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If you’ve ever had a concussion, it is no fun matter. Even a mild concussion can leave you feeling dizzy, nauseous, and unable to focus. The CDC estimates that over 200,000 people are hospitalized each year due to traumatic brain injuries like concussions, and nearly 70,000 patients die.
However, these statistics don’t account for injuries that are treated in emergency room settings, urgent care facilities, and primary care offices, not to mention cases that go undiagnosed and untreated. In addition, symptoms may not occur immediately following head trauma, and if you don’t understand the signs of delayed concussion, you might not know to seek medical help.
When another person or entity is to blame for your suffering from a personal injury like a concussion, it’s important to get a diagnosis and start treatment so that you can recover quickly and receive fair compensation. Here’s what you need to know about delayed concussions so you can get the help you need as soon as possible.
You might feel okay in the immediate aftermath of an accident, even if you’ve suffered head trauma. However, you may start to notice symptoms hours or even days later. Can concussion symptoms be delayed? The answer is yes.
Every accident is different, and so is every injury. In some cases, the onset of concussion symptoms may not be immediately recognizable. This delay typically occurs with milder concussions where the victim doesn’t lose consciousness or exhibit other significant signs of trauma right away.
A person may appear lucid and alert at first, only to begin developing symptoms later. The timing can also depend on factors like the force of the impact, the location of the injury, and the individual’s medical history or prior concussions.
Suppose that you experience delayed vomiting after a concussion or delayed, ongoing, or intermittent symptoms of any kind. In that case, it’s best to seek medical help so you can receive the proper treatment.
Getting evaluated by a healthcare professional can help ensure that you receive an accurate diagnosis and the appropriate care. Early intervention can also reduce the risk of complications and support a safer recovery process.
Often associated with car accidents or sports injuries, mild concussions may cause minor symptoms like:
These symptoms are often unpleasant but relatively minor and last only a short time following an impact on the head or body.
A moderate concussion is distinguishable from a milder version because symptoms tend to be more intense and last longer, up to several hours or days. Headache, confusion, dizziness, and nausea may be persistent, for example.
Other symptoms could include:
A moderate concussion requires downtime for recovery, as symptoms can have a major impact on normal daily activities. Proper diagnosis and care can help to speed the recovery process and prevent worsening or secondary symptoms.
The main symptom that sets a severe concussion apart from lesser injuries is that it results in a loss of consciousness, which may occur immediately following head trauma or shortly afterward.
Typical symptoms like headache and confusion will be more severe than mild or moderate cases, and you may also suffer:
These symptoms are cause for concern and are a sign that you should seek immediate medical attention. What if they’re intermittent? Can concussion symptoms come and go? Concussion symptoms can be delayed or fade away and then return.
You might feel okay in the immediate aftermath of an accident, even if you’ve suffered head trauma. However, you may start to notice symptoms hours or even days later. Can concussion symptoms be delayed? The answer is yes.
Every accident is different. In some cases, the onset of concussion symptoms may not be immediately recognizable. This delay typically occurs with milder concussions where the victim doesn’t lose consciousness or exhibit other significant symptoms right away. It could also depend on the impact experienced and the type of concussion the individual has.
Suppose that you experience delayed vomiting after a concussion or delayed, ongoing, or intermittent symptoms of any kind. In that case, it’s best to seek medical help so you can receive a diagnosis and begin treatment.
If you begin experiencing delayed concussion symptoms after an accident, the most important step is to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Even if your symptoms seem minor, a concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and should always be taken seriously. A doctor can perform a neurological exam and order imaging if necessary to determine the extent of the injury.
Be sure to document everything: when your symptoms started, how they’ve progressed, and any activities that may have triggered them. This information can be useful not only for your medical care but also if you’re pursuing a personal injury claim.
Avoid strenuous activity, screen time, or anything that might worsen symptoms until you’ve received medical guidance. Rest and close monitoring are often recommended in the early stages of recovery.
If another party’s negligence caused your concussion, consider speaking with a personal injury attorney to explore your legal options. Delayed symptoms can complicate a case, so having strong medical records and legal support can make a significant difference.
Concussion symptoms can be delayed by several hours, a full day, or even multiple days following the initial injury. In some cases, individuals don’t connect their symptoms to the head injury right away, especially if the trauma seemed minor at the time. It’s not uncommon for signs like headaches, memory issues, or mood changes to gradually develop over the first 24 to 72 hours after the accident.
Some symptoms may take even longer to surface, particularly cognitive or emotional changes such as irritability, depression, or sleep disturbances. It’s crucial to monitor your health closely in the days following any head injury – even if you initially felt fine.
Because of this unpredictability, medical professionals often recommend ongoing observation during the first few days post-injury. If symptoms appear or worsen, immediate medical follow-up is advised to rule out more serious complications like brain swelling or bleeding.
Any head trauma has the potential to cause a concussion, but you should also know that a blow to the body, especially one that causes the head to snap back and forth, could also contribute to a traumatic brain injury. What are the most common causes of concussions?
Falls are among the most common causes of traumatic brain injury, particularly among children and seniors. Children may fall frequently as their motor skills develop and they learn to walk, run, and navigate their environment. Elderly adults could fall due to natural side effects of aging, like loss of muscle mass and mobility.
You may also suffer a fall due to environmental factors like uneven or slippery surfaces (wet or icy), cluttered walkways, or poor lighting conditions. When the negligence of others is to blame for a slip and fall incident that causes concussion or other injuries, the owner of the property may be liable for compensation.
Concussions have become a major concern in high-impact sports like football, where re-injury can exacerbate traumatic brain injuries and lead to significant long-term effects. It is estimated that around 3.8 million sports-related concussions occur each year, with many going unreported, undiagnosed, and untreated, increasing risks for re-injury and worsening symptoms.
Considering the forces at play in a vehicle collision, it’s no surprise that concussions are common in car accidents. Whether your vehicle is rear-ended, hit head-on, or involved in a side collision, your head may strike a surface in the car, or your body might be slammed forward and back or side to side, resulting in traumatic brain injury. Even if you don’t have immediate symptoms, it’s best to seek medical attention after an accident and watch for signs of a delayed concussion so you can receive diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.
While most people recover fully from a single concussion, repeated head trauma can increase the risk of long-term neurological conditions, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated concussions, often seen in athletes, military personnel, and others exposed to frequent head injuries.
CTE symptoms may not appear until years or even decades after the injuries occurred. Common signs include memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, aggression, depression, and eventually progressive dementia. Although CTE can currently only be diagnosed post-mortem, ongoing research continues to investigate better methods of detection and prevention.
This connection underscores the importance of taking every head injury seriously. Even a seemingly minor concussion can have lasting effects if not properly addressed. If you’ve suffered multiple concussions or continue to experience lingering symptoms, it’s wise to speak with both a medical professional and an attorney – especially if your injuries stem from another party’s negligence.
When you suffer a concussion in an accident that was the fault of another person or entity, whether you slipped and fell or you were involved in a car accident, you may have a claim for compensation. Even if there are late concussion symptoms, this reimbursement can help you cover expenses like medical bills and lost wages while you recover.
For more information, please contact our Augusta personal injury lawyers at Nicholson Revell Personal Injury Attorneys to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve Augusta, GA, and its surrounding areas:
Nicholson Revell Personal Injury Attorneys
4137 Columbia Rd, Augusta, GA 30907
(706) 722-8784