Concussions – or mild traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) – are among the most common accident injuries. However, the term “mild” doesn’t mean you should take a head injury lightly.
Some victims suffer from long-term symptoms. Others may experience delayed concussion symptoms. If you sustain a head injury due to an accident or other incident, you should seek medical attention immediately.
We discuss delayed concussion symptoms in this blog and how post-concussion complications could impact your life indefinitely.
Causes of Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries in Atlanta, GA
Concussions can be caused by blunt force trauma to the head. You can also develop a concussion from a strong jolt to the body that causes the head to snap back and forth or side to side. The sudden movement can cause the brain to shift inside the skull, causing injuries and damage to the brain tissue in areas that strike the hard bony structure.
Common causes of concussions and TBIs include, but are not limited to:
- Motor vehicle accidents, including car, motorcycle, truck, pedestrian, and bicycle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents and other premises liability injuries
- Accidents caused by defective products
- Contact sports, including football, soccer, boxing, wrestling, etc.
- Sports and recreational activities that involve the potential for falls, including skiing, ice skating, horseback riding, gymnastics, and cycling
- Assaults and other violent crimes
- Combat situations
- Exposure to explosions and concussive forces
- Medical malpractice and negligence
If you are involved in an accident, fall, or other personal injury situation, seek immediate medical attention. Even if you feel “okay” or “fine,” you could be injured. You might not experience symptoms for a few hours or days after the injury.
Concussion Symptoms to Watch for After an Injury or Accident
Losing consciousness is only one of the symptoms of a head injury. Just because you do not experience unconsciousness doesn’t mean that your head injury is not severe.
Concussion symptoms can impact your emotional, physical, and cognitive functions.
TBI and concussion symptoms include, but are not limited to:
- Trouble balancing and dizziness
- Convulsions and/or seizures
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Headaches
- Ringing in the ears
- Blurry vision
- Increased sensitivity to light and/or sound
- Trouble concentrating or a “fuzzy feeling”
- Difficulty retaining new information
- Changes in mood or emotional state, including being anxious, depressed, irritable, or nervous
- Slurred speech
- Changes in sleep, including sleeping more or less and having trouble waking up or going to sleep
Symptoms may appear immediately or come and go. The symptoms could grow worse. Anyone involved in an accident should see a doctor. You should also seek medical attention if you receive a strong jolt or violent blow to the body.
How Long After a Head Injury Do Concussion Symptoms Appear?
You may suffer one or more concussion symptoms immediately after your accident. However, some victims experience symptoms in the days or weeks following a concussion, even though they appear not to be injured immediately after the accident. Other people might not associate symptoms with a head injury if they occur weeks after the accident.
The best way to protect your health is to seek emergency medical care right away if you experience any symptoms or you suspect you could have sustained a concussion or TBI.
Danger signs that indicate you need emergency medical treatment for a head injury include, but are not limited to:
- Any loss of consciousness
- Seizures, convulsions, or twitching
- Repeated vomiting or nausea
- Weakness, numbness, or lack of coordination
- Slurred speech
- One pupil is larger than the other
- Inability to wake up or drowsiness
- Unusual behavior
Symptoms may differ for children and infants. Any changes in behavior or patterns in children and teens could indicate severe head trauma.
Delayed concussion symptoms may emerge in the days or weeks after the injury occurs. Even though you received medical treatment after the accident and the doctor released you, that does not mean the injury might not worsen.
Initial symptoms could be mild but grow in intensity. New symptoms could develop weeks after a head injury as the brain begins to heal and adapt to the injury. It is crucial to report delayed concussion symptoms to your doctor immediately.
Concussion Complications and Delayed Concussion Symptoms
Delayed concussion symptoms could be related to post-concussion syndrome. Concussion symptoms may last for a few weeks or a few months. However, post-concussion syndrome victims experience symptoms for a year or more and could experience long-term effects that impair one or more functions.
Another complication of concussions is re-injury. Studies have shown that victims who suffer a head injury have a higher-than-average risk of suffering another brain injury. The risk increases if the brain has not completely healed from the prior concussion.
Re-injury is often referred to as second impact syndrome. If you have delayed concussion symptoms, you might not realize that you sustained a brain injury. Second impact syndrome could result in death or lifelong disabilities.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is another potential concussion complication. It is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain that can impact individuals with repetitive head injuries or impacts. Symptoms of CTE can appear years after repeated head injuries. CTE is often mistaken for dementia, Alzheimer’s, or other similar diseases.
Legal Steps to Take After a Concussion Injury in Atlanta, GA
If another party caused your concussion, Georgia personal injury laws could hold them financially liable for your injuries and damages. The best way to protect your legal rights after an accident or injury is to seek immediate medical treatment for your injuries and contact an Atlanta personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
You must prove that the other party caused your head injury. Because brain injury claims are complex personal injury cases, it is wise to have an experienced Atlanta brain injury lawyer handle your claim. Your focus should be on your recovery instead of battling an insurance company or at-fault party for fair compensation.
Personal injury lawyers in Atlanta offer free consultations. Therefore, you can get legal advice to help you know what steps to take after a concussion injury to protect your rights without worrying about the cost.
Contact Our Medical Malpractice Law Firm For Help Today
If you or a close one have suffered from medical malpractice in Atlanta, GA, please call Malone Law at (770) 390-7550 or contact us online to schedule a free case evaluation today.
Malone Law