Understanding Concussions
If you have suffered a concussion, you know that they are no joke. Concussions can temporarily affect your ability to think, concentrate, sleep, and see. They can also cause severe head pain and headaches. While people often associate concussions and other head injuries with sports, the most common cause of concussions is actually trip-and-fall accidents. While concussions do not typically result in a loss of consciousness and generally only result in temporary symptoms lasting a few days, they can still cause a great deal of pain and discomfort. If your concussion was caused by someone else’s negligent or malicious actions, you can seek compensation for the pain and suffering you experienced as a result of this injury with the help of a skilled Johns Creek personal injury attorney. Additionally, there are circumstances where concussion symptoms are more severe, such as where individuals develop Post-Concussive Syndrome.
What is Post-Concussive Syndrome?
While the majority of concussion symptoms are temporary and last less than a week or two, a significant amount of people experience more severe symptoms from their concussion. It is estimated that approximately 10% of all individuals who suffer concussions develop Post-Concussive Syndrome. This syndrome essentially extends the symptoms of a concussion for up to, or over, a year. The primary symptom is debilitating migraine-like headaches. People who develop this syndrome are often unable to work and experience extreme discomfort.
Challenges in Suing for Post-Concussive Syndrome
If you have developed post-concussive syndrome as the result of someone else’s negligent, reckless, or malicious actions, you have the right to sue to recover for all costs, including pain and suffering, that you have incurred as a result of the injury. However, it’s important to manage your expectations. Suing for post concussive syndrome or a concussion is not as clear cut as suing for a broken limb. The biggest challenge in suing for concussion-related injuries is establishing causation. The symptoms of this disorder can seem a bit vague, and not all physicians agree that it exists. Physicians may further disagree on the cause. However, this will not be a barrier to success in bringing a personal injury lawsuit on this basis, merely something important to be aware of going forward. An experienced Atlanta personal injury lawyer will be prepared to present the strongest possible version of your case and will anticipate the other side’s defenses.
What to Do if You’ve Had a Concussion
The most important thing to do after suffering a concussion or any injury is to seek medical care as soon as possible. Having documentation of the injury and demonstrating that the injury was serious enough to require immediate care are both components that will help strengthen your claim. It’s also important that your diagnosis and doctor’s feedback support your claim and version of events. If there are inconsistencies in your diagnoses or if your doctor’s do not support your claim of how the injury occurred, it is unlikely you have a strong case. On the flip side, if your doctors provide a consistent diagnosis and support your account of events, you likely have a strong case.
Talk to an Atlanta Personal Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one have suffered serious injuries as the result of a concussion caused by someone else’s negligence in Atlanta, Dunwoody, Alpharetta, Cobb County, Fulton County, Gwinnett County, Johns Creek, Sandy Springs, or the greater Georgia area, Hawkins Spizman Trial Lawyers will fight to get you the compensation that you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
