November 15, 2024 | Brain Injuries

Delayed Concussion Symptoms

Can concussion symptoms be delayed? The answer, as it turns out, is yes. Concussion symptoms may frequently appear at the time of (or shortly after) a blow to the head, but that is not always the case. Some victims of trauma to the head do not experience symptoms until some time has passed. 

Another frequently asked question is, “Can concussion symptoms come and go?” and the answer is also yes. Ultimately, concussion symptoms, whenever they arise, should be taken as a sign of a medical emergency and treated appropriately.

Some common signs of a delayed concussion are as follows:

Headaches

Headaches are common symptoms, both immediate and delayed, of a concussion. They are expected after a person is struck in the head and can vary significantly in intensity, location, onset, and duration. 

Irritability 

For those who are not normally irritated, uncharacteristic irritability is an obvious symptom of something wrong. Fortunately, medical tools and equipment, such as MRIs, can detect any traumatic damage that may have occurred.

Anxiety and Depression

Trauma to the brain can disrupt the delicate chemical and neurological processes that regulate human mood and behavior. Victims of a concussion can find themselves in bouts of despair when these conditions pop up days or weeks after a concussion. 

When these symptoms are delayed, victims may not immediately associate them with a concussion, especially if they are unaware of the concussion in the first place. Nevertheless, once a person realizes that their newly onset depression or anxiety may be related to a traumatic injury, they can seek effective help. 

Speech Problems

All manner of speech problems might crop up after a blow to the head or other harm, such as:

  • Slurred speech
  • Stuttering
  • Speechlessness

Regardless of the manifestation of the impediment, its presence should be enough to move victims to seek medical evaluation and treatment as soon as possible. 

Sensory Issues

The brain is the body’s control center, responsible for interpreting all of the sensory inputs it receives. However, a delayed reaction to a concussion could result in these sensory symptoms appearing not at the time of the accident but instead hours, days, or even weeks later. 

Common sensory symptoms indicating a concussion include the following:

  • Tingling (a “pins and needles” sensation)
  • Pain
  • Numbness
  • Light sensitivity
  • Audio sensitivity
  • Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
  • Tactile sensitivity
  • Delayed vomiting 

Once again, the appearance of these symptoms should move the person experiencing them to seek a prompt medical evaluation as soon as possible. In all cases, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a medical emergency, and concussions are indeed TBIs.

Problems Focusing

A day or more after a traumatic impact, the victim might find that they are having a difficult time focusing. Such a symptom is normal in cases of delayed concussion. Absent other symptoms, though, the victim might not realize they even have a concussion, which is why medical attention after any kind of blow to the head is highly recommended. 

Memory Difficulties

Days and weeks after sustaining a TBI, victims may begin to experience both short-term and long-term memory problems. Information that was once easily retrieved could become difficult to remember. And for some victims, this sort of memory loss can last for months, even years. 

Common Causes of Concussions

Many concussions are largely preventable through the use of proper safety measures and reasonable care. 

In other words, concussions often occur due to the negligence or actions of others in various contexts, such as:

  • Traffic accidents
  • Slip, trip, and fall accidents
  • Sporting accidents
  • Accidents at work

In something like a truck accident, concussions often arise from the initial impact, which causes the victim’s head to whip back and forth. That, in turn, results in the brain striking the internal cranium, inflicting brain damage.

In slip and fall accidents, the damage frequently occurs due to a direct blow to the head but may also be caused by whipping motions that occur during falls. 

Sports involving physical contact are generators for concussion cases. Take football, for instance. It is virtually impossible for concussions not to occur in full-contact play, as blows to the head are an essential part of the game. Helmets provide much-needed protection, but it is often not enough to prevent regular concussions from occurring. 

What To Do After Experiencing Delayed Concussion Symptoms

After experiencing signs of a delayed concussion, victims are strongly urged to seek medical care and evaluation from a qualified healthcare professional. The appearance of symptoms days or weeks after a traumatic incident can mean that serious underlying conditions may be present. Failure to treat them could result in significant exacerbation of the delayed concussion. 

As a victim of a concussion, you may be entitled to various economic and non-economic damages for your losses, including compensation for:

  • Lost income
  • Pain and suffering
  • Medical and hospital expenses
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Injury-related expenses
  • Mental and emotional distress

However, to access these personal injury damages, you must prove that someone caused your concussion negligently or unlawfully. 

Therefore, if you intend to recover compensation for concussion-related injuries, you will benefit from the services of an experienced personal injury attorney with a consistent, successful track record. They will handle everything in a professional capacity while you focus on getting treatment for your injury.

Further helping things is that personal injury attorneys offer free initial consultations to new clients, meaning it will cost you nothing to receive a case review and preliminary answers to your questions. 

Protecting Your Future Well-Being After Suffering a Concussion

Blows to the head are common and are never to be underestimated. They can lead to catastrophic injuries and death. Even in the absence of immediate symptoms, experiencing a blow to the head is always a good reason to get a medical evaluation. 

When symptoms do arise, their appearance indicates an underlying injury that may be more serious than the victim believes. A thorough medical evaluation will determine the extent of the damage and what treatments are necessary. It will also establish a record of the injury, which will help the victim get the compensation they deserve.

Contact Our Brain Injury Law Firm in Florida

If you’ve been injured in an accident, please contact our experienced personal injury lawyers at Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group to schedule a free consultation today. We have three convenient locations in Florida, including Vero Beach, St. Petersburg, and Port St. Lucie.

Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group – Vero Beach
2651 20th St
Vero Beach, FL 32960
(772) 758-1966

Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group – St. Petersburg
200 Central Ave Suite 304
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(772) 569-8155

Graves Thomas Rotunda Injury Law Group – Port St. Lucie
10805 SW Tradition Square Unit 024A
Port St. Lucie, FL 34987
(772) 677-0373