Signs of a Concussion After an Accident

If you were recently in a car accident and suspect that you have a concussion, your first step should be to go to the emergency room. The tricky part about a concussion is that you do not have to have an external visible wound to have sustained one. And as you know, the brain is the machine that keeps the body working as it should, so when it gets injured in some way, prompt medical attention must always be sought. Those who have been in car accidents and the other driver was at-fault, may talk with an attorney about seeking compensation, so their concussion diagnostics and treatment won’t have to come out of their own pocket. 

Signs of a Concussion

Not every symptom of a concussion shows up in the moments after the crash. And, when symptoms do arise, they can last for days, weeks, or longer. In general, the longer you wait to get medical care for a concussion, the more likely you are to have a long recovery period. If you or someone you love has these symptoms after a car accident, then you must get help right away:

• Temporary loss of consciousness
• Head pressure
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Seeing “stars”
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Ringing in ears
• Fatigue
• Confusion as if in a “fog”
• Amnesia associated with the injury event
• Appearing dazed
• Delayed response time
• Mood swings, irritability
• Stiff neck
• Odd behavior

Diagnosis and Treatment

In a car accident, a person’s head may bounce back and forth within the skull due to the force of the collision. This can result in tearing, bleeding, and bruising of the brain. After the accident, a person may appear confused, they may not remember what just happened, and have nausea and vomiting. Keep in mind that someone doesn’t have to pass out in order to have sustained a concussion. The treating doctor will run diagnostics to identify the grade of the concussion and recommended treatment plan. Here are the varying grades of concussions:

• Grade I: There is no loss of consciousness, and there may be either no amnesia or it is present for under 30 minutes.
• Grade II: There is a loss of consciousness for under five minutes, and amnesia for between a half hour and 24 hours. 
• Grade III: There is a loss of consciousness for five minutes or more, or amnesia for 24+ hours. 

As we stated above, it is imperative that if you or a loved one may have suffered from a concussion, that you get them help right away. A concussion may be minor or life-threatening, and it is not worth the risk to be wrong if you assume it is a lower grade concussion. If it is left undiagnosed and not treated quickly, that person is vulnerable to “second-impact syndrome”, which is a potentially fatal injury which happens when someone injures their head again before the first has healed. 

The costs for treating a concussion after a car accident can be expensive. If you are in need of legal support because the other driver was at-fault and you have bills to pay, then consider meeting with a personal injury attorney Phoenix, AZ trusts for support. Contact the Saavedra Law Firm today.