Being involved in a car wreck can change a person's life in just a few seconds. Our car accident lawyers at The Fitzpatrick Law Firm understand the emotional and economic stress caused when you suffer trauma from a concussive brain injury.

Our team of brain injury attorneys is here to help you navigate your personal injury case. From working with your insurance company to acquiring damages for future medical expenses loss, and suffering emotional trauma loss, we understand how a concussion from a car accident can result in a permanent life change.

The Medical Science of a Concussion aka Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

When we hear someone talking about concussions, our understanding is usually built around our knowledge of sports injuries. We consider how professional football players, hockey players, and other athletes who play extreme sports that include brutal physical contact are more susceptible to acquiring serious brain injuries than the average person.

While sports injuries account for around 20% of concussions, it's actually auto accidents that are responsible for the most brain injuries. More head injuries are caused by motor vehicle accidents each year than by any other cause, accounting for 28% of traumatic brain injuries.

What is a Concussion?

A concussion is a form of head trauma that disrupts normal brain functioning. While a concussive injury is categorized as a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), head injuries of any kind can have long-lasting effects.

Clinically, concussions are described as a sudden and transient altering of mental status, consciousness, and memory. When there is force involved with a head injury, it should be taken seriously, and receive medical treatment as soon as possible.

How Do Car Accidents Cause Concussions?

Car accident victims may experience immediate signs of a head injury or they may not realize when a concussion occurs. There are several things to do when you are a victim of a car crash in Atlanta, but it's important to seek medical attention any time you have been a part of a serious motor vehicle crash, whether you hit your head on something or not.

While such injuries might be caused by hitting your head on the steering wheel, window, or even headrest, many accident victims suffered trauma to their brain when no impact to the head occurred at all.

A car crash is often the result of sudden acceleration and sudden impact. The unexpected and extreme movement of your head being whipped forward and backward can cause the brain to shift and rattle inside your head, against the bones of your skull. A car accident victim might lose consciousness, experience blurry vision, or suffer temporary amnesia, among other symptoms caused by a whiplash-type injury to the brain.

Signs Your Car Accident Gave You a Concussion or Brain Injury

After an auto accident, concussion symptoms might present themselves as an obvious sign immediately after the wreck. Alternatively, it may take up to a few days to start experiencing trauma you were not initially aware existed.

Most mild brain injury cases result in complete recovery, but for some people, even mild trauma can lead to long-term or even life-threatening circumstances for the injured person. If you or a loved one were recently a victim of a car wreck, your first step should be to seek medical attention.

If any of the following symptoms are present, it's possible that a mild traumatic brain injury occurred:

Loss of consciousness
Headaches or persistent head or neck pain
Nausea
Mental confusion of any kind
Concentration issues
Memory loss, confusion, or sign of amnesia
Sensitivity to light and sound
Dizziness or loss of balance
Problems falling asleep or sleeplessness
Mood swings or irritability
Extreme feelings of emotions, particularly anger or sadness
Depression or anxiety

Despite the loss of consciousness being the most obvious sign of a concussion, there do not need to be extreme or immediate signs that you might have a serious intracranial condition that is affecting your cognitive functioning.

How Long Does A Concussion Last After A Car Accident?

Concussion symptoms from your car accident will typically last from a couple of weeks up to a month. However, if after a month your symptoms do not subside, you may be diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. Post-concussion syndrome can last for months or even years.

If your medical provider believes you are the victim of a car crash that resulted in post-concussion syndrome, you may develop a permanent life-altering disability. It's important to contact a car accident lawyer who is experienced in working with personal injury and auto accident cases to help receive financial and personal damages related to your case.

Types Of Compensation Available For Traumatic Brain Injuries

Although most people who suffer a mild brain injury after a car accident will fully recover, there are certainly instances where a car accident injury gave victims long-term medical problems.

Meeting with a lawyer who specializes in traumatic brain injury-related cases can help you to receive the necessary compensation you need to pay medical bills and receive future medical treatments. In addition to financial damages, your brain injury attorney will fight for compensation related to emotional trauma.

The types of compensation available for motor vehicle crash victims suffering concussion injuries are:

Past and future medical bills.
Loss of wages from not being able to work.
Expenses related to rehabilitation and treatment services.
Emotional trauma, including pain and suffering
Loss of consortium claim by a spouse for TBI injury-related deaths or disabilities.

What To Do If You Have Signs of Concussion After a Car Accident?

The three most important things to do if you or a loved one has concussion symptoms after a car wreck are:

Seek immediate medical treatment.
File your personal injury claims with your insurance company.
Discuss your car accident concussion case with an attorney.

Have You Suffered A Concussion After A Car Accident? Contact The Fitzpatrick Firm Today

Our Atlanta car accident attorneys at The Fitzpatrick Law Firm are here to answer your questions, review your case, and work on your behalf to seek compensation for compensatory and punitive damages related to your brain injury case.

If you are a motor vehicle accident victim and have shown symptoms of a concussion or other brain trauma, contact our law offices for a free consultation by calling us at (678)-607-5550 or filling out our form below.

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