A concussion is one of the more common car accident injuries. When you have hit your head, or you have suffered whiplash, your brain could suffer a serious injury. If you have suffered any type of brain injury in a car accident, you may be entitled to substantial financial compensation.
First, you need to file either an insurance claim or a lawsuit. Our Camden car accident attorneys at Savage, Royall & Sheheen, LLP, can represent you as you seek a settlement check.
Concussions Can Happen After Any Trauma to the Head
Many people associate a concussion with hitting one’s head against something. That is not always the case. A sharp and violent motion of your head can result in a concussion, even without it striking a surface. For example, when you suffer whiplash in a car accident, the rest of your body stays still while your head snaps forward. When that happens, your brain can slam against the base of your skull, causing a concussion.
Of course, striking your head, or severe trauma, can cause an even more serious traumatic brain injury. It is essential to see a doctor after a car accident to get a checkup, especially when you are feeling any kind of symptoms of a brain injury, even if you feel fine.
The Different Grades of Concussions
Concussions vary in severity. Each concussion is given a grade that indicates its severity. The grade depends on the conditions at the time of the injury.
- Grade one concussion: There is no loss of consciousness, and any type of amnesia is present for less than 30 minutes.
- Grade two concussion: There has been a brief loss of consciousness for less than five minutes, and amnesia lasts from 30 minutes to 24 hours.
- Grade three concussion: There has been a loss of consciousness for over five minutes and amnesia that lasts for more than 24 hours.
Less than half of adults who have suffered a moderate to severe concussion have returned to their full level of activity within a year. In other words, anything other than a minor car accident concussion could result in significant financial compensation based on the impact on your life.
Symptoms of a Concussion After a Crash
Common symptoms of a concussion include:
- Continuous headaches
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Irritability
- Difficulty sleeping
- Trouble speaking or remembering words
Seeking Treatment for a Car Accident Concussion
You cannot ignore concussion symptoms. The injury can grow worse over time, especially if you do not get treatment for it. The insurance company may even claim that you made your injuries worse by failing to get medical treatment when you needed it.
The most common treatment for a concussion is rest. Staying off your feet and not doing anything can allow your brain the time that it needs to heal from the injury. Your doctor will tell you to stay off your feet for a certain period and avoid any type of physical activity. First, you need to know that you have a concussion in the first place to understand the need for rest.
In some cases, the symptoms of a concussion may linger and not go away for at least several months. Then, you may need additional treatment to help you recover to the fullest extent possible.
Treatment for post-concussion syndrome includes:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Cognitive therapy
- Relaxation therapy
Unfortunately, there is no cure-all for a concussion. There is no surgical procedure that can alleviate the symptoms. In many respects, you just need to see what happens over time.
What Factors Impact My Car Accident Concussion Compensation?
You may be entitled to significant financial compensation when you have suffered a concussion in a car accident.
The actual compensation that you would receive depends on many factors including:
- The severity of the concussion
- Whether you have any lingering symptoms
- How much insurance coverage there is to pay for your injuries
- Whether you have underinsured motorist coverage
- Whether you hire a lawyer and have them fight for you to get full financial compensation
You must know the value of your concussion car accident claim before you file it. The insurance company will likely make you a low settlement offer, which you can deal with by knowing how much your claim is worth. The insurance company is always going to try to downplay the symptoms of your concussion. Since many of your symptoms are something that you are reporting, you can figure that they will never take your word for it.
Contact a Camden Car Accident Attorney Today
If you have been injured in a car accident, you may need to fight for financial compensation for your injuries if the other driver was to blame for what happened. A settlement does not come to you on its own — you need to pursue it. We can help.
The attorneys at Savage, Royall & Sheheen, LLP, know how to hold the insurance company accountable when they do not want to pay. To speak with an attorney during a free initial consultation, call us today at 803-432-4391 or contact us online.