If you’ve been involved in a car accident, it’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention to have your injuries thoroughly examined by a medical professional. Many injuries have delayed effects, meaning the symptoms won’t appear until days or weeks after the initial accident. Unfortunately, this causes many injuries to be frequently left undiagnosed. However, failing to recognize the signs and symptoms of specific injuries can have devastating consequences. Car accidents are one of the leading causes of concussions. However, many accident victims are unaware they’ve suffered a concussion. However, if left untreated, this type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be fatal or result in lifelong disability. Please continue reading to learn what symptoms to look out for and how a compassionate New York City Brain Injury Attorney can help you get the justice you deserve.
What Are the Main Symptoms of a Concussion After a New York Car Accident?
The most common type of traumatic brain injury is a concussion. A concussion is caused by a strike, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to rapidly back and forth in the skull. This violent bouncing around can cause bruising, bleeding, and tearing of nerve fibers that result in your brain not functioning as it should. Essentially, concussions can lead to chemical changes in the brain. As mentioned above, car accidents are one of the leading causes of concussions. This is primarily because of the forceful impact generated by a collision, causing the brain to move rapidly inside the skull. Concussions are graded by severity:
- Grade 1 (mild): This type of concussion does not involve any loss of consciousness. However, individuals may experience temporary amnesia for no more than 30 minutes.
- Grade 2 (moderate): With this type of concussion, there’s usually a temporary loss of consciousness between a few seconds and several minutes or experience temporary amnesia for between 30 minutes and 24 hours.
- Grade 3 (severe): This type of concussion involves loss of consciousness for more than five minutes or amnesia for more than 24 hours. Grade 3 carries the highest risk for permanent brain damage.
It’s crucial to understand that not everyone who suffers a concussion will experience the same symptoms. However, there are common indicators that you should look out for to determine whether you have a concussion:
- Headaches
- Nausea or vomiting
- Double or blurry vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Feeling sluggish
- Trouble balancing or feeling dizzy
- Feeling confused or having memory issues
- Loss of consciousness
If you suspect you may have a concussion after a car accident, it’s critical to seek immediate medical attention. If left untreated, this TBI can be fatal. However, in other cases, it could lead to permanent memory problems, concentration issues, sudden personality changes, and other extended symptoms. This can occur if you’ve had a previous concussion, as you can develop post-concussion syndrome. This complex disorder can result in the symptoms persisting for an extended period after the injury.
If you or your loved one was injured in a car accident, you may have suffered a concussion without even realizing it. Therefore, you must familiarize yourself with the symptoms to ensure it’s not left untreated. At Swerling Law, we are prepared to help you fight for the just compensation you deserve.
