A concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that can happen when you experience a sudden jolt or bump to your head or body. A concussion is caused when your brain bounces back and forth inside your skull, which may damage cells and/or cause imbalances in the brain.
The full impact of a concussion may not show up immediately after a car accident but may appear a day or so later.
Car Accident Post-Concussion Syndrome
In a car crash in Greenville, a concussion can happen when the driver or a passenger suffers a blow to the head but can also happen from the force of a car having to stop or start quickly.
Some of the symptoms of post-concussion syndrome, which can last for as long as a year or more after a car accident, include:
- Difficulty with concentration
- Headaches: This is one of the most common symptoms and can generally be treated with Tylenol. If you are prone to migraines, your migraines may be worse.
- Memory loss: You may have trouble remembering new information, have trouble concentrating or have feelings of confusion.
- Dizziness
- Irritability or outbursts of temper: You may also feel depressed or sad
- Feeling fatigued
- Anxiety
- Sensitivity to light and/or noise
- Sleep: You may have trouble falling asleep, sleep too much, or not enough.
Your doctor or another medical professional will be able to run tests and prescribe a treatment plan to assist you in dealing with the aftermath of a car accident in Greenville.
Post-concussion syndrome can be serious and may indicate that the damage to your brain is greater than you realized. Get all the medical treatment you need. Take care to ensure that the costs associated with your treatment are well documented.
In addition, researchers have found that women require a longer recovery time for concussions than men. Some scientists attribute this to the fact that a woman may have a smaller neck, or more visual issues after the concussion.
Life-Threatening Concussion Symptoms
Although it is very rare, sometimes a hematoma can form on your brain from a car accident concussion. If you experience any of the following symptoms you should seek medical treatment immediately:
- One of your eye pupils becomes larger than the other
- You can’t be woken up
- Your speech becomes slurred
- Excessive drowsiness
- Excessive weakness in your muscles
- Numbness anywhere in your body
- Your coordination decreases
- Vomiting more than 2 times
- Seizures, although rare after a concussion, could occur in the first week after suffering a concussion.
- Convulsions
Treatments for Concussions From Car Accidents
If you are normally a healthy person, your doctor will probably send you home with a list of instructions after you’ve suffered a concussion. Those instructions may include:
- Stay awake 12-24 hours following your concussion, or have someone wake you up every 90 minutes to 2 hours.
- Have a friend or loved one monitor your mental status.
- Watch for signs of feeling extremely lethargic.
- Rest. This means don’t watch TV, read, use your cell phone, or engage in physical exercise.
Tips to Recover From a Car Accident Concussion
There are several things you can do to help your body recover from the concussion you received from your car accident in Greenville:
- In the first few days after your concussion injury, you can engage in light exercise after 7 days. Light exercise may help you reduce your risk of developing post-concussion symptoms.
- Avoid technology. Devices such as computers, cell phones, video games, and watching television can cause some concussion symptoms to get worse because of the changes in light and movement.
- Diffuse essential oils. Lavender essential oil in a diffuser can help reduce the headaches often associated with a post-car-accident concussion.
- Sleep. Adequate sleep is extremely important and helps the brain properly heal.
- Diet and Hydration. Eating a well-balanced diet and staying hydrated can help your body function and heal properly.
Damages for Concussion Injuries in a South Carolina Car Accident
You can only claim damages for a car accident concussion if it is related to the crash. Make sure your doctor is aware that you received your concussion in a car accident, so it is appropriately noted in your medical records.
If you received your concussion in a car accident, you can make a claim for: medical bills, lost wages, vehicle damage, and pain and suffering. In a pain and suffering claim, the judge and/or jury will want to hear from you about the symptoms you suffered from and how they impacted your life. You should work closely with your Greenville personal injury attorney to prepare your testimony.
Statute of Limitations for Car Accident Concussion in South Carolina
There is a time limit to file a claim for a head injury and/or property damage resulting from a car accident. In South Carolina, you have 3 years from the date of the car accident to file a lawsuit.
Why You Need an Attorney for a Concussion Received in a Car Accident
One of the biggest problems associated with claiming damages for your car accident related concussion is that post-concussion syndrome and some of its associated symptoms may be vague. Therefore, medical experts can have different opinions as to whether or not you have post-concussion syndrome.
Because your symptoms of the post-concussion syndrome may not be very clear, the car insurance company may not offer enough to settle your claim.
A qualified Greenville personal injury attorney, such as David R. Price, Jr., will be able to help you pursue your claim with the car insurance companies, and, in the event your case has to go to trial, an attorney will be there to fight for you in court to ensure you receive all the monetary damages you deserve. Contact the attorneys at David R. Price, Jr., P.A., today for a free consultation.
