Concussions are familiar car accident injuries. Anyone involved in a car wreck can slam their head against the steering wheel or hit another passenger. Even violent shaking can cause brain injury, disrupting its normal functioning. Michael J. Lichner has helped many people with concussion car accident claims. You might receive compensation from the driver responsible for the wreck. Call our office to speak with a Joliet car accident lawyer about your accident.
Pay Attention to These Concussion Symptoms After a Car Accident
Everyone experiences a concussion slightly differently, but the following are common symptoms.
Brief Loss of Consciousness
It is common for concussion victims to briefly black out. You might only lose consciousness for a couple of seconds, and you might not notice it. However, someone else in the car with you might notice you blacked out and tell you.
Not everyone loses consciousness, and you can still suffer a concussion even if you never blacked out. But this is a definite sign of a brain injury when it does occur. The longer the duration of unconsciousness, the more serious the brain injury. Someone who is unconscious for 30 seconds or more has suffered a serious traumatic brain injury.
Headaches
Intense headaches are another common sign that you have suffered a concussion after a car accident. You might experience tension headaches or even migraines. Unfortunately, many car accident survivors discover that their post-concussion headaches are hard to treat. Normal pain medication may not provide adequate pain relief, so consider visiting the hospital for stronger medication. Constant headaches are a sign of post-concussive syndrome.
Blurred Vision
Impaired vision is another common symptom. Your vision might appear “doubled” or blurred. You could struggle to walk as a result.
Sensitivity to Light or Noise
Concussions can make people very sensitive to the slightest stimulus. Bright light could cause you to cringe and develop a headache, while even slight noises cause intense pain. This increased sensitivity is common after car accidents.
Dizziness
You could feel dizzy and see stars after a car accident. Of course, it’s normal to be “shaken up” after a car accident. You might be shaking as you exit your vehicle. But if dizziness continues for hours or days later, then you could suffer from a brain injury.
Memory Loss
Short-term memory loss is also common. You might not even remember the accident. Other people continue to struggle with memory loss because they cannot “store” new information. It is normal to feel exhausted after a car accident, but memory loss problems may continue even after sufficient rest.
Confusion and Trouble Concentrating
Any brain injury has the potential to impact cognitive function. Many concussion victims cannot focus well enough to go to work. They might have a hard time processing the information that they read.
You might not realize you are having trouble concentrating immediately after the accident. Instead, someone else involved in the crash might keep asking if you are “okay” because you cannot follow the conversation or speak clearly.
Imbalance or Problems with Coordination
Injuries to the brain often show up in the limbs. After all, the brain needs to send signals to our arms and legs to move, but a concussion can impair the way these signals are sent. A person might struggle with balance or coordination following an accident. For example, you can lose your balance when you stand, or you might struggle to lift bowls or water glasses.
Nausea
Concussion victims often feel sick to their stomachs. They might even vomit uncontrollably. Nausea is often present with other symptoms, such as dizziness or sensitivity to light or noise.
Disrupted Sleep
A brain injury can disrupt your normal sleep schedule:
- You might sleep much longer than normal and struggle to fully awaken in the morning.
- Some people sleep less after an accident and possibly struggle with insomnia.
- You might feel drowsy throughout the day due to strong fatigue.
Most people develop a regular sleep schedule over the years, and a concussion can disrupt this pattern. You might need sleep medication to return to restful sleep.
How Long Do Symptoms Last After an Illinois Car Accident?
Some people are struggling with the above symptoms for months after an accident. Although some symptoms might come and go, you could also experience trouble sleeping or headaches without any relief in sight.
Visit a doctor as soon as possible after the accident. There isn’t a single pill that can heal the brain. However, your doctor can help you manage symptoms and provide prescriptions for sleeplessness, nausea, or headaches.
What is Second Impact Syndrome?
The brain needs time to heal after a concussion. Any traumatic injury so soon after a first concussion is possibly deadly. At a minimum, someone who suffers a second concussion before the first has healed could become permanently disabled. This is second impact syndrome, called SIS.
SIS is not fully understood. Doctors suspect that the brain is unable to regulate blood flow after a concussion, so the second injury can lead to brain swelling (cerebral edema) due to fluid buildup.
Some people develop SIS days or weeks after their initial concussion. Even a very slight injury can develop into full-blown SIS. The rapid increase in intracranial pressure can cut off blood and oxygen to the brain, leading to death within minutes.
Athletes are susceptible to SIS, which is why they are pulled from the game if officials suspect they have suffered a concussion. Even a slight shock to the brain could prove deadly.
The first concussion doesn’t need to be dramatic for someone to suffer from SIS. Some doctors have seen SIS develop even if the first brain injury was slight. Head to the hospital if you suspect you have suffered a brain injury in a car accident.
Speak with a Will County Car Accident Lawyer
Attorney Lichner has helped car accident victims seek compensation for brain injuries. Our firm can help you document your symptoms, some of which might last for months. We then negotiate a settlement with the motorist responsible for the crash. Contact us to speak with an attorney in a free consultation. We have years of experience helping those in the 60431 zip code.