Concussions are Silent Injuries with a Loud Impact

Concussions are a common, but serious, injury following most accidents, especially motor vehicle accidents. If you are diagnosed with or have any symptoms that could indicate you may be suffering from a concussion after an accident, it is important that you get immediate medical attention. You should note that your head does not have to hit anything in order for you to suffer a concussion. Since concussions are the most common types of traumatic brain injuries caused from motor vehicle accidents, it is imperative that you are closely monitored after a collision.

What is a Concussion?

A concussion can happen from any intense trauma that damages tissues or blood vessels in the brain, whether sustained during a car crash, slip and fall or any other type of accident. Although concussions are commonly referred to as a mild type of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and may not be deemed life threatening, it can nevertheless have serious impacts on the victim’s life.

Detecting concussions in accident victims is not always easy. You do not have to lose consciousness or pass out after an accident in order to suffer a concussion. Common symptoms of a concussion can last for hours, days, weeks or even months and include:

• Headache or a feeling of pressure in your head
• Temporary loss of consciousness
• Confusion or feeling dazed
• Amnesia about the traumatic event that resulted in the concussion
• Dizziness
• Ringing in the ears
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Slurred speech
• Fatigue
• Having a delayed response to questions

What Happens if You Fail to Seek Immediate Medical Attention for a Concussion?

Symptoms of a concussion can take days or even weeks to surface. As such, if you or a loved one has been involved in a serious accident, it is important to seek immediate medical attention. Head trauma can be serious, especially if not properly diagnosed and treated in a timely manner.

Untreated concussions can result in symptoms that prevent you from maintaining your normal everyday routine – at work, at school, and in your relationships – because they diminish your physical ability and affect your mental health.

Mental health is one of the biggest concerns for concussion victims. Any head injury, including a concussion, can cause  you to experience anxiety disorder, depression, and even various phobias you may have never experienced before.

Complications of a Concussion

Although most victims fully recover from a concussion, complications can result. Some potential complications of concussion include:

• Post-traumatic headaches. Some people experience concussion-related headaches up to seven days after a brain injury.
• Post-traumatic vertigo. Some people experience a sense of spinning or dizziness for days, weeks or months after a brain injury.
• Post-concussion syndrome. A small proportion of people (15% to 20%) may have symptoms including headaches, dizziness and thinking difficulties that persist beyond three weeks. If these symptoms persist beyond three months, this becomes characterized as post-concussion syndrome.
• Cumulative effects of multiple brain injuries. Active research is currently underway to study the effects of repeated head injuries that don’t cause symptoms (subconcussive injury). At this time, there’s no conclusive evidence indicating that repeated brain injuries contribute to cumulative effects.
• Second impact syndrome. Rarely, experiencing a second concussion before signs and symptoms of a first concussion have resolved may result in rapid and usually fatal brain swelling.

Contact an Experienced TBI Attorney Today!

If you or a loved one has suffered any head trauma, such as a concussion, in an accident that was caused by the negligence of another party, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates can help! For more information or to schedule a free consultation with one of our personal injury lawyers, call 949-727-9300.