Various types of accidents can potentially result in concussions. Some of these accidents may befall you because someone else was negligent.
For example, perhaps you’re at a store and an item falls to the ground. Neither management nor any of the store’s employees monitor the premises actively for such hazards, so no one spots this hazard and removes it in a timely manner. As a result, you turn a corner and trip over the object, striking your head and suffering a concussion.
In this scenario, you could theoretically file a premises liability claim to recover compensation from the insurance of the store’s ownership. The compensation you recover may help you pay for your medical bills and other such expenses.
However, you might not think to seek medical attention after your accident because you don’t realize that you have a concussion. The symptoms of a concussion are not always immediately noticeable.
Potential Symptoms of a Concussion
None of this is meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Only a doctor can tell you if you have sustained a concussion. That said, common symptoms of a concussion that you may experience after an accident include the following:
- Headache
- A sense of pressure in the head
- Sensitivity to light and/or noise
- A general feeling of “fogginess” or “sluggishness”
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory difficulties
- A general sense of feeling “off”
There are also a number of symptoms you may experience without necessarily realizing it yourself. These will be symptoms that others might observe. They include:
- Inability to clearly explain what happened immediately before an accident, immediately after an accident, or both
- Appearing to be in a generally dazed state
- Appearing confused (such as not being able to follow basic instructions when assigned a task at work)
- Changes in mood and/or behavior
- Slow responses when answering questions
- Loss of consciousness, even if only for a brief period of time
These are symptoms you might not be aware of. However, others may tell you they’ve noticed you behaving in these ways after you’ve suffered some sort of blow to the head.
Again, this is not official medical advice. See a doctor immediately if you have any reason whatsoever to believe you have suffered a concussion.
You should ideally seek medical attention right away after being involved in any type of accident. Even if you don’t notice symptoms in the immediate aftermath of your accident, you want to check with a doctor to confirm that you haven’t been harmed in a manner that you may be unaware of. It’s always best to err on the side of caution.
Along with receiving the treatment, you need early, seeing a doctor soon after being involved in an accident may be important if you ever decide to file a claim or lawsuit to pursue compensation for your medical bills after being involved in an accident resulting from someone else’s negligence. Being able to cite medical records will help you demonstrate to an insurance company that there is a clear link between your injuries and the accident you are referencing in your claim.
After seeing a doctor, schedule an initial consultation with a personal injury attorney as soon as you can. At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, we will review your case and advise you on the next steps you should take. To learn more about what we can do for you, contact us online or call us at 888-988-9467.