Mild TBI (traumatic brain injury), such as a concussion, is one of the most common injuries caused by car accidents. Although the term “mild” makes these injuries seem unimportant and minor, they are anything but trivial. In fact, mild TBI injuries can take up to 6 months to fully heal.
What is a concussion?
A concussion happens when something – an outside force – hits the skull and causes an injury. Specifically, concussions happen when a person’s head is hit hard enough to force his/her head against the inside of the skull. There are three types of mild TBI:
- Grade 1 – The accident doesn’t lead to loss of consciousness, and memory is lost for less than 30 minutes after the initial impact.
- Grade 2 – The initial accident results in loss of consciousness for less than five minutes, and memory is only affected for less than 24 hours after the accident.
- Grade 3 – Loss of consciousness lasts for more than five minutes and memory is affected for more than 24 hours.
What Makes Concussions so Dangerous
If you’ve been in a car accident, you might think you don’t need to see a doctor because you “feel fine.” Concussions are dangerous because they don’t become apparent immediately, though. In some cases, the signs and symptoms of a serious head injury, such as a mild TBI, don’t manifest themselves for several days – or even weeks – after the accident. Because of this, it’s imperative to see a doctor right after an accident, even if you don’t feel like you have a head injury.
What are the symptoms of mild TBI?
Mild TBI can lead to a number of symptoms, including headache, nausea, memory loss, dizziness, numbness, and more. In some cases, concussions can cause confusion, disorientation, vomiting, and slurred speech. If you experience any of these symptoms after an accident, see a doctor as soon as possible. If you suffered an injury because of someone else’s negligence, get in touch with a car accident attorney from Habbas & Associates today.
