If you have suffered injuries in a car accident, seeing a physician immediately is important. Even if you do not feel any pain or other symptoms, hiding damage could show up later. Particularly, brain injuries like concussions can take hours or days to manifest. Although some injuries are mild, untreated ones can result in permanent, life-changing damage.
Physicians can catch possible brain injuries and have the tools necessary to diagnose and treat them. In addition, the report and diagnosis of a doctor can be important in offering your damages when you decide to seek a legal claim for such injuries. The expert, unbiased reports of your doctor can serve as dependable evidence and witness testimony when necessary. Some injured victims may not seek medical help because of concerns regarding the cost of care. But your claim and settlement can include such costs. A skilled Atlanta car accident lawyer can work to fight for the maximum compensation you deserve for your concussions.
Detecting a Car-Accident-Related Concussion
The following are important considerations when identifying the existence of a concussion after a car accident:
- Whether you lose consciousness. A lot of people think that loss of consciousness takes place with a brain injury. But this must not be considered a dependable diagnostic tool alone.
- If the impact forcibly shook your head. A direct blow to your head can lead to a concussion; however, your brain can also your brain to collide with your skull because of violent shaking, leading to damage.
- Head contact. A violent impact can result in brain bruising.
- Airbag deployment. Did the deployed airbag hit your head? Although airbags are meant to save your life, they can cause injury if they are deployed explosively.
- The severity of the impact with the other car involved. The force of the collision allows the police to evaluate the speed of the cars and the force inflicted on you.
- Head, neck, back, or facial pain. Pain in this part of the body can mean strained or stretched muscles during the impact.
- Dizziness or nausea. Head trauma can lead to loss of balance. If you experience dizziness, ringing in the ears, or nausea, you may have a brain injury.
- Nose or light sensitivity. Following a brain injury, you may experience discomfort if exposed to loud noises or bright light.
- Memory loss. Brain trauma can result in memory loss. If you can’t recall specifics or names about the car accident, your physician may suspect you suffer from head trauma.
- Headache. Lingering headaches following a head injury can have varying duration and severity. Your doctor will assess such symptoms together with other symptoms.
Should You Prove that Something Hit Your Head to Establish a Concussion?
You can have a concussion after a direct blow to your head or due to violent shaking that causes your brain to move within your skull. For example, the whiplash effect or the sudden jolt can result in your brain colliding with your skull’s inside, leading to a concussion. Thus, there is no need to prove your head is subjected to a direct impact to establish the occurrence of a concussion.
Your car accident attorney will concentrate on expert testimony and medical evidence to show that you have a concussion. Doctor’s prognoses, medical records, and neurological assessments can offer detailed information regarding your injury. In addition, witness statements and your account of symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, or confusion can support your insurance claim.
When not diagnosed and treated right away, a brain injury can alter your life for good. That is why you should seek immediate medical attention to start treatment and avoid serious complications that can lead to lifelong disabilities.