The Dangers Of A Concussion After A Car Accident

Concussions occur when a blow or jolt to the head causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth inside the skull. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce or twist within the skull. That can result in chemical changes and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells. Concussions are rarely life-threatening, but their effects can be serious and long-lasting.

Concussions can result from car accidents and motorcycle accidents. It is crucial to recognize the signs and symptoms of a concussion for timely intervention and treatment. Concussion symptoms often include:

• Headache or a feeling of pressure in the head

• Temporary loss of consciousness

• Sensitivity to sound or light

• Confusion or feeling as if in a fog

• Amnesia surrounding the traumatic event

• Dizziness or “seeing stars”

• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)

• Nausea or vomiting

• Slurred speech

• Delayed response to questions

• Appearing dazed

• Fatigue

Concussion case cause long-term debilitating effects. A major potential outcome is post-concussion syndrome (PCS). This is a complex disorder characterized by concussion symptoms that last longer than the typical recovery period. PCS symptoms include persistent headaches, dizziness, cognitive difficulties, emotional instability, and sensitivity to light and sound.

There are several misconceptions about concussion that can lead to a person seeking delayed medical treatment, or no treatment at all, putting that person at risk of serious concussion-related complications or a poor recovery from the concussion. First, you don’t have to hit your head in order to suffer a concussion. Second, you don’t need to lose consciousness to have a concussion. Third, concussion symptoms can be, and often are, delayed. Finally, concussion symptoms can come and go.

Insurance companies commonly seize on those misconceptions to downplay or dispute the existence of an accident victim’s concussion. For example, an insurer may dispute a victim’s concussion injuries if an impact was low speed and there is no claim that the victim’s head hit anything. But an accident without serious physical damage or obvious injuries can still cause a concussion if your head whips back and forth from the impact.. This is because the rapid deceleration can cause the brain to strike the inside of the skull.

It’s important, not only for your personal health, but also for your legal rights, to immediately seek medical attention the minute that you begin suspecting that you suffered a concussion during a car accident. Prompt medical attention increases the chance of a good recovery from an accident. It also creates a better basis for a legal claim because prompt medical attention reduces an insurer’s ability to try to make any arguments about delayed medical treatment. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if we can be of any assistance understanding your legal right.