What Should I Do After I Have A Concussion? What Should I Avoid?
Q. My accident left me with a concussion. What immediate steps do I take?
A. There are a lot of things you’ll need to do initially after an accident. The first is obviously to seek medical attention. Seeing a doctor as soon as possible is important since it will ensure that you have evidence that your brain injury and concussion were caused as a direct result of your accident. This way, you are able to get the compensation that you are owed as a result of it. After seeking medical attention, it’s important to contact an attorney. Doing so ensures that your rights are protected, and allows our legal team to start taking immediate steps towards getting you what you are owed.
Q. I heard I can’t sleep after a concussion. Is that true?
A. This is actually one of the biggest myths related to a concussion. In many instances, sleep will actually help the brain heal. However, you shouldn’t sleep if you are unable to speak or think clearly or if other signs of trauma exist such as dilated pupils. A medical professional will be able to advise you more as to whether it is safe for you to sleep.
Q. Is my concussion a sign of something more serious?
A. Only a medical professional can make this determination for sure. However, it is worth pointing out that head trauma of any kind can carry with it very real potential for serious injury. Always speak to a medical professional after being injured in the head, even if you don’t’ feel like you have any real injuries. They can take days or weeks to manifest, by which their severity could be worse. Seeking medical help as soon as possible protects your health and makes it easier for a lawyer to get you the financial compensation you are owed.
Q. What can a personal injury lawsuit do for me?
A. Contacting a lawyer and filing a personal injury lawsuit as a result of your concussion is very important. It helps in several ways including:
• Provides you with financial stability so you aren’t left paying medical bills that aren’t your fault.
• Lets you recover physically and focus on your health instead of on your financial worry.
• Ensures that you get the most from your case and aren’t left receiving damages that don’t pay all of your expenses.
Simply put, a personal injury lawsuit helps ensure that you make a total financial and physical recovery. It’s one of the only ways to move on completely after being injured. Without the money from a settlement, you could be left with a heavy financial stress that makes it impossible to focus on physical healing or left permanently impacted financially. A lawsuit helps ensure that this doesn’t happen.
Q. The insurance companies have already offered me a settlement. What do I do?
A. The short answer here is ‘don’t accept it yet’. Lowball initial settlement offers are often far less than you’re actually deserving of. But, many injured people take the offer because they assume that it is the best they can do. Your lawyer will review any settlement offer and determine whether or not it is really fair for your case. Then, they’ll negotiate to make sure you get a settlement that covers all of your expenses.
Q. My concussion has left me impaired and I’m not sure when I’ll recover. Will this impact my case?
A. It can certainly influence the amount of restitution that you receive. Longer term disabilities from a concussion will need to be factored into a settlement. For example, if a medical professional feels that you may be out of work for months, those lost wages that you would have earned will need to be factored into your settlement. Otherwise, you could be left struggling to make ends meet. These ‘future damages’ are one of the main reasons that a lawyer needs to be present throughout your case, or else you could receive less than you deserve.
Q. What if I have permanent brain trauma as a result of my injury?
A. As above, a permanent disability is something that will impact your case in a similar way as long-term disabilities. But here, your lawyer will have to factor in the total loss of earning potential, the impact of your injury on things like a retirement fund or insurance, and more. Traumatic brain injury is one of the most serious types of injuries you can experience, and it’s important that you get the help of a lawyer to ensure you and your family are protected.
