Concussion After An Accident? Understanding Your Legal Options

Traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions, are a common incident after car accidents, and can be a complicated injury with a long and varied recovery. Victims of car accidents who have sustained a concussion may be eligible for financial compensation from the at-fault party. To learn more about your legal options after a concussion from a car accident in Nevada, get in touch with an experienced Nevada personal injury lawyer for guidance.

What is a Concussion?

A concussion is the most common type of traumatic brain injury, usually caused by a sudden blow or jolt to the head, or another kind of hit that causes the head and brain to move around rapidly. These sudden movements can cause the brain to bounce or even twist around inside the skull, leading to chemical changes and brain damage.

Anyone who has been involved in a car accident should be watchful for symptoms of a concussion. Although symptoms are usually evident shortly after the injury, others may take hours or even days to appear.

Concussion symptoms will vary from person to person, but can include:

• Dazed or stunned appearance
• Amnesia regarding the accident or the events immediately prior to the accident
• Confusion
• Clumsy movements
• Forgetfulness
• Difficulty following instructions or answering questions
• Difficulty concentrating
• Temporary loss of consciousness
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Headache
• Sensation of intracranial pressure
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Balance problems
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Blurred or double vision
• Feeling foggy, groggy, or hazy
• Feeling “off” or “down”

Some concussion symptoms indicate a more severe brain injury and require immediate medical attention:

• One pupil larger than the other
• Drowsiness or difficulty waking up
• Intense headache that doesn’t stop
• Seizures, twitching, convulsions
• Constant vomiting or nausea
• Slurred speech, numbness, loss of coordination
• Increased confusion

It’s essential to seek medical care after any accident. Your Nevada car accident lawyer recommends seeking emergency care after your accident so that any injuries you may have suffered can be diagnosed and treated. Additionally, seeking medical care immediately after your accident demonstrates the severity of any injuries, provides medical documentation, and can benefit a personal injury lawsuit if it becomes necessary.

How are Concussions Diagnosed?

In the emergency room, a doctor will evaluate your behavior and symptoms, review your medical history, and conduct a neurological examination. He or she may also order imaging and other tests to confirm your injuries.

Your doctor may check your vision, hearing, strength, coordination, reflexes, and balance, along with memory, concentration, and recall in order to rule out or help diagnose a traumatic brain injury, such as a concussion. CT scans, x-rays, and an MRI may also be ordered, depending upon what injuries you sustained and the results of your neurological examinations.

How Can a Concussion Impact a Car Accident Victim?

Traumatic brain injuries and concussions have unique effects on each person, but generally speaking, a concussion can lead to short- or long-term complications with thinking, language, emotion, and sensation. For many people, these effects will pass within days to weeks, but may leave the victim unable to work, drive, or care for children during that time. Other people may suffer from longer term difficulties that can have a greater impact on their jobs, careers, hobbies, family relationships, and ability to live a normal life. Repeated concussions over time can also result in cumulative problems with brain function and cognition and can even be fatal. It’s important to discuss the results of a concussion with your medical care team and your Las Vegas auto injury lawyer. Your attorney will need to fully understand how a concussion from a car accident has impacted your life so that they can provide the best representation.

What Options do I have After a Concussion from a Car Accident in Nevada?

After you’ve received medical care and a police report has been filed for the accident, contact a trusted Las Vegas car accident attorney for guidance. Your attorney can meet you at the hospital if needed. Your attorney will provide representation to insurance companies as you make a claim to recover compensation for:

• Medical bills and ongoing care
• Damage to your vehicle and other property
• Lost wages
• Lost anticipated wages
• Other care needs
• Quality of life
• Pain and suffering

Your attorney will gather evidence on your behalf to prove liability in your car accident. This will include medical records regarding the severity and extent of your concussion and any other injuries. You may be encouraged to keep a journal or other record of how the concussion has impacted your life and ability to work in order to provide evidence and documentation for your insurance claim. If negotiations with the liable insurance company are not successful, your car accident lawyer will be ready to file a lawsuit on your behalf so you have the best chance of compensation for your damages.

Don’t Face the Aftermath Of A Las Vegas Car Accident Alone!

If you’ve suffered a concussion from a car accident in Nevada, don’t try to negotiate with insurance companies on your own. Contact the experienced lawyers at Benson & Bingham Accident Injury Lawyers, LLC. Since 2004, we have obtained over $500 million in damages for our clients, and we are ready to help you, too! Our personalized approach has resulted in hundreds of satisfied clients who are ready to move forward with a healthy recovery. Contact us today and schedule your free consultation with our knowledgeable team.