Concussion and Head Injuries After an Arlington Crash
Short answer: A concussion can come from your head being jolted, not only from hitting something. If you have a headache, feel foggy, forget things or get dizzy after a crash, get examined. For red-flag symptoms, go to an ER now: Medical City Arlington and Texas Health Arlington Memorial both have one.
Red flags: go now
- A headache that gets worse instead of better
- Vomiting more than once
- Confusion, slurred speech or unusual sleepiness
- Weakness or numbness on one side
Arlington’s main hospital ERs are Medical City Arlington and Texas Health Arlington Memorial; for the most serious injuries, paramedics may take you to JPS in Fort Worth, Tarrant County’s only Level I trauma center. Call 911 rather than driving yourself if any of these appear.
Quieter signs that still need a visit
Many concussions don't look dramatic. Pay attention if, in the days after the crash, you notice you're slower at work, losing your train of thought, bothered by bright screens, sleeping much more or less than usual, or getting irritated easily. A family member often notices before you do.
How long do symptoms last?
Longer than most people expect. A Canadian study followed 1,716 people with a mild brain injury from a car crash.
What about studies saying concussion risk is low?
Some engineering studies use a single average-size crash dummy, belted correctly with the head restraint set right, and calculate a low concussion risk in low- to moderate-speed crashes. One of those papers found a higher risk when the head hit another person in the car. A dummy can't report a headache, and real drivers sit differently and come in every size. Low risk is not the same as no risk.
Set your head restraint before the next drive
Raise the head restraint so its middle is level with the back of your head and close to it. The gap between your head and the restraint is one of the factors that changes how hard your head moves in a rear-end crash.
Head and neck injuries often happen together. See whiplash, emotional effects and our research sources, or go back to all injuries.
Hurt in an Arlington crash?
Send a short request and a participating injury law firm will contact you for a free review. Crashes anywhere in Texas are welcome.