When you’ve suffered an injury, pain medications and physical therapy don’t always provide the relief you need. Plus, if you develop chronic pain from your injury, it can have a significant impact on your day-to-day life by making it more difficult to take care of routine tasks. At East Coast Injury Clinic, a team of chiropractic professionals offers spinal adjustments and other chiropractic care for patients in Jacksonville, Florida, who have chronic pain.

Auto Accident Concussion

Auto accidents inflict a lot of trauma on the body. Even in low-speed collisions and fender benders, you can experience serious injuries that are dangerous if left untreated. If you’ve been in a car accident and you’re experiencing symptoms, you may need to seek medical attention right away even if you felt unharmed at the time of the incident.

A concussion can occur even if you don’t take a direct blow to the head. Sudden violent motions can cause whiplash, which often leads to your brain rattling around inside your skull. It’s this violent jerking around that causes traumatic brain injury. Brain injuries are serious and life-threatening, so make sure you know the signs of a concussion to watch out for if you’re ever in a car accident.

Signs and Symptoms of a Concussion

Nausea and Photosensitivity

After sustaining a concussion, your brain will struggle to process visual information. You’ll likely become dizzy or even nauseous as your sense of balance is thrown off. Additionally, you’ll typically have heightened sensitivity to light which can lead to painful headaches. If you’ve suffered a concussion, you should rest and avoid strenuous physical activities that put more of this stress on your body.

Loss of Consciousness

It’s common to lose consciousness in a car accident even for just a few seconds. Loss of consciousness can occur for numerous reasons, but it’s usually the result of a traumatic brain injury. While you may not always lose consciousness when you experience a head injury, it’s a common sign that your brain took some of the impact of your car accident. Loss of consciousness from a blow to the head is a serious threat to your health. Make sure to get medical attention immediately to prevent long-term brain injury.

Memory Loss, Disorientation, or Confusion

A concussion is a brain injury caused by blunt trauma from the brain striking the side of your skull. Depending on where this occurs along the surface of your brain, there may be some impairment of your ability to form new memories or recall simple information. You might struggle to recall the day of the week, forget why you’ve left your house, or call somebody by the wrong name. You might also find yourself unable to focus or pay attention to the same task for long periods of time.

Irritability and Mood Swings

Just like a concussion can affect your physical health and mental condition, it can affect your feelings and emotions. If you’ve suffered a concussion, you might find it harder to cope with even minor nuisances. You may become abnormally impatient, aggressive, or insatiable as your mood is out of balance from your head injury. You might even find it difficult to experience joy from the things in life that typically bring you pleasure. When you see a doctor, don’t hold back you feel. Report any unusual behaviors or mood swings to help determine the extent of your trauma.

Insomnia and Sleep Loss

A car accident concussion can interrupt every aspect of your life, even your ability to rest and recover. Sleep is a function of the brain, and after a head injury, it’s often difficult for the brain to enter a peaceful sleep cycle and stay there. Not only is your ability to sleep impaired, but your sleep itself is often agitated and unrestful. Talk to your doctor about sleep aids that can help you fall asleep and stay that way so your body can repair itself faster.

Seizures

Before you panic, know that seizures are typically rare even in cases of significant head injuries. Mild car accidents don’t typically lead to seizures, and concussions themselves aren’t commonly associated with them, either. However, a seizure is one of the most serious signs that someone has experienced significant brain trauma. If you or someone in your care has an unexpected seizure after sustaining a head injury, call emergency services immediately.

What Happens If I’m Injured in a Car Accident?

If you sustain a concussion (or worse) in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, the other driver is typically liable for covering some or all of your medical expenses associated with the incident. The police will interview you when they arrive, or at the hospital if you’re incapacitated at the scene. Your account, the driver’s account, any witness testimony, and other evidence will be considered by both the responding officers, and eventually, the insurance companies of all parties involved.

When you’re not at fault, your insurance company will typically help you pursue the appropriate compensation from the at-fault party. However, their interest lies in getting you back into a car for which they can sell you a fresh insurance policy. If you experience bodily injury in a car accident, you’re often entitled to compensation even beyond the basic coverage of your hospital bills and damage to your vehicle.

If you get a concussion in a car accident, you can experience symptoms that last for several months, or in rare circumstances, for your entire life. You may be entitled to pursue the offender for further monetary compensation for your pain and suffering, any indefinite physical therapy you may need, or even wages lost during your time spent recovering. There are plenty of reputable personal injury firms out there just itching to take a case like yours, knowing that car accidents can irreversibly change a person’s life. By the way, we’re not lawyers and these opinions do not constitute legal advice. Always talk about this stuff with a barred attorney with experience in personal injury.

Nobody ever wishes to experience a car accident, concussion, or chronic injury of any kind. But if you do have an accident, being knowledgeable and prepared can be the difference between a fast recovery and a lifetime of pain and stress. Know the dangers of concussions, and don’t be afraid to fight for every dollar you’re owed if someone hurts you. Nothing matters more than your personal health and safety, and sadly, an accident can take those away in a heartbeat.

Concussion Care – We On The Same Page