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Sarasota Car Accident Attorney > Blog > General > Car Accidents and Concussions

Car Accidents and Concussions

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Signs You May Have a Concussion or a TBI and What to Do About It.
First: What is a concussion?
According to the CDC, a concussion is “a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells.”
Car accidents are unfortunately notorious for causing concussions. Even though most cars on the road are equipped with safety mechanisms that are designed to prevent TBIs (such as airbags and automatic braking devices), car accidents are the second-leading cause of TBIs in America. Surprisingly, an accident occurring at relatively low speed can generate enough force to inflict mild (or even critical) concussions. The violent and abrupt nature of car impacts can result in sudden and sharp movement of the neck and head.
Similar to other car accident injuries, concussion symptoms can show up hours or even days after the accident.

Signs of a concussion can include:
Slurred speech
Short term memory loss
Moving clumsily
Speaking slowly
Mood swings
Loss of consciousness
Headaches
Vomiting
Trouble maintaining balance
Pupils being different sizes than one another

What should I do if I’ve been in an accident and believe I may have a concussion?
If you’ve just been in an accident and think you have been injured, seek medical care immediately. Concussions, if left unchecked, can result in serious debilitating illnesses. Brain injuries are easily very serious when it comes to the long-term. According to a study published in the May 2018 issue of JAMA Neurology, published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, the risk of dementia is increased with any type of traumatic brain injury – even mild.
Sometimes, car accident victims hit their head against objects in the vehicle and don’t even realize that their head has received the trauma. This can be due to adrenaline and cortisol being sent through the bloodstream to suppress pain receptors in the body. So, the bottom line is, you may not even know you’ve hurt your head after the crash!

Treating a concussion
Always defer to your doctor when it comes to treatment. Most concussions require rest to rehabilitate any injuries (both mental and physical). Allowing your brain to relax and giving it a break from engaging in activity is often what doctors recommend to TBI patients. Overworking your brain, whether it be from stress, frustration, overthinking, etc., isn’t conducive to healing from a concussion.
Sometimes, concussions are not so easy to detect. It’s important you call a doctor or meet with an accident attorney as soon as possible to make sure you are able to seek treatment options.
Go to Hale!
A concussion can easily result in expensive medical bills, time away from work (which leads to lost income), time away from school (if you’re a student), pain and suffering, and more.
If you have been involved in an accident, the attorneys at Hale Law are standing by and can help you recover the compensation you deserve. All of our legal services come at no cost to you unless we get you paid!
Give us call anytime at (941) 735-4529 or visit our website at halelaw.com to learn more or chat with us.

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