Concussions and serious brain injuries require the expertise of seasoned trial lawyers.
A brain injury lawyer at Northland Injury Law will have pursued numerous concussion and serious brain injury cases.
At NORTHLAND INJURY LAW, we are committed to helping those who have suffered concussions and serious brain injuries. We have recovered millions of dollars for our injured clients. Located in the Northland of Kansas City, we have a combined 50 years of experience and provide legal services throughout Missouri. If our brain injury lawyer can help you, call us now for a FREE CONSULTATION at 816-400-4878 or send an email to: info@northlandinjurylaw.com.
There has been a great deal of media attention lately on concussions and serious brain injuries suffered by professional football players, many of whom have endured years of brutal physical contact that may have included constant slaps to the head and bone-crushing tackles or blocks. Baseball catchers also routinely experience blows to the head from foul balls or home plate collisions, and some have seen promising careers end prematurely. But did you know that car accidents account for more head injuries than any other event? A free consultation with a Northland Injury Law brain injury lawyer in Kansas City may be able to help if any of the above or more applies to you.
While sports injuries are responsible for about 20% of traumatic brain injuries (TBI), car accidents cause approximately 28% of such injuries. It is not surprising since there are millions of motor vehicle accidents each year that result in injuries, many of which are head injuries. Many people are not initially aware that they have suffered a concussion, let alone a traumatic brain injury. There are, however, certain signs to be cognizant of following a car accident to see if you did suffer a concussion.
What is a Concussion?
A concussion is typically a mild brain injury where you suffer a blow to your head, resulting in some degree of confusion, dizziness, and other symptoms. At the moment of impact in a car accident injury, your brain is literally bounced around inside your head, where it can sustain tearing, bleeding, or bruising of nerve fibers.
There are three grades of concussions:
Grade 1: No loss of consciousness, but you may have some temporary amnesia for less than 30 minutes
Grade 2: You suffer a loss of consciousness and amnesia from 30 minutes to 24 hours
Grade 3: You lost consciousness for more than 5 minutes or suffered amnesia for more than 24 hours
In most cases, car accident victims make a complete recovery after a week or so; some concussions can be serious and life threatening. Always seek medical attention if you suffer any of the signs of a concussion.
Signs of a Concussion from a Car Accident
Here are 8 signs that your car accident injury gave you a concussion:
1. Loss of consciousness
This is the most obvious sign since the force involved in the collision was enough to cause you to lose consciousness from striking your head on the windshield, steering wheel, or other object. You might have been out for just a few seconds, but in any case, your brain has suffered trauma. Again, be aware that you do not have to lose consciousness to have suffered a concussion.
2. Dizziness and nausea
You feel nauseous, dizzy, feel sensitive to light, and may have vomited more than once. This should alert you that you have suffered a car accident concussion, though you did not necessarily pass out at any time.
3. Experience confusion and amnesia
You may not recall even hitting your head. You may not realize for several hours, or even a day or more, that you no longer recall certain things or are confused about the date, or cannot concentrate on the task at hand.
4. See stars or have ringing in your ears
Usually, this follows a blow to the head without and indicates mild trauma.
5. Mood changes
You or someone points out to you that you are more easily angered, are irritable, listless, or appear nervous or anxious for no discernible reason. You may also be depressed.
6. Sleep patterns are disturbed
This could mean you are sleeping more than usual, have problems falling asleep, or are sleeping less than normal.
7. Headaches
Headaches that worsen or will not go away and problems with balance or blurry vision.
8. Seizures
In more extreme cases, seizures may occur.
A car accident concussion can also result in a traumatic brain injury (“TBI”), a serious intracranial condition that can affect your cognitive abilities leading to a permanent life altering disability. TBI also accounts for one-third of all injury-related deaths in the US. If you or a loved one was involved in a car accident where a concussion or brain injury occurred, consult with a car accident brain injury lawyer about your legal options.