Concussions are a very well-studied and common kind of injury. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control estimate that there are approximately between 1.6 and 3.8 million concussions a year in the United States alone. Car accidents frequently result in concussions, and unsurprisingly so given how many ways the human body may be tossed around in the middle of a collision. If you’ve recently been in a car accident, it makes perfect sense that you’d want to learn about concussions and what the signs of a concussion are. This blog post addresses exactly that, so please read it thoroughly. As you gather the information you need to address your injury, don’t forget that you deserve compensation and experienced representation to help you get that compensation. Be sure to call our Rockland County car accident lawyers as soon as you can.
What Is a Concussion?
Concussions are also called mild traumatic brain injuries or mTBIs. They can result in a range of health concerns like short-term memory loss or long-term personality change. A typical mistake people make with concussions is waiting after the initial impact. Symptoms can take a while to emerge, and even if an emergency room doctor was dismissive about the severity of your concussion, doesn’t mean you should treat it any less seriously.
Brain injuries are very dangerous. If you’ve experienced head trauma, you’ll be well-served by seeking medical attention as soon as possible. Appropriate medical care can go a long way when sought promptly.
Don’t be too confident if you didn’t hit your head during your car accident. Certainly, concussions can happen if you hit your head against the headrest or steering wheel, but you can also get a concussion just by the movement of the car. Abrupt and strong car movements, as occur in car accidents, can result in your brain shifting and slamming into the underside of your skull.
Sometimes, there isn’t any external sign of your injury, but a skilled doctor might diagnose you with it after a check-up to discover less obvious evidence.
What Are the Signs of Car Accident Concussions?
As we’ve discussed, signs of a concussion can appear in a very varied time range. You may notice them immediately afterward, or you may feel fine for days or weeks before these emerge.
Head trauma of any degree can become deadly and it’s wise not to be overconfident. Take care to make an appointment as soon as you can with your primary doctor after an accident.
Concussion symptoms can be:
- Headaches, nausea, dizziness, memory loss, and mental confusion
- Difficulty speaking and slurred speech
- Sensitivity to light and sounds
- Mood swings, depression, restlessness, irritability, or difficulty sleeping.
Concussion symptoms usually pass after a couple of weeks or a month. However, if they do not, you may be at risk for post-concussion syndrome, which is also called post-concussive syndrome.
