Concussions can be easier to overlook in the aftermath of a collision, especially if there is no visible trauma to the head. However, that does not preclude a crash-induced concussion from negatively impacting your finances, interfering with your job, and reducing your quality of life.
In a Florida motor vehicle accident, there is a risk of concussion for any motorist or road user. If a collision occurs because a motorist was neglecting their duty of care, the injured party may be able to recover compensation for the value of their damages in a Florida personal injury lawsuit.
Our team is available to schedule your free consultation with a qualified personal injury lawyer, so give us a call today at (561) 678-0156 or contact our offices in Boca Raton or Orlando. We have the skill set and tenacity needed to secure a fair settlement for your accident injury claim.
Understanding the Signs of a Concussion After a Florida Traffic Accident
A concussion is classified as a mild form of traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBIs impede cognitive abilities, causing behavioral changes and issues with memory or perception. Concussions usually resolve on their own, but they need immediate medical attention and regular monitoring.
It is also important to be able to provide evidence that you quickly sought out medical care in order to protect your claim. This helps validate the severity of your concussion to the insurance company, and demonstrates that you were responsible and tried to mitigate your damages.
If you are experiencing the following symptoms after a jarring impact or being struck in the head in a Florida motor vehicle accident, that can indicate that you have a concussion. Common signs include:
- Disorientation or confusion
- Blurry vision
- Vomiting
- Trouble focusing
- Slow or slurred speech
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Headache
- Light sensitivity
- Nausea
- Memory issues
- Loss of balance
- Loss of consciousness
Strong, worsening, or persistent symptoms can suggest a more serious concussion. Make sure to seek an assessment by a medical provider, as the full extent of the brain injury may not be apparent. They will assess the severity and recommend the appropriate course of treatment.
Long Term Health Risks of Sustaining a Concussion in an Auto Accident
With head injuries, it is always best to be overly cautious. If you suspect that you, or another person involved in the collision, may have a concussion, get a medical evaluation as soon as possible. When left untreated, concussion symptoms can become permanent or last longer.
If concussion symptoms last an unusually long time, like weeks or even months, this is referred to as post-concussive syndrome. With post-concussion syndrome, the most common issues are with focus, memory, sleep, vision, balance, and mood. Rarely, it can become a lifelong problem.
Another major concern with any concussion is Second impact syndrome (SIS). SIS describes a condition where a second concussion is sustained before the first concussion fully resolves. In most cases, this is fatal or permanently disabling, which is why it is critical to detect and treat any concussion.
Concussions Can Have Lasting Consequences for Injured Motorists
A concussion can have significant implications for your day to day life, rendering you temporarily unable to drive, work, or complete household tasks normally. Even a brief concussion after a traffic accident can result in both economic and non-economic damages for an injured motorist.
For example, your head injury gives you headaches and makes it difficult to concentrate. You have to take time off for treatments and your job performance suffers. As a result, you lose income and miss a promotion. This leads to debilitating anxiety about being fired, creating tension at home.
The financial losses you sustained as a result of your concussion can be reimbursed as economic damages. The intangible and emotional costs of your concussion may qualify as non-economic damages. Examples of typical damages in Florida personal injury claims include:
How Do Concussions Happen in a Florida Motor Vehicle Accident?
There are two common ways that a concussion is sustained in a traffic accident. The first is being rapidly jerked one direction followed by the opposite direction. This type of motion is usually seen in whiplash injuries that occur in rear-end auto accidents.
As a result of the rapid acceleration-deceleration of the head, your brain bounces against the hard bone of your skull. This can bruise the brain, tear blood vessels, and damage nerves. In turn, the brain may swell and restrict blood flow, which can interfere with the oxygen supply.
The second way a concussion can happen in an auto accident is if you sustain a direct blow to the head. In the context of a motor vehicle accident, this could happen if your head struck a hard surface like the steering wheel or was hit by debris. This can be a penetrating head injury.
Osborne & Francis Can Help Maximize Your Compensation
At Osborne & Francis, our skilled team of Florida personal injury attorneys has an exceptional track record when it comes to settling claims for our clients. We have decades of combined legal experience that has helped us establish ourselves as a leading Florida personal injury law firm.
Our award-winning team prioritizes client satisfaction by channeling our expertise, resources, and efforts into a tireless pursuit of fair compensation for your auto accident claim. If you want to get an idea of how our firm operates, we encourage you to check out our client testimonials.
Reach Out to the Personal Injury Lawyers of Osborne & Francis Today for Help With Your Claim
A concussion can interfere with virtually every aspect of your life, including your capacity to manage a personal injury claim. That's where our trustworthy team of auto accident attorneys can be instrumental in helping you secure a fair settlement that reflects your damages.
We regularly negotiate settlements for complicated personal injury lawsuits. This means that we have a detailed knowledge of the procedural elements of the claims process and how to meet the evidentiary threshold to establish liability and recover maximum compensation.
To begin the process of pursuing the compensation you deserve for your damages, we encourage you to set up a free consultation with one of our seasoned personal injury lawyers. Reach out to us by phone at (561) 678-0156 or contact our offices in Boca Raton or Orlando.
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