Lately, we have heard quite a bit about concussions and football athletes. In particular, Tim Tebow of the Florida Gators suffered a concussion in a recent game causing concern and raising the questions of how you know when you have a concussion and how you treat it? Although, Tebow's injury was a "legal" hit, many car accidents and truck accidents in Georgia cause mild to severe concussions also called traumatic brain injuries, some resulting in permanent brain damage. In fact 20% of motor vehicle accidents result in traumatic brain injury including concussions.
But what is a concussion? A concussion occurs when the brain is violently shaken inside the skull, for example, when your head hits the windshield or side window in a tractor trailer accident. A mild concussion does not result in a loss of consciousness but you may feel dazed. In a severe concussion, there is a period of unconsciousness and you have no memory of the event.
Often called mild traumatic brain injury, concussion symptoms include nausea, dizziness, irritability, depression, lack of coordination, headaches, confusion and other memory or thinking behaviors. These symptoms can linger for months. Because the damage is unseen and the symptoms elusive, there is no set time frame for the healing process. Rest is often recommended as a first course for recovering from a concussion.
As a truck accident attorney, proving mild brain injury from a concussion requires specific and detailed knowledge of how the brain works because symptoms are often subtle. Often, people look fine although they feel or act differently. A neuropsychologist can focus on the cognitive injuries adding credibility to the person's symptoms. Fortunately, most people recover completely from concussions, but if you have suffered an injury as a result of a motor vehicle accident, please follow up with your physician and be aware of the varying symptoms of concussions.
Learn More:
Facts About Concussions and Where to Get Help
