Common Sports-Related Head Injuries

Experiencing a traumatic brain injury while participating in sports can be devastating, leaving survivors and their families to deal with medical, financial, and legal issues. 

If you or a loved one has sustained a head or brain injury while participating in sports, you might be entitled to compensation. 

To find out whether you qualify to engage in a sports head injury case, contact a Seattle head injury attorney today.

Athletes may suffer from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and head trauma in a number of ways. A traumatic brain injury is caused by a serious blow or jolt to the head or body that causes the brain’s normal functioning to be disrupted. 

An item entering the brain’s tissue may also cause traumatic brain injury. TBI symptoms range from mild to severe, depending on the degree of brain injury. You should talk to Seattle sports injury attorneys if you’ve had that experience.

Most Common Sports-related Head Injuries

Concussion

In sports, concussions are the most common traumatic brain injury. In the United States, between 1.6 million and 3.8 million sports-related concussions occur each year. 

A concussion can occur in sports as a result of players colliding, a player falling and hitting his or her head, a piece of equipment striking a player’s head, or even soccer headers.

Concussions affect a person’s emotional state and can cause the brain’s normal functioning to be disrupted. Athletes who sustain multiple concussions are at risk of long-term, chronic damage. 

When a player suffers a concussion, it’s important to grade the injury so that he or she doesn’t play when they shouldn’t. The severity of a concussion is determined by:

• Consciousness loss (presence or absence)
• The length of time you were unconscious
• Maintain memory loss after a traumatic event

Symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, or failure to focus persist. If you believe that you’ve been forced to play with an injury not graded properly, contact Seattle sports injury lawyers.

Abrasions

A contusion is a bruising of the brain caused by a blow to the head. Brain contusions can happen right at the point of impact, called a coup contusion, or on the opposite side, called a contrecoup contusion, and a Seattle brain injury lawyer can help investigate your injury.

Hematoma

A hematoma is a blood clot on the brain caused by ruptured blood vessels in the brain. Hematomas can affect the Dura, the Dura lining, and the deep tissues of the brain. 

Hematoma clots can press against the brain, causing confusion, seizures, and loss of consciousness.

Fractures of the Skull

A skull fracture occurs when the bones that cover the brain crack. The magnitude of the fracture is determined by the form and position of the fracture. 

It is less likely that brain injury will occur if the skull bones split but stay in place. However, bone fragments can cut into the brain, causing bleeding and serious brain damage, and you might need to speak with a Seattle head injury lawyer if this occurs.

How Do I Handle a Sports Head Injury?

If you suspect you or someone else has suffered a concussion or a sports-related head injury, stop playing. Tell a coach what happened and that you or the other person may be hurt, and then seek medical help. 

If you’re on a squad, request to be removed from the game. Notify the referee or the player’s coach if you see a teammate or player on the opposing team showing signs of confusion or lack of coordination. 

If you’re coaching a team and find a player who may have a brain injury, pull them out of the game and make sure they get the medical care they need.

Contact a Seattle brain injury attorney at Albert Law PLLC if you or someone you know has sustained a traumatic sports-related injury so we can help you get the compensation you deserve.