Concussions From Accidents

The human brain is very complex, and any injury can dramatically change how the brain functions. At the law firm of Slappey & Sadd, we have represented many clients suffering from concussions, and we understand how devastating these injuries can be. Victims should immediately obtain the medical attention that they need and then speak with an attorney about whether they can receive compensation for their injuries. Please contact us today for free at 404.255.6677.

Any traumatic blow to the head can damage brain tissue and blood vessels. Brain injuries can also occur when a blow to the body causes the head to whip back and forth or to the side, which can also damage the brain. Many of our clients suffer concussions in:

• Auto accidents
• Truck accidents
• Pedestrian accidents
• Slip and falls or trip and falls
• Contact sports
• Violent crimes

Some damage is caused by brain tissue contacting with the inner lining of the skull. But scientists have also discovered that deep parts in the brain shake faster and more intensely than other parts of the brain after a blow, and this difference in movement can profoundly alter how the brain functions. In any event, a serious injury often can damage the brain, even if that damage is not visible to the naked eye.

A concussion is best identified by its symptoms, including confusion, slurred speech, poor memory, and loss of balance or coordination. Victims can also experience mood swings, nausea, convulsions, and increased sensitivity to noise and light. These symptoms might not immediately manifest after an accident but could take a day or two to come to light.

Many people black out for a few seconds or minutes after a traumatic blow. This is probably the easiest way to know you have a concussion. However, not everyone loses consciousness, and it is not required for a concussion diagnosis.

Instead, a doctor will diagnose a concussion by examining the patient’s reflexes and mental status, such as their short-term memory. A doctor might also order certain imaging tests, such as a CT scan, to look for additional damage like internal bleeding in the brain. Increasingly, doctors are simply watching patients in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic accident and waiting for concussion symptoms to manifest.

Post-concussion syndrome refers to the prevalence of symptoms lasting for weeks or months after the accident. With proper rest and care, most concussions will resolve within a few months. However, other people will continue to experience symptoms for much longer.

Doctors are not entirely sure what causes post-concussion syndrome. They speculate that the traumatic blow to the head disrupted how nerves send messages. Alternately, some doctors believe that psychological factors are to blame. Regardless of the cause, post-concussion syndrome can negatively impact a person’s life for months or years.

If you are still experiencing confusion and impaired memory or speech, you should talk with your doctor. Your brain injury might have been much more serious than initially diagnosed, and you might need to undertake additional rehabilitation or therapy for treatment.

There is no way to treat a concussion directly. Instead, a doctor will try to manage your symptoms until the concussion clears up on its own. A doctor can prescribe medicine to help with pain management and will likely recommend that you get plenty of fluids. If you suffered cuts to the head, then a doctor might give you a topical ointment to prevent infection in the wounds.

You might be told to take it easy for a while, especially since suffering a concussion often makes it harder to recover from any subsequent blow to the head. However, your doctor might not recommend that you stay in bed but instead introduce light physical activity, which can improve your mood.

Contact sports are particularly dangerous for people who have suffered concussions, in particular teens. Some research has shown that adolescents who suffered a concussion recover from subsequent concussions much more slowly. And repeated low-level trauma to the brain is linked with CTE, the disease that has struck many professional football players.

If your child has suffered a concussion in an accident, you should talk to your doctor about reintroducing sports to their schedule. Most high schools and colleges have gotten much better at pulling athletes with concussions to allow them to recover before they retake the field. But you should still get all the information you can before deciding that your child is ready to return to sports.

A concussion dramatically alters a victim’s life, making it difficult if not impossible to continue to attend school or to go to work. Many people will incur thousands of dollars in medical bills, especially if they had to spend time in the hospital. Furthermore, a concussion can affect a person’s quality of life and personal relationships.

All these losses warrant compensation. To receive reimbursement for medical expenses or lost wages, you should carefully document the losses. The person who caused the accident that injured you should be responsible for your losses, and you can submit a claim with their insurer or file a lawsuit.

You can also receive compensation for intangible losses like pain, suffering, emotional distress, and impaired relationships. Your Atlanta personal injury attorney can discuss what evidence you must present to a jury to convince them of the seriousness of your losses.

The days after a concussion are difficult ones, with many victims having to rely heavily on family members to help them get through the day. At Slappey & Sadd, our Atlanta personal injury attorneys appreciate the stress you might feel. However, there is little time to waste if you hope to receive compensation from the person responsible for your brain injury.

Contact us today. We can swing into action and seek the maximum compensation available for your injuries. All you have to do is pick up the phone and call us at 404.255.6677 for a free initial consultation.