Head Injury from a Car Accident? Here’s What to Do

Every year, approximately 2.78 million people are hospitalized for traumatic brain injuries like concussions.

Car accidents are the second most common cause of concussions. They account for about 20 percent of all concussion-related hospitalizations.

Trying to recover from a concussion is almost always challenging. It’s even more challenging when the concussion is the result of a car accident, though.

If you’re dealing with a concussion from car accident (or suspect you are), it’s important to take action as soon as possible to get the compensation you deserve.

Read on to learn exactly what you should do after finding out you have a concussion.

Signs of a Concussion

If you haven’t already been diagnosed with a concussion, you may want to evaluate your symptoms to see if you might be suffering from one. The following are some of the most common symptoms associated with a concussion:

• Confusion
• Clumsiness
• Dizziness
• Slurring your speech
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Light sensitivity
• Noise sensitivity
• Fatigue or sluggishness
• Ringing in the ears
• Concentration problems
• Memory loss
• Behavior changes
• Personality changes

It’s important to note, too that the symptoms of concussions can sometimes be so mild that they’re hard to catch.

That’s why it’s important to see a doctor anytime you experience a head injury. Even if you think you’re fine, there might be something going on that has the potential to become a more serious issue.

What to Do After a Concussion

If you suspect you have a concussion based on the symptoms listed above, it’s now time to act. Here are the following steps you should take after sustaining a concussion or other head injury in a car accident:

Seek Medical Care

The first thing to do after sustaining a head injury in a car accident is to see a doctor. Even if you don’t notice any of the concussion symptoms listed above, you still need to see a physician.

A physician will perform the necessary tests to determine the severity of your injury. He or she will also be able to prescribe you medication to minimize your symptoms and reduce your risk of experiencing unpleasant and/or dangerous side effects.

Seeing a doctor is essential if you want to have evidence to back up your claim and get the compensation you deserve.

If you don’t have any documentation from a licensed physician verifying the extent of your injuries, you’re going to have a hard time building a strong case for yourself.

Rest

Adequate rest is essential after experiencing a concussion. It can often take between 7-10 days (if not longer) for your symptoms to subside and for you to start feeling more like yourself. Because of this, you need to take it easy and avoid pushing yourself to do too much, too soon.

In the period after your concussion, make sure you’re getting plenty of sleep. You might find that you’re more tired than usual after being injured.

Don’t fight your tiredness and try to stay awake. Let yourself rest as much as you need. After all, it’s when you’re sleeping deeply that your body is able to repair itself and take care of the damage that’s occurred.

Rest doesn’t just mean getting a lot of sleep, though. It also means avoiding strenuous activities. You might have to take some time off from your job to avoid making your symptoms work.

This is true even if your job is not demanding in a physical way. Staring at a computer screen for long periods of time isn’t good for those recovering from a concussion, either.

Be sure to avoid activities that are draining in an emotional way, too. This might mean avoiding intense or difficult conversations or staying away from people who tend to put a lot of pressure on or overwhelm you.

Monitor Yourself

While you’re resting and recovering from your concussion, you need to monitor yourself or have someone else monitor you.

Constant monitoring after a concussion is necessary to make sure your symptoms aren’t getting worse. If your symptoms worse after the initial injury, you may at risk of developing serious complications.

If left untreated, these complications could lead to severe or even permanent brain damage.

Potential Concussion Complications

One of the most common complications associated with a concussion is known as post-concussion syndrome.

Post-concussion syndrome occurs when concussion symptoms persist for a long time after a person is supposed to have made a full recovery.

Often, people dealing with post-concussion syndrome experience mild — but still serious — symptoms such as chronic headaches, dizziness, and trouble focusing.

These symptoms might become more severe as time goes on if the person doesn’t get treatment.

Hire a Lawyer

As you can see, there’s a lot you need to after experiencing a concussion in order to maintain good cognitive health and avoid potential complications.

How are you supposed to do all these activities (or lack of activities) while also working with insurance companies to get compensation for your medical care?

If you’re stressing out over how you’re going to pay your medical bills, you’re going to have a hard time getting the rest that is required after sustaining a concussion. That’s why it’s important to hire a concussion lawyer to help you handle your case.

A lawyer will do the negotiating and heavy lifting for you so you can focus on your recovery.

Many concussion lawyers also work on a contingency basis, so you don’t have to worry about paying them until after you’ve won your case.

Are You Suffering from a Concussion from Car Accident?

Dealing with a concussion can be a scary and stressful thing.

It’s even scarier and more stressful when you’re also trying to work with someone’s insurance company to make sure you have the money you need to pay for your medical treatment.

If you’re in this situation right now and are suffering from a concussion from car accident, having a concussion lawyer on your side can make all the difference.

Do you need to hire a concussion lawyer? If you’re having a hard time finding the right person for the job, we can help.

Check out our free online directory today to find qualified, experienced lawyers in your area.