Car Accident Concussion? How to Tell If You Have a Concussion and What to Do

Car Accident Concussion? Here's What You Need To Know And Do If You Suspect You Got A Concussion In An Accident.

In the U.S., road crashes injure and disable 2.35 million people every year, and many of thos einvolve car accident concussion. Worse, these accidents claim the lives of more than 37,000 individuals. In Illinois alone, the traffic fatality rate went up 17% in 2017, compared to that of the first half of 2015.

There are, after all, more than 8.05 million licensed drivers who call the state a home. Many of whom drive with distractions, go beyond speed limits, or even drunk. One of whom got you involved in a recent accident.

Which is why you’re now wondering, can concussion symptoms be delayed? You may not have felt anything serious right after the accident. That doesn’t mean you walked away unscathed though.

So… How do you determine if you have concussion? Read on to learn more.

Want To Learn The Case Value Of Your Injury Case?

What is A Car Accident Concussion?

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.

Here are a few ways to tell you might have a concussion and what to do about it:

What Causes a Concussion?

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.

But I Didn’t Lose Consciousness?

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.

Symptoms of a Concussion

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.

Physical Symptoms

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.

Mind/Thinking Symptoms

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.

Emotional Symptoms

When you have a concussion, your emotions can be sporadic. You may find yourself in moods you aren’t usually in most days. You can get upset or angry easily, maybe without anything triggering the emotions.

You may also experience nervousness or anxiety for seemingly no reason. You could even be constantly sad and emotional.

If your moods don’t match up to your normal personality after a car accident, that is a good sign you should head to the doctor.

Behavior Symptoms

These behavior changes will center around sleep. You could feel tired all the time but never be able to get to sleep at night. On the other hand, you may sleep all the time, during the day and night.

Though weird sleep patterns may seem suspicious at first, don’t overlook them, especially if they’re paired with other concussion symptoms.

Can Car Accident Concussion Symptoms Be Delayed?

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.

What Are These “Delayed” Symptoms?

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.

• Pressure building up in the head
• Fainting spells or loss of consciousness
• A feeling that you’re inside a fog
• “Seeing stars”
• A buzzing, ringing sound in the ears
• Nausea, often accompanied by vomiting
• Fatigue

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