You probably know that a blow to the head during a car wreck or a fall can leave you with a concussion — but there’s far more to the issue than that.
You don’t actually have to have a blow to the head to suffer from a concussion. Concussion injuries can be caused by the brain striking the inside of the skull. This can happen if the head is flung about, even if it doesn’t hit anything. For example, maybe you were in a car that was struck from behind. Your seatbelt did its job, so you didn’t hit your head — but you can still have a concussion from your brain hitting the inside of your skull.
What are the signs of a concussion?
One of the primary signs of a concussion is a headache. Some people will also suffer from other symptoms, including:
- Memory loss, which can be short term or long term
- Loss of a consciousness
- Behavior changes, including moodiness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to sound or light
- Feeling like you’re in a fog or groggy
- Trouble with balance
- Dizziness
- Vision changes
The symptoms of a concussion can appear immediately after the injury; however, there are some cases when they may take days to appear. It’s imperative that anyone who exhibits any signs of a concussion seeks out medical care.
Suffering from one concussion can lead to serious health issues. Individuals who suffer from repeated concussions, such as athletes in contact sports, may develop chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is a fatal condition that can’t be diagnosed until after the person passes away.
What can you do if you’ve suffered a concussion in an accident?
Anyone who suffers a concussion in an event that was caused by the negligence of another person may opt to pursue a claim for compensation. This enables them to try to recover the financial damages they’re dealing with because of the injury. There are time limits to how long they have to file the case, so swift action is necessary.