It’s easy to dismiss a concussion as “just” a bump to the head, especially after a car crash. Crashes can be so dramatic we may be tempted to feel grateful for “just” a concussion. However, these are traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and need to be taken seriously. If you don’t take care of yourself after a concussion sustained in a car accident (and even if you do, depending on the nature of your specific injury), you may start to experience difficulties in your work, social activities, and day-to-day tasks. When your concussion is caused by another person’s negligence, you are entitled to compensation under New Jersey personal injury law.
The difficulty that concussions pose is that their symptoms can be vague or delayed, making them harder to prove. Please read this blog to understand how you can detect a concussion in time and why concussions are dangerous. Keep in mind, of course, that the best step you can take to make sure you receive as much as possible in compensation is to call an Essex County car accident lawyer to discuss your case today.
How Do I Know if I’ve Experienced a Concussion After a Car Accident?
If you were recently in a car accident, you might feel the following symptoms. These symptoms are signs you may have had a concussion. A concussion means you injured your brain, not that you necessarily hit your head, so be attentive even if you don’t remember a bump on the head. Your brain may be hurt from sudden, abrupt jostling in your skull.
- Headache or pressure in your head
- Confusion or “fogginess” in thinking
- Momentary loss of consciousness
- A sound like ringing in your ears
- Dizziness or nausea, including “seeing stars”
- Feeling sensitive to light and sound
- Irritability, mood swings
- Difficulty sleeping
Why Is a Concussion Dangerous?
Medicine rates concussions on a three-grade scale: grade one, two, and three.
Grade one concussions do not result in loss of consciousness. You might feel a headache or have difficulty remembering what happened (amnesia) for 15 minutes or under.
Grade two concussions can have symptoms that last over 15 minutes. If there is a loss of consciousness, which is not necessary for a grade two concussion, it should not last more than five minutes.
Grade three concussions are known as high-grade concussions. These concussions can bring loss of consciousness longer than five minutes as well as further symptoms lasting beyond 24 hours. A grade three concussion is very dangerous as it may mean permanent brain damage. Such a concussion will certainly require immediate medical attention because of its severity, though it’s important to remember that doctors advise getting medical attention after any head injury.
