A concussion is caused by a severe blow to the head or if your head is violently shaken. It is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that can affect brain function. The effects of a severe head injury, such as TBIs, can range from mild to severe, with the latter occasionally leading to irreversible brain damage.

If someone else's negligence led to you suffering a concussion, you may be able to sue them for damages in New York. It depends, however, on whether your injuries were caused directly by their actions.

How do you know if you've suffered a concussion? Is it severe, mild or minor? We will list the tell-tell signs of a concussion in the following article.

However, if you've sustained a concussion and want to seek damages, it's important to consult with a NY car accident lawyer for help. If you plan to sue, the lawsuit is handled similarly to a personal injury case and a lawyer can help you.

The lawyers at Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law have experience in these types of cases and can help you seek the compensation you require.

What Is A Concussion?

A concussion is usually a mild brain injury caused by a hit to the head that causes some degree of disorientation, lightheadedness, and other symptoms.   Your brain is essentially thrown around inside your skull at the time of contact, such as a car accident in New York, perhaps causing nerve fiber bruising, bleeding, or ripping.

There are three concussion classifications:

• Grade 1: You do not lose consciousness, but you might experience brief amnesia lasting less than 30 minutes.
• Grade 2: You experience amnesia and a loss of consciousness that lasts anywhere from 30 to 24 hours.
• Grade 3: You experienced amnesia lasting longer than 24 hours or lost consciousness for more than five minutes.

Car accident victims often recover fully after a week or so, while some concussions are extremely serious and even fatal. Always make sure to get medical help if you experience any concussion-related symptoms.

Signs You Sustained a Concussion from a NY Car Accident

Knowing you have suffered a concussion may be hard. 

These are signs that you may have had a concussion in a car accident:

• Loss of consciousness. Since you could have lost consciousness from hitting your head during the collision, this is the most obvious indicator. Even if you were only unconscious momentarily, your brain has been through trauma. Remember that a concussion does not require you to lose consciousness.
• You vomited or became disoriented. Even though you may not have fainted during the collision, this should serve as a warning that you have had a concussion. You might not even remember that you hit your head.
• Memory loss or disorientation. It could take you a few hours, or even a day or longer, to discover that you can't remember certain details, are confused about what happened, or find it difficult to focus on the task at hand.
• Ringing in your ears or seeing stars. This typically happens after a hit to the head and means mild trauma.
• Mood swings. You or someone else notices that you get angry more readily, that you're irritable, lethargic, or that you seem apprehensive or anxious for no apparent reason. You can be depressed as well.
• Disruption of sleeping habits. This could indicate that you are sleeping less than usual, sleeping more than usual, or having trouble getting asleep.
• Headaches that never go away or get worse, as well as dizziness or balance issues.
• Seizures may happen in more serious accidents.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can impair cognitive function and cause a lasting handicap that alters one's life can occur from a car accident concussion. In the US, TBI is the cause of one-third of all injury-related fatalities.

Steps After Suffering a Concussion In a New York Car Accident

Many people who suffer concussions tend to underestimate the severity of the injury, because many of the symptoms take time to appear. In the event of a car accident, the victim may hit their head on the steering wheel without losing consciousness or experience memory loss hours or days later. The individual may have chosen not to seek medical treatment since they were feeling well. But, symptoms may arise later.

Therefore, following an accident, we recommends the following actions:

Seek Medical Care

In addition to providing you with the medical attention you require to heal from your injuries, your doctor will be able to officially diagnose any brain problems you may have, including concussions. A doctor's diagnosis is often the best indicator of how serious your injuries are while seeking compensation.

Never Communicate or Sign Papers From The Insurance Company

Don't sign any paperwork. After an accident, even if you don't feel hurt, don't sign anything from your insurance company saying you weren't. Insurance providers are primarily concerned with paying the least amount possible, which is why they want to settle claims as quickly as possible. That means that if you sign a document rapidly absolving them of liability, you won't be able to see further compensation if concussion symptoms develop later.

Consult a Personal Injury Lawyer

Seek legal help from an NY car accident lawyer. After an accident, an experienced lawyer can assist you and your loved ones in obtaining financial compensation and covering the losses you suffered. They can also advise you on what to do in the event of an accident.

Call Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law Today For Help After Your NY Car Accident

Brandon J. Broderick feels that the victim of a traumatic brain injury should receive fair compensation. We fight for justice for our clients, even in the case of concussion-related personal injury claims, which can be challenging to resolve.

To schedule a free consultation to talk about your accident, concussion or other brain injuries, please give us a call as soon as possible.