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Personal Injury Compensation Claims for Concussion
Personal Injury Compensation Claims for Concussion
Concussion, a mild traumatic brain injury, is a common but not very common type of brain injury.
This type of injury usually occurs following a strong blow or sudden jolt to the head.
Concussion occurs when this sort of impact jolts the brain inside of the skull, affecting the normal function of the brain. Although normally mild, concussions can result in a loss of consciousness which can potentially be severe. If your concussion is severe or you are worried about potentially losing consciousness, you should seek medical attention. Obviously, if you have a concussion you should not drive to the hospital yourself, in case you do lose consciousness.
Symptoms of Concussion:
- Loss of consciousness
- Headaches
- Memory loss
- Confusion
- Tiredness
- Anxiety
- Low mood
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Balance problems or dizziness
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Concentration problems
- Irritability
- Epilepsy
- Sensory Impairment such as loss of taste and smell
- Alteration in characteristics
- Sexual disinterest and dysfunction
Causes of concussion
There is a wide variety of ways in which concussion can be caused including accidents at work, road accidents, sports accidents or an attack or assault for instance.
Your head injury claim may be the result of a car accident, a fall or accident in the workplace or as a result of medical negligence. Whatever the reason for your injuries, if there was a third party liable for your injuries then you could make a personal injury claim.
Dangers of concussion
If a doctor or emergency room visit is necessary, your doctor will begin with questions about how the injury happened and your symptoms. Your doctor might then perform a physical examination to determine the severity of the concussion.
In the case of serious symptoms, your doctor may request a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan or a computerized tomography (CT) scan of the brain to check for serious injuries. In the case of seizures, your doctor may also perform an electroencephalogram (EEG) test, which monitors brain waves.
How to treat concussion
Treatment for a concussion depends on the severity of your symptoms. You might need surgery or other medical procedures if you have bleeding in the brain, swelling of the brain, or another serious injury to the brain. However, most concussions do not require surgery or any major medical treatment.
During the first 24 hours after the injury, your doctor may ask that someone wake you every two to three hours. This ensures that you haven’t gone into a coma and also allows someone to check for signs of severe confusion or abnormal behaviour.
If the concussion is causing headaches, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Your doctor will also probably ask you to get plenty of rest, avoid sports and other strenuous activities, and avoid driving a vehicle or riding a bike for 24 hours or possibly even a few months depending on the severity of your injury. Alcohol may slow down your recovery, so ask your doctor if you should avoid drinking it. If you should avoid alcohol, ask your doctor for how long.
Amount of Compensation
The amount of compensation that is awarded is decided upon by assessing the severity of your injuries and the impact that these injuries have had upon your ability to function/your life. The pain and suffering that the injury has caused you is taken into account, as is your ability to complete tasks or enjoy hobbies as you normally would. Financial losses, such as a loss of income or a need to pay for treatment, are also taken into account. Therefore, if you have any documentation, such as receipts, which details financial losses related to your injury then you should keep them.
To view general compensation estimates for certain injury types, visit our compensation calculator.
However, it is important to remember that these figures are just estimates and the amount of compensation that is awarded in each case is decided upon by assessing the individual circumstances of that case.
Making Personal Injury Claims
If you have experienced a concussion due to an accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. First Personal Injury is available to assist you and ensure that you get the compensation you deserve.
To learn more or to start your claim, get in touch with our expert team on 0333 358 2345 or contact us online.