Common Signs of a Concussion

When most people hear the words traumatic brain injury, they think of a debilitating medical condition that leaves the victim severely disabled. However, did you know that a head injury resulting from a concussion is also a traumatic brain injury? Concussions can fall into the category of mild traumatic brain injury.

A concussion from a car accident can come with long-term side effects. The concussion symptoms and side effects can be disabling, especially when the accident victim has had multiple concussions or head injuries. Concussions are also one of the most common car accident injuries and are one of the most common injuries healthcare professionals treat in the emergency department. 

If you’ve been in a car accident, there may be a chance that you’ve suffered whiplash, which can lead to a concussion as a result of the car accident. If the accident victim experiences a loss of consciousness or memory loss as a result of a motor vehicle crash, an emergency room visit may be warranted.

Disclaimer – The information on this website is not medical advice. Please consult your physician for medical treatment or options.

If you’ve been diagnosed with a concussion by your doctor, you might want to keep reading to understand more about this condition’s nature.

For legal representation, you can get started to see what your case looks like with a free consultation with our law firm and one of our car accident attorneys. We highly value our attorney-client relationships and have experience navigating the many obstacles in dealing with insurance companies, medical bills, loss of wages, and what it takes to comfort you and your loved ones.

Facts And Information For Concussion Victims

A concussion requires swift medical treatment from a qualified healthcare provider. Perhaps all the victim requires is rest; in many cases, this is the only thing that doctors can do. However, taking this rest time is vital if the victim wants to get better and recover from this mild form of brain injury. In extreme cases, it can be life-threatening, with lasting effects that are life-altering, including medical expenses and ongoing care. Post-concussion syndrome can present signs of a concussion for months or years.

Often, healthcare professionals look for signs of a concussion through triage in the emergency room. A CT scan or other testing methods can be employed to determine if there is possible permanent brain damage, a serious brain injury, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or other related concussion results. 

A concussion could incur specific financial costs to the victim due to lost income while taking time off work to recover, lost professional opportunity, and various medical bills. Here are several more health information facts you might want to know about this medical condition:

• Diagnostic imaging, such as a CT scan, may or may not offer definitive proof that a concussion injury has happened.
• A skull fracture, a bleeding brain, and swelling could be happening in a concussion, but they might not be externally detectable.
• A concussion could result in a blood clot, so victims should be monitored following such an injury.
• A concussion can take months, and even years, to fully heal. 
• Concussions are usually the result of whiplash, violently shaking the head, gunshot wounds, and direct blows to the head, causing a skull fracture that gets through the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds the brain and can cause brain swelling.
• Whiplash can occur even when wearing seatbelts in an auto accident in any sudden deceleration event.
• Concussions can be open, where the head is bleeding, or closed, where external clues are not so visible.
• As a result of a concussion, the brain’s blood vessels will stretch, and the nerves of the cranium can get damaged.
• If someone has a previous concussion and has not yet fully healed from that, they can experience second impact syndrome from their second concussion, which is a serious brain injury.

There are many common causes of concussions, such as: 

• Contact sports
• Car crashes (oftentimes can be from hitting the steering wheel in a rear-end accident to a head injury from the windshield or airbag)
• Slips and falls
• Other situations where a head injury may occur

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends seeking medical attention immediately and receiving medical advice from a qualified medical professional after a car accident or other personal injury where someone suffered a head injury or loss of consciousness. Doctors with specialties in neurology or sports medicine can offer medical advice on how to proceed if you have seen any of these signs of a concussion.

Symptoms of a Concussion

When we talk about the wellness of someone after a car accident or other serious injury scenario where immediate medical attention is required, it is important to note what the symptoms of a concussion can look like.

Some of the symptoms of a concussion are:

• Balance problems
• Disorientation
• Drowsiness
• Personality changes
• Blurry vision
• Change in sleep patterns
• Memory loss/forgetfulness or other memory problems
• Reduced brain function
• Brain swelling
• Skull fracture
• Loss of consciousness may or may not occur
• People usually feel dazed after a concussion, resulting in reduced physical activity

Damage to your brain cells, causing these underlying conditions, will not always be obvious as they can happen on a microscopic level.

Young children and older adults are at the highest risk for injuries from concussions and can often require immediate medical attention after a concussion or whiplash.

Learn More About Your Concussion Injuries And Your Legal Rights

Victims of concussion injuries don’t always know that they’re suffering from the condition. Doctors might also fail to diagnose a concussion until after serious symptoms begin to present themselves. Therefore, it’s important to tell your doctor all of your symptoms after an accident as thoroughly and early as possible. The sooner you can diagnose your concussion, the better chances you’ll have of getting the right medical care and the better chances you’ll have of successfully pursuing a claim for compensation in court regarding your personal injury if another person’s negligence caused it.

The law office of Townsend Law, LLC can offer a free case evaluation and provide legal advice on what kind of case you may have and what the options may be moving forward. Our personal injury attorneys have years of experience across the personal injury lawyer space. They have worked on many cases as car accident lawyers for accident victims across Kansas and Missouri. The initial consultation is free, so call today to get started.