Here’s how concussions occur, what their symptoms are, and what your legal rights are if you get concussed in a car accident.
Did you know that 16,500 people seek medical care for traumatic brain injury in Missouri annually? Did you also know that car accidents rank among the top causes of brain injury? This article will shed some light on one of the most common brain injuries after a car accident: Concussions. We’ll take a look at how they occur, their symptoms, and your legal rights if you get a concussion after a car accident.
How Do Concussions Occur?
If you are involved in a car accident, you may hit your head on hard static objects like the back of your seat, steering wheel, dashboard, or your windshield. This impact may cause the soft tissues of your brain to bruise, tear, swell or bleed, causing concussions. That’s why it’s important to seek a medical checkup after an auto accident, whether you think you are physically injured or not.
Symptoms of Concussions
Signs and symptoms of a concussion can be difficult to identify. That said, some symptoms could indicate you have a concussion. Here are just a few common symptoms:
- Physical symptoms: Some of the physical symptoms of a concussion include seeing blurry images, experiencing difficulties in speech, nausea, light and noise sensitivity, and dizziness.
- Cognitive symptoms: Cognitive concussion symptoms may range from impaired judgment, confusion, loss of memory, and difficulty concentrating.
- Behavioral symptoms: These symptoms may include poor impulse control, mood swings, anger, or restlessness after a car accident.
Concussion and Loss of Consciousness
There is a belief that you always lose consciousness when you have a concussion. This is not true. Sometimes, a minor concussion can take days before the symptoms start to show. Below are three grades of concussions based on consciousness.
- Grade 1: You don’t lose consciousness. However, you may lose your memory for 30 minutes.
- Grade 2: You lose consciousness and memory for about 30 minutes to 24 hours.
- Grade 3: You lose consciousness for at least 5 minutes and memory for more than two days.
Your Legal Rights After a Car Accident
Concussions can be expensive to treat. And with all the medical bills and lost wages, your quality of life may be affected, and you’ll need time to recover. Who should pay for all this? If another party caused your accident, their insurance company would generally be responsible for compensating you. A fair settlement should include benefits for pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills, emotional distress, disfigurement, reduced earning capacity, lower quality of life, and disability.
However, keep in mind the insurance company may deny your claim or try to push you to accept their offer before your concussion symptoms start to show. That’s why it’s recommended to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer who can guide and help you avoid accepting less than you are legally entitled to.
Speak With an Experienced St. Louis Car Accident Attorney
If you’ve suffered a concussion after a car accident, our experienced car accident attorneys can help you get the compensation you deserve! Call us today for a FREE case evaluation.