of a concussion. When the brain is subjected to enough force, it could substantially affect a person’s long or short-term memory.
What Are the Subsequent Effects of Concussions?
Concussions must be treated with proper care, including rest, medication, and therapy, for a victim to recover fully. However, in more serious cases, concussion victims can be left dealing with lasting effects.
Some of the ways a concussion may potentially affect a person in the long term include:
- Persistent headaches
- Vertigo
- Personality changes
- Sleep disturbances
- Greater likelihood of suffering from Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s Diseases
The serious, persistent effects associated with concussions can take a toll on your health, lifestyle, and relationships.
How Do Concussions Cause Memory Loss?
Several areas of the brain play key roles in memory. When any of these areas are damaged following a traumatic brain injury like a concussion, memory can take a hit.
The limbic system is controlled by the cerebrum, the largest part of the brain, and has many functions, including processing and regulating emotions. Among these critical functions, the limbic system also processes and helps store memories.
The limbic system includes the following:
- Hippocampus
- Hypothalamus
- Amygdala
Memory loss often occurs when these structures or their surrounding nerves become damaged. The type of memory loss you may experience and the duration of the loss depends on the area affected and the severity of the injury.
Types of Memory Loss After a Concussion: Short-Term vs. Long-Term
Memory loss can either be short-term or long-term.
Short-term memory loss is often referred to as “anterograde amnesia.” It means losing the ability to recall recently formed memories. For example, you may not remember what you had for dinner last night or who you spoke on the phone with two days ago.
This type of memory loss is particularly common after sustaining head trauma. The biggest frustration people with short-term memory loss often face is difficulty retaining new information and memories. When short-term memory is affected, storing newly formed memories can be nearly impossible.
By contrast, long-term memory loss is the inability to recall memories from days, months, or years past. It can make it difficult to remember people, places, and events that are important to them. This type of memory loss is often called “retrograde amnesia.”
How Long Does Memory Loss Last After a Concussion?
Everyone is different, meaning there’s no sure way to tell how long a concussion victim’s memory loss may last. It typically depends on the severity of the brain injury, the areas of the brain affected, and the type of memory loss.
It’s not uncommon for concussion sufferers to experience some form of memory loss. In the best cases, memory loss only lasts a short time, from a few days to a couple of weeks. However, victims with more severe injuries may have longer-lasting memory loss, with many never regaining parts of their memory.
When concussion symptoms like memory loss last longer than a week, they may be diagnosed as post-concussive syndrome. This condition refers to persistent symptoms of concussion, including memory loss. PCS can last for several weeks, months, and sometimes even years.
What Are Common Causes of Concussions?
Concussions don’t happen every day. It takes a traumatic event and strong force to cause this type of brain injury.
Concussions are commonly suffered by victims of:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
It’s important to note that if your concussion occurs due to an accident or incident caused by another party’s negligence, you may have a valid personal injury claim. Personal injury lawsuits allow you to seek justice for the harm done to you while pursuing financial recovery for your resulting losses.
What Potential Compensation Is Available for Memory Loss After a Concussion?
Damages available after a concussion depend on multiple factors, including the type of accident, the severity of your injuries, and your financial and non-financial losses.
Some of the damages you may be entitled to include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Diminished earning potential
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
A personal injury attorney can examine the details of your situation to determine the value of your case and help you pursue maximum compensation.
A Miami Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You After You’ve Suffered a Concussion
If you or a loved one have suffered a concussion that’s resulted in memory loss, don’t hesitate to discuss your case with an experienced Miami personal injury attorney. A lawyer can determine whether you have the right to pursue damages for your losses and help get you on the road to recovery.
Put yourself in the best possible position to get the financial aid you deserve after a concussion and associated memory loss. Trust a brain injury attorney in Miami from Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers to provide the guidance and support you need. Call us today at (305) 937-0191 for a free consultation.