Concussions and other types of traumatic brain injuries are among the most severe injuries in car accidents. Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that 54,725 people nationwide were hospitalized for traumatic brain injuries after car accidents in one year alone.
Not only do concussions cause intense pain and potentially serious brain damage, but they can also put intense strain on your finances due to missed work and the cost of medical treatment.
Many car crashes result from another driver’s negligent actions. An Atlanta car crash lawyer can help you determine if someone else is liable for your injuries and help you pursue the full and fair compensation you deserve.
The personal injury attorneys at Butler Kahn have decades of legal experience and have recovered sizable settlements for our clients. Unlike some firms, we focus on handling a few cases at a time to give our clients the full attention and dedication they deserve.
When you are ready to learn more, contact any of our four Georgia offices for a free initial consultation.
How Do You Know If You Have a Concussion After a Car Accident?
Many different signs and symptoms of a concussion can show up after a severe car accident. If you’ve experienced any of the indicators of a concussion listed below, get medical help soon as possible.
Signs and symptoms of a concussion include:
- Headaches
- Nausea or vomiting
- Unusual drowsiness or fatigue
- Difficulties with speech
- Feeling dizzy or experiencing vertigo
- Blurry vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Changes in the ability to taste or smell
- Sensitivity to sound or light
- Feeling dazed, disoriented, or confused
- Difficulty concentrating on a task
- Memory issues
- Insomnia or unusual sleepiness
- Depression or anxiety
- Mood swings
Signs and symptoms of moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries include:
- Seizures or convulsions
- Loss of consciousness for several minutes or more
- Intense, ongoing headache
- Repetitive vomiting or severe nausea
- Dilated pupils in one or both eyes
- Clear fluid draining from the ears or nose
- Numbness or weakness in the toes and fingers
- Profound confusion
- Loss of muscle coordination
- Slurred speech
- Feeling angry, agitated, or other sudden mood shifts
- Falling into a coma
Young children involved in car accidents can also suffer a concussion or another type of traumatic brain injury. In some cases, their injuries go undiagnosed because they can’t communicate their symptoms as well as adults can.
Here are some signs and symptoms of concussions in young children to watch out for after an accident:
- Changes in the child’s eating or nursing habits
- Persistent crying
- The child is unable to be consoled
- The child is easily or unusually irritated
- Changes in the child’s sleep habits
- Seizures
- Drowsiness or an inability to pay attention to what’s going on
- Losing interest in favorite activities
- Depressed mood
How Do I Check for a Concussion?
Because concussions and other kinds of traumatic brain injuries happen inside the skull, they’re not always immediately apparent.
Realistically, you shouldn’t check for a concussion yourself after a car accident because you most likely don’t have the training or experience to do so. If you have symptoms of a concussion, you need to see a doctor as soon as you can. They’ll be able to examine you thoroughly and let you know if you have a concussion or some other kind of traumatic brain injury.
If you aren’t brought to a hospital for evaluation after a car accident, make sure to see a doctor as soon as possible, ideally the same day as the accident. They can see if you have any signs or symptoms of a concussion and then document your injuries. After the doctor has diagnosed you with a concussion, your next step should be to talk to a lawyer so they can see if someone may be liable for your injuries.
How Long Can a Concussion Last After a Car Accident?
There’s no easy answer to how long concussion symptoms can last after a car accident. How long your symptoms will last depends on a range of factors, such as:
- The impact from the crash
- The severity of your injury
- How quickly you started treatment after the crash
- What course of treatment your doctor prescribes
In some cases, symptoms from concussions last about six weeks or so. More severe traumatic brain injuries can cause lifelong problems.
If your symptoms last for longer than six weeks after sustaining a concussion, you may have a condition known as post-concussion syndrome. Your doctor may prescribe additional treatments if your concussion symptoms don’t subside after a few months.
How Soon After Hitting Your Head Can Concussion Symptoms Start?
When you start experiencing concussion symptoms after a car accident depends on many factors. If you have a less severe injury, you may not notice the effects until a few days or weeks afterward. In the case of more severe concussions, you may lose consciousness immediately after the crash and experience other symptoms in the following hours.
While some symptoms of a concussion aren’t immediately obvious, some signs show up fairly quickly. By seeing a doctor as soon as possible after a car accident, they may pick up on some of the more subtle signs of a concussion so you can start treatment right away, which may limit the effects of your injury.
Contact Butler Kahn Today
Butler Kahn stands up for Georgia car accident victims and helps them seek fair compensation when they’ve sustained a concussion or other injuries resulting from someone’s careless or reckless behavior. If you think we might be able to help you, contact us for a free initial consultation.
