What you need to know about concussions

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A common misconception is that a loss of consciousness is one of the signs of a serious head injury affecting the brain. In fact, you could strike your head on the interior of your car during an accident, remain conscious, and still suffer an injury to your brain causing serious physical and emotional impairment. Many people suffering a concussion in an accident do not initially realize their brain has been injured or grasp the full extent of the injury. It is important to learn the signs of a concussion injury and what to do about them.

What is a concussion?

Traumatic brain injury is disruption in the way the brain normally functions. A concussion is a mild form of TBI. It is caused by trauma, including the following:

• Slip and fall
• Car accidents
• Sports-related injuries
• Assaultive conduct

In addition to a direct blow to the head, a TBI can be caused by sudden acceleration or deceleration, as might occur when a vehicle is struck in the rear or when it rams into a tree or other vehicle and comes to a sudden stop. The forces exerted on the head cause the brain to move within and strike the interior of the skull resulting in an injury to the brain.

Symptoms indicating you might have concussion

The type and severity of symptoms of a concussion can vary depending upon the person and the severity of the trauma. Some of the common symptoms of a concussion include the following:

• Loss of memory of events before or after the injury
• Dizziness or dazed sensation
• Confusion
• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sensitivity to light or sounds
• Inability to concentrate
• Behavior or personality changes
• Loss of consciousness

Keep in mind that a concussion can be caused by an impact to the body, such as might happen to a pedestrian hit by a car that causes sudden and violent movement of the brain within the skull. You may not have a bruise or other signs of an injury to the head, but your brain could nonetheless be affected.

Steps to take if you believe you suffered a concussion

If you believe you might have suffered a concussion, you should be immediately evaluated by a medical professional. Confirmation of a concussion might cause your doctor to recommend that you rest and avoid physical and mental activities to allow your brain to recover from the injury.

How long it will take for you to recover from your injury varies from person to person. It is important that you follow your doctor’s advice and not return to work or other activities without his or her permission. Attempting to resume normal activities before your brain has completely healed could prolong the recovery time. Also keep in mind that suffering another concussion before you have recovered from the first could lead to more severe injuries to the brain and a worsening of the symptoms.

Just because you do not have any of these symptoms immediately following a slip-and-fall injury or an auto accident does not mean you have not suffered a concussion. You might not develop symptoms for hours or days after the trauma, so it is important for you to seek medical attention right away if you believe you might have suffered a head or brain injury.

Ontario personal injury lawyers

The personal injury lawyers at Diamond and Diamond have years of experience successfully handling claims for compensation for individuals suffering injuries caused by the negligence of others. If you have been injured in a car accident or slip-and-fall accident, you should speak to one of our lawyers. Call the Diamond and Diamond 24/7 injury hotline at 1-800-567-HURT or visit our website to speak to someone now. We offer free consultations and case evaluations to injury victims throughout Ontario.