A concussion suffered in an accident can have long-term consequences lasting days, months, weeks, or years after the accident. You might experience all three of these interlocking types of consequences: long-lasting symptoms, complicated medical needs, and changes at work due to the concussion’s effects. If you’ve suffered a head injury in an accident, Allen & Nunnally’s lawyers would like to speak with you to see if we can help. You may have long-term compensation available for those difficult long-term consequences.
Long-Lasting Concussion Symptoms
For some concussion victims, as well as victims of more severe traumatic brain injuries, symptoms can linger long beyond the accident. Doctors now diagnose patients with lasting concussion symptoms with something called “postconcussive syndrome” (PCS). PCS has been described as a “constellation of physical, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional symptoms occurring after TBI”. Similar to immediate symptoms just after a concussion, PCS symptoms can include:
- Headache
- Vision changes
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Balance problems
- Difficulty concentrating
- Confusion
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Memory problems
- Other cognitive issues, such as trouble with attention or executive functioning
- Behavioral and emotional issues
Some patients have more severe symptoms, while others have different symptoms from the ones listed above. Unfortunately, there is some evidence that patients who have had more than one concussion are more likely to have PCS. Moreover, people with repetitive head trauma are at risk for developing concerning conditions such as CTE. However, the severity of the concussion is not linked to the risk of PCS – in other words, you could develop PCS with only a mild concussion.
Complicated Medical Needs
Because symptoms vary significantly from person to person and span a wide range of medical specialties, people with PCS often have complicated medical needs. For example, an accident victim diagnosed with a concussion may have ongoing memory loss as well as irritability and insomnia. This victim may need to see a neurologist, a psychologist or psychiatrist, and a sleep specialist (or additional doctors) to receive appropriate diagnoses and treatment. If the victim has PCS, they may need to see all of these doctors on an ongoing basis over time. Moreover, some traumatic brain injury victims need a higher level of care, involving a stay in a rehabilitation facility, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and more, due to the severity of their brain injuries.
The cost of all of these specialists and therapists adds up quickly. If someone else caused your accident, you may have recourse to a personal injury claim to recover compensation for your past and future medical bills. Please reach out to our firm for a consultation to discuss your options.
Changes at Work
Finally, a concussion can lead to changes at your job or place of work. Because many concussion sufferers deal with memory loss, difficulty concentrating, other cognitive symptoms, and behavioral issues such as irritability, depression, or mood swings, going to work could become difficult. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may need to reduce work hours, change jobs, or stop working altogether. Moreover, you may need to take time off to recover and then to attend medical appointments. If you lose wages or have changes to your earning capacity due to a concussion, you may have the right to compensation. In personal injury cases, victims often recover lost wages, both from the past and into the future. Our legal team can assess your individual situation and advise on the recovery of the compensation you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a concussion the same thing as a traumatic brain injury?
Close! A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). There are other kinds of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) besides concussions, such as bleeding in the brain or penetrating TBIs. A penetrating TBI occurs when an object goes into the skull of a victim. Many symptoms of concussions and other kinds of TBIs tend to be similar.
My father just isn’t the same after he suffered a concussion in a car accident. Can you help?
Yes, we strongly urge you to reach out and schedule a consultation. Even if the accident was some time ago, your father may still have the ability to get compensated for additional medical treatment related to his head injury. Sometimes people don’t realize that their concussion will have lasting effects, and they settle their case for a small amount of money. But when concussion symptoms last months or years, a victim might want to hold out for more money to cover future expenses. Allen & Nunnally can review your father’s case to assess his options.
We’re First to Fight for Injury Victims
Do you need advice about legal rights after you suffered a concussion or traumatic brain injury? At Allen & Nunnally, we have a steadfast commitment to client service. Injured Texans, including those with severe head injuries, trust us to fight for the compensation they deserve. We never stop working tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients’ cases. To schedule a consultation with one of our Houston-based attorneys, call (713) 955-2217, use our convenient Contact Form, or email us at info@allen-nunnally.com.