Lino Ochoa | November 21, 2023 | Brain Injuries

Anytime you hit your head in an accident, there’s a risk of experiencing a concussion. However, symptoms don’t always appear immediately. Delayed concussion symptoms can be alarming. They can also have a significant impact on your finances and quality of life. 

When you understand delayed concussion symptoms, you’re able to spot the signs of injury and seek prompt medical attention. If delayed concussion symptoms cost you lost wages or medical bills, a personal injury lawyer might be able to help you recover compensation.  

Understanding Concussions

Concussions are usually caused by a sudden blow to the head. While most concussions are the result of impact with an external object, the head doesn’t need to come into contact with anything. A sharp jolt can cause the brain to slam against the inside of the skull, resulting in a concussion as well. 

When the brain sustains trauma, cognitive functions can be significantly impacted. Most of the time, concussion symptoms resolve within a week or two. However, a concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury. 

A concussion should always be treated as a significant medical event. If you suspect you or a loved one has experienced a concussion, you should see a doctor immediately and carefully follow their treatment instructions. 

Signs of a Delayed Concussion

Concussion symptoms often begin immediately after an accident, but this isn’t always the case. When concussion symptoms creep up slowly after the fact, it can be harder to identify what’s wrong. 

Delayed concussion symptoms can take many forms. Some of the most common include: 

  • Cognitive Issues: Confusion, disorientation, and memory and concentration issues 
  • Emotional Changes: Irritability, mood swings, anxiety, and lack of motivation
  • Physical Problems: Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, vertigo, and exhaustion
  • Pain: Headaches, neck pain, and sensitivity to light or noise

If you’ve recently been involved in an accident and you’re experiencing delayed concussion symptoms, don’t dismiss the signs. It’s best to consult a medical professional right away, even if you think your symptoms are mild. 

Ignoring a concussion puts you at risk of making the injury worse by not giving your brain time to rest. That, in turn, can hurt your chances of recovering compensation if you end up working with a lawyer. 

Common Causes of Concussions

Concussions are always caused by some type of trauma to the head. However, exactly how a concussion happens can take many forms. 

Some of the most common types of accidents that result in delayed concussion symptoms include: 

Certain types of activities and occupations can significantly increase your risk of experiencing delayed concussion symptoms. Contact sports like football or wrestling are associated with high rates of concussion injuries. Working in certain job sectors, like the construction or oilfield industries, can also increase the chances of sustaining a concussion while on the job. 

It doesn’t take much force to cause trauma to the brain. Even a minor car accident can produce delayed concussion symptoms, eventually leading to significant medical costs. It’s always worth taking the time to see a doctor if you aren’t feeling like yourself after an accident.

Treating Delayed Concussion Symptoms

A concussion should always be treated promptly. This helps to aid in a faster recovery time, allows doctors the opportunity to identify more serious issues, and helps prevent the development of concussion complications. 

When concussion symptoms are delayed, the treatment process becomes more complicated. It’s not uncommon for a person dealing with delayed concussion symptoms to fail to realize they’ve suffered a brain injury. 

As soon as you realize you’re experiencing delayed concussion symptoms, you should see a doctor. 

Upon diagnosis, a doctor may recommend treatment that includes: 

  • Rest
  • Avoiding activities that strain the brain
  • Staying home from work or school
  • Remaining in a quiet environment with dim lighting
  • OTC pain relief medications

The primary goal of concussion treatment is to avoid stress, strain, and overstimulation while the brain heals. Doctors usually recommend avoiding activities that can delay the healing process, such as using phones or computers, watching television, reading, or exercising. 

If delayed concussion symptoms worsen or fail to improve, a doctor may recommend additional diagnostic tests to identify whether there are any brain injury complications present. 

The Costs of Delayed Concussion Symptoms

It’s easy to quickly rack up substantial medical costs when dealing with delayed concussion symptoms. 

Potential costs associated with treating a concussion include: 

  • Emergency room costs
  • Diagnostic testing costs
  • Imaging costs
  • Specialist costs
  • Rehabilitation/therapy costs

When concussion symptoms don’t improve or suddenly worsen, it’s often necessary to visit an emergency room for treatment that might include costly testing, like an MRI. This can quickly leave you with thousands of dollars in medical bills. 

At the same time, as you wait for your injuries to heal, you’ll probably have to miss work for an uncertain amount of time. Mounting medical costs and missed wages can easily make it difficult to keep up with the bills.  

Recovering Compensation For Concussion Costs

If you need help recovering compensation to cover the costs associated with delayed concussion symptoms, our McAllen personal injury attorneys who specializes in brain injuries can help. 

A lawyer will first review the facts of your accident. They’ll look to see if you have grounds for a personal injury claim. This typically requires first establishing liability for the injuries. 

If your concussion occurred at work, a lawyer will try to file a claim with your employer’s insurance company. If it was caused by a truck accident, they will pursue compensation through the truck driver or truck company’s insurance provider. 

Brain injury compensation for a concussion can reimburse you for medical bills, lost wages, and many other costs related to the concussion. 

Don’t Wait To Ask For Help If You’ve Suffered Any Trauma To Your Head

Delayed concussion symptoms can develop into a serious financial concern. If concussion symptoms worsen over time or lead to other complications, it’s hard to say how your finances and earning ability will be affected in the long term. 

It’s best to protect yourself. If you notice delayed concussion symptoms, see a doctor and get in touch with a personal injury attorney to learn more about your options.

Contact Car Accident Law Firm of The Law Office of Lino H. Ochoa in McAllen, TX

For more information, contact the McAllen, TX Car Accident law firm of The Law Office of Lino H. Ochoa to schedule a free initial consultation.

We serve Hidalgo County and its surrounding areas:

The Law Office of Lino H. Ochoa
6316 N 10th St Building D, Suite 102
McAllen, Texas, 78504
(956) 815-0055

Hours: Monday to Friday,
from 9 am – 5 pm