Brain injuries are one of the most serious potential consequences of an auto accident. Unlike a broken limb or a laceration, you can’t always tell if you have a concussion after a car wreck.
If you have a brain injury, it may be missed by the medical professionals. The symptoms can be mistaken for a less serious condition.
Emergency rooms miss up to 85 percent of traumatic brain injuries after a patient has been in a car accident, according to some reports.
Even if you have a serious brain injury, you may walk away from a car accident apparently unscathed without the need for an ambulance. If your leg is broken, it’s immediately apparent that you need medical help. Brain injuries can be more nuanced.
Concussion after a car wreck can be appealing
However, some traumatic brain injuries can be permanent and ruin your quality of life.
There are some key indicators that you have a concussion or another form of brain injury.
Nausea and vomiting and often early signs that something is wrong. If these symptoms continue after the crash, you should contact your medical provider.
Other signs, are less noticeable and can take days to show themselves. Some of the important indicators of a concussion are:
- Headaches;
- Sickness;
- Dizziness;
- Confusion;
- Chronic tiredness;
- Seizures;
- Sleep problems;
- Ringing in your ears;
- Depression
- Irritability and anxiety
- Slurred speech
- Sensitivity to noise and bright lights
- Personality changes
- Short attention spans.
A concussion is also known as a mild brain injury, although the long-term impacts may be severe. A blow to your head results in symptoms such as confusion, severe headaches, and dizziness.
When you hit your head in a car wreck, the brain is literally bounced around inside your head where it can sustain bleeding, tearing, or the bruising of nerve fibers.
The severity of concussions should not be underestimated. Sports players who suffered repeated concussions have ended up with a grave condition that is linked to suicides. This list of football players who took their lives grows every year.
Generally, there are three grades of concussions:
- Grade 1: No loss of consciousness is experienced but you may suffer some temporary amnesia for less than 30 minutes.
- Grade 2: You suffer a loss of consciousness and amnesia lasting from 30 minutes to 24 hours
- Grade 3: You lose consciousness for over 5 minutes or suffered memory loss for more than 24 hours.
If you suffered a concussion in a car wreck, you may end up with serious symptoms and require long-term medical treatment. Call The Law Offices of Michael West at (404) 913-1529.