Concussions from Auto Accidents: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Costs

Concussions are serious injuries that require prompt treatment and care during the recovery process. While concussions can vary in terms of their severity, many accident victims struggle with their recoveries, and, as Johns Hopkins Medicine explains, symptoms of a concussion “may last less than a day or may linger for months, or longer.”

As a result, if you are experiencing symptoms of a concussion after an auto accident, it is important not to ignore them. You should see a doctor promptly, and you should also talk to a lawyer about your legal rights. If you are facing an extended recovery process, your costs will begin to add up quickly—and you may be entitled to recover these costs under Pennsylvania law.

Recognizing the Symptoms of a Concussion After an Auto Accident

If your head hurts after an auto accident, you should not simply dismiss this as a sign of stress. While being involved in a serious collision is a traumatic experience, experiencing headaches after a collision is not normal. In many cases, it is symptomatic of a concussion.

As Johns Hopkins Medicine goes on to explain, when you suffer a concussion, a headache “may occur right away or may worsen over minutes or hours after an injury.” This is also true of other concussion symptoms. As identified by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), other common symptoms of a concussion include:

• Confusion
• Blurred vision or double vision
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty sleeping
• Dizziness
• Imbalance
• Memory loss
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sensory changes (i.e., loss of smell or increased sensitivity to light)
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

While the AANS advises seeking medical attention “as soon as possible” if an accident victim experiences any of these symptoms, it warns that accident victims should seek “immediate” medical attention if they experience any of the following:

• Headaches that get progressively worse
• Loss of consciousness for any length of time
• Seizures
• Significant nausea or repeated vomiting
• Slurred speech
• Weakness, numbness, or lack of coordination
• Worsening of any other concussion symptoms

Diagnosing and Treating a Concussion After an Auto Accident

In most cases, diagnosing a concussion does not involve imaging but instead a discussion between the accident victim and his or her doctor. As the AANS explains, “MRI and CT scans should not be performed routinely in the diagnosis of concussions. . . . [as t]hey typically do not show any significant changes and . . . an injury from concussion is metabolic and microscopic in nature that often presents normally on neuroimaging.” As a result, if you think you may have a concussion after an auto accident, it is critical that you explain your symptoms to your doctor as thoroughly as possible.

Of course, your doctor should help by asking the right questions—especially if you tell your doctor that you are seeking treatment after an auto accident. If you receive a diagnosis (or lack thereof) and have concerns about your doctor’s assessment of your condition, you should not hesitate to seek a second opinion.

In terms of treatment, individual accident victims’ needs will vary. As the AANS notes, while “[h]istorically, the standard treatment for concussion was to get plenty of rest . . . newer approaches involve therapy to target specific symptoms.” In other words, the more varied and longer lasting an individual accident victim’s symptoms are, the more types of treatment—and the longer the duration of treatment—he or she will need.

The AANS also warns of the risks of post-concussive syndrome during treatment and recovery, including the risk of fatal brain swelling in the event of a subsequent injury:

“Following a concussion, some people may suffer persisting symptoms, such as memory and concentration problems, mood swings, personality changes, headache, fatigue, dizziness, insomnia and excessive drowsiness for several weeks to months. This is known as post-concussive syndrome. . . . Second impact syndrome results from acute and often fatal brain swelling that occurs when a second concussion is sustained before complete recovery from a previous concussion.”

As a result, following an auto accident, it is critical for anyone who may have a concussion to prioritize their brain’s health. While some concussions are relatively mild, concussions are not the “minor” brain injuries that they were believed to be 25 years ago. They can have serious, life-altering and even life-threatening consequences in some cases, and this makes it critical for accident victims to ensure that they get the treatment they need.

Understanding (and Recovering) the Costs of an Accident-Related Concussion

Given the wide range of consequences that accident-related concussions can have, accident victims’ costs can range widely. However, even a single trip to the hospital or doctor’s office can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, and if you need to take time off from work to recover, your accident will lead to lost income as well.

Then, there are the non-financial costs. From physical pain and suffering to the psychological effects of living with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the day-to-day effects of a concussion can be far greater than most people realize. As a result, it is critical that you seek to recover just compensation for your losses if you have a claim.

In Pennsylvania, auto accident victims are entitled to just compensation when driver negligence, vehicle defects, and other issues beyond their control are to blame for their injuries. Drivers can file claims under their own “no-fault” auto insurance policies as well. While seeking just compensation involves filing an auto insurance claim in many cases, this is not always the case, and recovering the full compensation you deserve is not easy. As a result, it is important to seek experienced legal representation; just as you should see a doctor promptly, you should talk to a lawyer about your legal rights as soon as possible as well.

Discuss Your Legal Rights with an Auto Accident Lawyer for Free

Do you need to speak with a lawyer about seeking just compensation for a concussion after an auto accident in Pennsylvania? If so, we invite you to get in touch. To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation, call 888-777-7098 or get in touch online today.