Practice Areas

	Vehicle Accidents
	Slip and Fall
	Social Security Disability Benefits

How do I know if I have a concussion?

Q: When our car crashed, I took a serious blow on the side of my head. How do I know if I have a concussion?

A: A concussion is when a blow to the head injures the brain without skull fracture or internal bleeding. Concussions can be mild or severe. If there was only a brief loss of consciousness, or none at all, you probably had a mild concussion. In a severe concussion, the injured person loses consciousness for a longer period of time (two minutes or more), and may experience difficulties returning to normal.

A person who suffers a mild concussion may experience a momentary loss of memory and feel nauseous or dizzy afterward. They may also experience headaches. Calling a doctor is essential; a doctor will ask more detailed questions and will be able to properly diagnose your injury. In most cases, mild concussions are treated at home; the victim should rest and avoid bright light. Obviously the victim should not engage in any physical activity few days following the injury.

If the victim is a child, extra care needs to be taken, and a mild concussion should be treated like a more severe one, which means going to an emergency room. A concussion should be considered severe if the loss of consciousness exceeds two minutes, if the person vomits or feels drowsy and weak, if there is a subsequent loss of consciousness, or if the memory loss and confusion persists.

Colorado Springs Personal Injury Attorney Robert J. Anderson has handled thousands of auto, motorcycle, bicycle, and slip-and-fall accidents that resulted in concussions, traumatic brain injury, and other severe injuries. Call Robert Anderson for a free consultation at 866-254-1274 (toll-free), or 473-3040 (local), or send us an e-mail.