Concussions and Brain Injuries After A Rear-End Accident

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury or TBI caused by the brain hitting the inside of the skull or being violently jolted during the collision.

Brain damage caused by a concussion is often temporary. But it’s not unusual for concussion injury victims to experience long-term medical problems, including permanent brain damage and chronic, painful headaches. This is especially true if the person who sustained a concussion had previous concussions or multiple concussions.

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Concussion from being rear ended

Drivers and passengers in the front vehicle hit from behind are often the ones who sustain concussions in rear-end collisions. However, the driver and passengers in the rear vehicle can sustain concussions as well in certain situations.

Concussions sustained in a rear-end accident might seem mild to some people, especially insurance adjusters. They often downplay many rear-end collision injuries, including concussions. That way, insurance companies might be able to avoid having to pay for injury-related expenses, which can add up fast after a rear-end accident.

Concussions are often referred to as “mild traumatic brain injuries” or mild TBIs. But don’t let the name fool you. Many concussions are very serious. And if you have one as a result of a rear-end collision, you deserve to be financially compensated for your injury-related expenses.

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There are many different ways to identify if someone has a concussion after a rear-end accident. Common concussion symptoms include:

• Frequent headaches
• Poor balance or coordination
• Confusion
• Difficulty concentrating
• Forgetting common words
• Increased sensitivity to bright lights or loud sounds
• Nausea or vomiting
• Feeling tired or sluggish
• Blurred vision

Often, such symptoms appear immediately after a rear-end collision. But it’s unusual for such symptoms to take several hours or days to develop. Such delayed concussion symptoms should be taken just as seriously. That’s why it’s critical that head injury victims see a doctor right away after a rear-end crash and schedule a follow-up doctor’s appointment as well.

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How to diagnose a rear-end concussion

There are many different ways medical professionals can treat concussions sustained in a rear-end collisions. But first, doctors need to diagnose a concussion. This often involves the following medical tests:

• Neurological exam, which measures physical responses (balance, vision, hearing, coordination, etc.)
• Cognitive tests, which measure ability to think and recall information.
• Imaging tests, which identify physical damage to the brain, such as brain swelling or bleeding. The most common imaging test performed to diagnose a concussion or other types of brain injuries is a cranial computerized tomography (CT) scan, which is a series of X-Rays taken from different angles to capture different images from different parts of the brain.
• Having someone stay in a hospital overnight for observation. This way, if concussion symptoms get worse, they can receive immediate medical care.

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How to treat a rear-end concussion

Once a concussion has been properly diagnosed, medical treatments for concussions can cover a wide range, including taking time to rest and recover from a brain injury. In particular, concussion victims should limit brain activity during the first 48 hours after a rear-end accident.

Afterwards, doctors often advise TBI victims to slowly increase their amount of activity. However, every person is different. And so are many concussion injury treatment regimens. That’s why it’s critical that injury victims see a doctor as soon as possible after a rear-end crash.

Even if you feel fine, you should still see a doctor after a rear-end accident. As explained earlier, many concussions have delayed symptoms that take several hours or days to develop after a rear-end collision. Don’t take chances with your health. See a doctor right away.

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Yes. Contrary to what insurance companies might claim, people often sustain concussions in low-speed rear-end accidents. It doesn’t take much to damage brain cells in a car accident, especially if you were in a stopped car hit from behind.

But don’t be surprised if your concussion injury claim is denied after a low-speed rear-end crash. Insurance companies often deny such claims because they believe that injuries are not possible at low speeds.

You know the truth. You may be suffering from painful headaches, memory loss and other serious medical conditions often associated with concussions. Don’t let insurance companies pass the buck and avoid paying you the money you deserve for your injury-related expenses. Talk to a lawyer as soon as possible who knows how to handle rear-end concussion claims.

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The bottom line is you should be financially compensated for all your accident-related expenses. This might sound simple. But the determining which expenses should be included can be a big source of debate.

Many times, insurance companies only want to pay injury victims for short-term expenses, like emergency medical care and vehicle repairs. But if someone else caused your rear-end accident, why should you have to pay for their mistakes? Demand the money you deserve. Talk to a rear-end accident attorney right away.

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Rear-ended concussion settlement

You would be surprised how quickly expenses can add up after a rear-end accident that results in a concussion. In addition to the cost of medical care to diagnose and treat a concussion, injury victims might also need money for replacement income if they cannot work while they’re recovering from their concussion. Add in vehicle repairs or replacement costs if the car is a total loss and the value of your rear-end concussion settlement can add up to thousands of dollars or significantly more.

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Sometimes, the best way to get the money you deserve for your concussion-related expenses is to file a rear-end accident lawsuit. This is especially true if the at-fault driver’s insurance company makes a lowball settlement offer, refuses to negotiate a higher offer or denies your injury claim.

However, be aware that filing a lawsuit seeking damages (financial compensation) can be a very complicated legal process. This is why it’s important to have an attorney on your side who understands the legal system in your state and knows how to handle such complex cases.

The Law.com Premier Attorneys listed on this website have years of experience handling rear-end accident concussion lawsuits. One of these trusted lawyers can meet with you for free, answer your questions and explain your available legal options.

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