How do I know if I’ve had a Concussion?

Despite the seriousness of a concussion, sometimes determining if you’ve suffered one can be a bit challenging. An impact to the head may be minimal and not lead to any immediate symptoms, however, if left untreated, it can turn serious. So what to do you if you think you’ve might have suffered a concussion? It is best to always err on the side of caution and immediately stop what you are doing and seek treatment. If treatment is not readily available, follow the steps outlined below.

NINE STEPS TO TAKE TO DETERMINE IF A CONCUSSION WAS SUFFERED

1. Check for consciousness: One of the sure signs of a concussion is the loss of consciousness. However, it not a requisite. If the person is unconscious, check to make sure their airways, breathing, and heart rate are all normal.
2. Determine their mental state: If the victim appears to have a difficult time concentrating, foggy thoughts, a loss of memory, difficulty forming new memories, and a feeling of slowness, there is a good chance they suffered a concussion.
3. Determine their mental awareness: if the victim is exhibiting the above symptoms, you will need to determine the extent of their awareness. Ask them simple questions such as what day is it and where they are. If they are able to answer with ease, try more difficult questions to see if they have trouble with those.
4. Ask them how they physically feel: A victim of a concussion will often suffer from the following – nausea or vomiting, strong headaches, heightened sensitivity to light and sound, problems with their balance.
5. Check their eyes: If there is a flash light handy, check the victim’s pupils. If their pupils do not react to the flash light in their eyes, it is a sign of a concussion.
6. Check to see how tired they are: A victim of a concussion will often experience being very tired and needing more sleep than usual, difficulty falling asleep or amnesia, sleep less than usual, or highly lethargic and more exhausted during the day than usual.
7. Look for changes in their emotional state: Victims of concussions will often have strange changes in their emotional state, have erratic emotions, and high levels of anger, sadness, anxiety, and fear.
8. Always monitor the victim for an extended period of time after the incident to make sure they do not worsen, which can happen. Allow them to rest, as rest is the best medicine, but make sure to wake them periodically to make sure everything is alright.
9. If a concussion is left untreated, it may result in a coma. Recovery is essential, and the likelihood of suffering a severe concussion increases with each head injury.

CONTACT CLEARWATER TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY ATTORNEYS DOLMAN LAW GROUP

Concussions, a form of traumatic brain injury, can happen any time there is an impact to the head. This can happen in a number of scenarios, the most common being slip and falls, automobile accidents, and motorcycle accidents. No matter how severe the impact, or whether or not the victim loses consciousness, a serious injury can be suffered.

If you, a loved one, or someone you know suffered a concussion, or any other type of traumatic brain injury, as a result of an incident that was caused by someone’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for the damages suffered. Our experienced team of traumatic brain injury attorneys at Dolman Law Group understand the serious nature of brain injuries, and fight aggressively to hold the negligent responsible for the damages they have caused. Contact us today for a free and confidential consultation at 727-451-6900 or via our online contact form.

Dolman Law Group
800 North Belcher Road
Clearwater, FL 33765
727-451-6900

http://www.dolmanlaw.com/practice-area/brain-injury/