The insurance company treats concussions like minor injuries. A few weeks of headaches, some rest, and you are fine. That is the narrative they push because it keeps settlements low. But the reality for many concussion patients is very different, and the medical literature backs it up.
Post-concussion syndrome affects an estimated ten to thirty percent of concussion patients. The symptoms, which include persistent headaches, dizziness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, irritability, and sleep disturbances, can last months or years. When post-concussion syndrome persists beyond three months, the prognosis for full recovery decreases significantly. The insurance company does not want you to know this because it changes the value of your case dramatically.
The key to proving the value of a concussion case is documentation. You need a neurological evaluation, not just an ER visit. A neurologist can order the appropriate imaging, perform cognitive testing, and establish a baseline for monitoring your recovery. If your symptoms persist, neuropsychological testing provides objective evidence of cognitive deficits that the insurance company cannot dismiss as subjective complaints.
Lost earning capacity is an often-overlooked component of concussion cases. If your job requires concentration, multitasking, quick decision-making, or complex reasoning, and your concussion has impaired those abilities, your earning potential may be permanently reduced even if you can technically still work. A vocational expert can quantify that lost capacity, and the number is often substantial for professionals and skilled workers.
The timing of treatment matters enormously. If you go to the ER after the accident and the CT scan is normal, do not assume you are fine. CT scans miss the vast majority of concussions. If you develop symptoms in the days following the accident, see a neurologist immediately. The gap between the ER visit and the neurologist appointment should be as short as possible. A two-week gap gives the insurance company room to argue the symptoms are unrelated to the accident.
If you had a concussion in a car accident and you are still having symptoms weeks or months later, your case may be worth significantly more than the initial offer suggests. Call me at 312-500-4500.
A concussion often results from any physical blow to the head. That’s why it’s common amongst those involved in car accidents. Sports accidents and falls are also common causes of this injury.
Concussions fall under traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). TBI is one of the two types of brain injuries, with acquired brain injuries (ABIs) being the other.
Now, there may only be two types. But TBI alone contributes to the 4,590 lives lost every month due to injuries. People with concussions suffer from a short loss of their brain’s normal functioning.
This injury, much like how whiplash occurs, results from the head moving back and forth in such a short amount of time. Unlike whiplash though, wherein the injury affects only the neck, a concussion also injures the brain.
This rapid and sudden back-and-forth motion can bounce the brain around or twist it within the skull. In any case, both results in brain chemical alterations. In fact, the movement can also stretch the brain cells to the point they suffer from serious damage.
Car accident concussion is often not life-threatening. But they can still lead to serious health problems, especially when accompanied with spinal injuries. Keep in mind that some refer to them as “mild brain injuries,” which should be enough to make you concerned.
You should seek medical attention after any car accident, even if you don’t think your bumps and bruises are that bad. This becomes all the more true if you think you have a concussion from a car accident.
Though most people completely recover from concussions without too many side effects, ignoring the warning signs could result in serious brain injury.
You could end up needing emergency surgery. Or if your case is severe, doctors may even put you in a temporary coma. You don’t want to end up in a situation like that, so make sure you recognize potential symptoms as signs of a concussion from a car accident.
Your brain is surrounded by a liquid called spinal fluid. This fluid protects your brain from bumping against the hard bones in your skull. But when your head slams against something hard, your brain will literally bounce around in your head.
The brain is a soft tissue and this jolting can cause it to tear, bleed, or bruise. Concussions are some of the most common car accident injuries.
A person can sustain a concussion by hitting their head against the steering wheel, the windshield, the back of the seat, or anything else around them.
You don’t have to lose consciousness to have a concussion. It can take people hours or even days to realize there’s something wrong if they have a minor concussion.
There are actually three main types of concussions.
Grade 1: You don’t lose consciousness, but you might suffer some temporary memory loss (usually only lasting about 30 minutes).
Grade 2: You do lose consciousness for a few minutes or even seconds, and you suffer memory loss for up to 24 hours.
Grade 3: You lose consciousness and stay unconscious for more than five minutes. With this level of concussion, you may also experience memory loss for two days or longer.
It can be hard for people to recognize concussions because they may not remember hitting their heads during the accident. Most people can recover from a concussion in a week or two. But serious concussions or concussions made worse by lack of attention can be life-threatening.
There are a lot of different symptoms of a concussion and a person may experience all or some of them. The symptoms can even affect your mood, your thinking patterns, and your behaviors.
These indications may appear a few minutes after or months from the injury. The important thing is to not delay diagnosis and treatment. As such, contact a medical professional as soon as you notice your loved one exhibiting any of these signs.
One of the main concussion symptoms are headaches that don’t go away. These headaches may start small and get worse over time or you may have a consistent level of pain. You may notice your vision is wacky.
This could mean you’re seeing stars when you shouldn’t be or that everything you see is blurry. Dizziness could hit you when you’re sitting or standing, and this may make it difficult to walk and balance.
Loud noises will hurt your ears and bright lights will hurt your eyes. You may also feel nauseous or experience vomiting. If you’ve been in a car accident in the last few days and notice any of these symptoms, you probably have a concussion.
You may find it harder than normal to concentrate on a single topic for an extended amount of time. In addition, your favorite hobbies or activities may not interest you as much as they usually do.
Your brain might feel foggy, like you can’t think clearly. Some people may feel like they’re functioning in slow motion.
Even if you didn’t suffer any memory loss at the start of your concussion, you may not be able to remember any new information and you may struggle to recognize faces.
The simple answer is yes. This type of brain injury has symptoms that can show up days, even weeks or months after it occurred. Once they do appear, they can persist for many days or weeks.
Headache, confusion, being in a “daze” and loss of memory (amnesia) are common symptoms of a concussion. These may appear right after the injury, but can also only show up long after the accident.
In any case, make sure you monitor yourself for any of these symptoms. These are often the ones with delayed onset following a car crash.
It’s also important to note that slurred speech, as if intoxicated, can happen right after or many days or weeks following a concussion. Another sign you have this brain injury is loss of concentration or problems remembering things
Although concussions can be mild, they can still cause long-term damage, especially in people who suffered multiple blows to the head.
To many, these symptoms are more of annoyances. It’s more than that though. Headaches alone cost employers $18 billion in lost productivity every year. Headaches are painful enough and they can already result in loss of income.
What more if you combine these with the other symptoms of concussion? That’s why it’s best to visit a doctor for a concussion diagnosis.
Tell your physician about the events that occurred before, during and after the accident. Share as many details of the symptoms you’ve experienced. This’ll help him/her determine which test you should undergo.
You may have to undergo a concussion eye test, a special type of test designed to discover potential brain injuries. It involves checking for visual changes that a concussion may have resulted in.
Your doctor will check the size of your pupils, abnormal eye movements and sensitivity to light. If you exhibit severe symptoms, a CT scan or MRI scan may be in order. This will let your doctor determine the presence of serious injuries.
If you’ve had seizures, you may also have to undergo an electroencephalogram, which will monitor your brain waves for unusual activities. Once you’re taken care of, call the Law Office of Scott DeSalvo. You may have grounds for a personal injury claim.
Depending on the severity of your concussion, you may also suffer through other injury-related problems, including:
If someone else caused your accident, they may be responsible for paying your medical bills and other expenses.
Although most concussions don’t require hospitalizations for major treatment, some people may need surgery. It depends on the symptoms and how severe they are. For instance, if the exams show bleeding in or swelling of the brain, then this may warrant a surgery.
Doctors also recommend patients who have serious brain injuries to undergo complex medical procedures. If the concussion leads to persistent headaches, ask your doctor about the best over-the-counter pain relievers.
However, keep in mind that long term use of these medications can increase risk of tolerance and dependence. In fact, taking them for more than 30 days can already make you dependent on them.
First-time concussions may not be fatal, but multiple ones are. For instance, it’s possible to develop a condition called the second impact syndrome. It’s one of the known concussion implications that can lead to severe swelling of the brain.
Another of the common concussion risks is chronic traumatic encephalopathy. It’s a type of dementia associated with multiple traumatic brain injuries. You may also develop post-concussion syndrome, a long-term complication of concussions.
People who have this suffer from symptoms for an extended period of time (think many weeks, even months!). Concussions can also cause post-traumatic headaches and vertigo, which can affect you for many months.
All these should tell you to take concussions seriously and not treat it as a mere injury. In fact, if you’ve had one, you need as much rest as possible. It’s not recommended to go back to doing strenuous activities or sports right away.
You need to let your brain heal and recuperate. Even after receiving permission to return to work or sports, you should do so in a gradual manner.
Concussion symptoms can appear immediately or hours to days after the accident. Common signs include headache that won't go away, confusion or feeling foggy, memory gaps around the accident, nausea or vomiting, sensitivity to light or noise, sleep disturbances, mood changes, and difficulty concentrating. You don't need to hit your head directly — the violent motion of a collision can cause concussion without direct impact. If you have any of these symptoms after a car accident, see a doctor immediately. Documenting symptoms early is critical for your case.
Yes — this is one of the most important things to understand about car accident brain injuries. The rapid back-and-forth motion of a collision — whiplash — causes the brain to move inside the skull even without direct impact. This can cause concussion, diffuse axonal injury, and other forms of traumatic brain injury. Insurance companies argue that 'no head strike' means no brain injury. That argument is medically incorrect and I challenge it aggressively with neurological expert testimony.
Concussions can significantly increase case value when properly documented. Post-concussion syndrome — persistent symptoms lasting weeks or months — is a serious medical condition affecting work, relationships, and quality of life. Neuropsychological testing documents cognitive impairment objectively. Future medical needs including specialist care and therapy are compensable. Insurance companies minimize concussion claims by calling them 'mild' — I push back on that framing with medical evidence of actual functional impact.
Go to the emergency room or urgent care the same day — do not wait to see if symptoms resolve. Tell the treating physician about every symptom, including psychological changes and memory issues. Get referred to a neurologist if symptoms persist beyond a few days. Keep a daily journal of your symptoms. Call me at 312-500-4500 — concussion cases require careful medical documentation from the start to establish the injury and its impact. Free consultation, no fee unless we win.
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Would you like to know more about what to do after concussion from car accident?
If you or a loved one is dealing with a situation like this, give us a call any time, day or night. We are here to help. 312-500-4500
Scott DeSalvo founded DeSalvo Law to help injured people throughout Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Licensed to practice law in Illinois since 1998, IARDC #6244452, Scott has represented over 3,000 clients in personal injury, workers compensation, and accident cases.
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