A Concussion Can Show Up Days After a Crash
You do not have to hit your head
A concussion is a brain injury. It happens when the brain is jolted inside the skull, and that can happen without your head striking anything. The sudden stop in a car crash can do it on its own.
Many people walk away from a crash without realizing they have one. Adrenaline masks the symptoms, and some symptoms do not appear until hours or days later.
Symptoms to watch for
Pay attention in the days after a crash, and ask the people around you to watch too. Concussion symptoms commonly include:
- Headache, or a feeling of pressure in the head
- Dizziness or trouble with balance
- Nausea
- Feeling foggy or slowed down
- Trouble concentrating or remembering, including not remembering the crash itself
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Blurry vision
- Sleeping much more or much less than usual
- Mood changes: irritability, anxiety, sadness, feeling more emotional than usual
Any of these after a crash is a reason to see a doctor and tell them about the crash.
Danger signs: go to the emergency room
According to the CDC, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away if, after a jolt to the head, you or someone you are with has:
- A headache that gets worse and does not go away
- Repeated vomiting or nausea
- Slurred speech, weakness, numbness or decreased coordination
- Unusual behavior, increased confusion, restlessness or agitation
- Seizures or convulsions
- Drowsiness or inability to wake up, or loss of consciousness
- One pupil larger than the other, or double vision
- Not recognizing people or places
In rare cases a head injury causes bleeding that presses on the brain. These signs can mean that is happening.
Why it matters for a claim
Concussions are easy for an insurer to dismiss. They often do not show on a CT scan or MRI, and the symptoms can sound vague: “I’m tired,” “I can’t focus.” If the injury is not documented early, the insurer will argue it came from something else, or that it never happened.
What protects you:
- Get examined soon after the crash, and tell the doctor if you felt dazed, lost time or do not remember parts of it
- Go back if new symptoms appear, even days later
- Follow up with the specialists your doctor recommends
- Ask family, friends and coworkers to notice changes, and write them down. They often see changes in mood and memory before you do
Most concussions heal with rest and time. Some do not, and lasting symptoms can affect work, school and family life for a long time. Read brain injury for how more serious brain injury claims are handled.
Talk to Boyd
If you or someone in your family has had symptoms since a crash, get medical care first. Then call. The consultation is free, and Boyd takes the call himself: (714) 656-2400.