As a personal injury firm, we deal with a lot of clients who suffered concussions from various types of accidents. We commonly see concussions tied to car accidents, slip and falls, falling merchandise, assaults, and any type of accident that involves a blow to the head. So, what are concussions exactly and why are they a reason for concern?
Concussions are technically a type of traumatic brain injury, however, they’re more on the minor side. You can sustain a concussion when you’re rear-ended in a car accident as a part of a whiplash injury – a lot of people don’t know that whiplash can involve a concussion. The reason a simple whiplash can cause a concussion is because the force of the accident causes the brain to shake back and forth very quickly.
Concussions Occur in Many Ways
When people think of concussions, they may immediately think about football, soccer players getting concussions from soccer balls or cheerleaders getting concussions after being tossed in the air and the cheerleader isn’t caught by her teammates and she hits her head on the ground. As we mentioned earlier, they’re also associated with many types of accidents, so it’s important to be aware of their warning signs.
While most concussions are not serious, they can be. Some concussions are associated with spinal cord injuries, bleeding in the brain, swelling in the brain, and a serious brain injury.
Signs of a concussion:
- Headaches
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Irritability
- Slurred speech
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to noise
- Inability to wake up
- Clear fluid coming from the nose or ears
- A brief loss of consciousness after the injury
If you have been in an accident and you experience any of the above symptoms, you should visit an emergency room right away. If the doctor suspects a concussion, he or she may order a CT or MRI scan of your brain to see if you have any serious injuries.
Next: What Are Compensatory Damages in a Personal Injury Case?
If you were in an accident that caused a concussion, we urge you to contact The Zendeh Del Law Firm, PLLC to schedule an initial consultation.