Concussions are one of the most common injuries to result from a car accident, regardless of the severity of the incident. If a victim’s head is struck in any way, there is a risk of mild to severe symptoms of this injury. Regardless of the intensity of the symptoms, a concussion qualifies as a personal injury, meaning you are entitled to compensation following the accident, especially if it affects your ability to work or carry on normally in daily life. Having an experienced accident attorney by your side can help you to receive the appropriate compensation for your injuries and ensure you can proceed in a healthy recovery.
What is a Concussion?
A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). It affects the standard functionality of your brain by inducing headaches or difficulty concentrating, and can even impact your memory, coordination, and balance. The effects of concussions are usually temporary.
Most often, people get concussions from a direct impact to the head, however, violent shaking of the head or upper body can also cause this injury. Although it is possible to lose consciousness when you get a concussion, it is – fortunately – highly unlikely.
Additional symptoms of a concussion are as follows:
- Ringing noise in the ears
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Confusion
- Amnesia
- Dizziness
In severe cases, the people surrounding you may notice that you are slurring your speech or have difficulty holding a conversation, signified primarily by delayed responses to questions or forgetfulness (you may ask the same question or repeat the same phrase).
Concussion symptoms may manifest differently between adults and children. If there happened to be a child in the vehicle with you at the time of the accident, pay close attention to any instances of them being suddenly irritable, displaying rapid mood swings (especially excessive crying), seizures, and difficulty walking.
If you suspect anyone has incurred a concussion due to a recent motor accident, see a doctor immediately. Not all symptoms will show up right away, and some may be difficult to notice or can easily be mistaken as a symptom of something else, or also brushed off as temporary abnormal behavior. Typically, a doctor will keep an individual displaying any symptoms of a concussion under observation until they are determined to have completely recovered.
File a Personal Injury Claim with the Help of a Lawyer
If you or your passengers got a concussion, you are entitled to compensation to cover the vast amount of effects this may have on your life. Damages that may result from you sustaining such an injury can range from medical expenses, costs for rehabilitation, pain and suffering, and lost wages, just to name a few.
Having a personal injury lawyer by your side can improve your chances of gaining the appropriate amount of compensation to cover all these costs so you can focus on recovering quickly and safely. Too often, insurance companies are focused on cutting costs related to car accident claims. This results in settlements that are far too low for victims to fully cover their recovery costs, often leaving them in a worse situation than they started with. Allow a personal injury lawyer to fight by your side and ensure the best future for you, despite your injuries.