Slips and falls happen all the time, but don’t be in a hurry to pick yourself up and carry on with your day – especially if you bump your head. That knock to your skull could actually leave you with a serious concussion.
Concussions are often brushed off as “minor” injuries, but they’re anything but. A concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and can be very serious.
How do you tell if you have a concussion?
Symptoms of a concussion can sometimes be immediately apparent, but they can also creep up gradually in the hours following the actual injury. Symptoms include:
- Headache: Persistent or severe headaches are a key indicator of a possible concussion.
- Nausea or vomiting: Feeling nauseous or vomiting after a fall may suggest a head injury.
- Confusion or disorientation: Difficulty concentrating, memory loss and general confusion are common cognitive symptoms of TBIs.
- Balance issues: Dizziness, unsteady walking or difficulty maintaining balance can be indicative of a concussion.
- Mood changes: Sudden mood swings, irritability or increased emotional sensitivity may be signs of a concussion.
Aside from the immediate consequences of a concussion, which may require significant time off work so you can recover, you also run the risk of long-term complications, including memory loss, personality changes and cognitive decline. That makes it critically important to have good medical care after any head injury.
If you suffered a head injury in a fall because a property owner was negligent, you have a right to fair compensation for your losses. Learning more about your legal options can help.
