Concussions in Car Accidents

Any head injury is dangerous to victims who sustain them. Even minor concussions in car accidents may lead to more significant injuries when left undiagnosed or untreated. When an accident results in a severe concussion, the risk of permanent brain injury must be addressed. When another driver collides with a vehicle and causes the victim’s concussion, that party should be held responsible. Miami car accident attorney Robert Dixon assists those who have been injured by another’s negligence pursue proper legal action in order to receive the compensation they are entitled to. When someone suffers a head injury, medical and other expenses related to recovery can far exceed any insurance benefits amount, making legal action necessary. At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, Mr. Dixon and his staff understand that victims need time and support during their recovery. Our firm offers experienced and compassionate legal representation to clients in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties, and throughout South Florida. Please contact our office today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about how we can help if you or a loved one have sustained a concussion as a result of motor vehicle collision.

A concussion is a brain injury that results after a victim’s head is subject to either a strike from an object, such as hitting a car’s dash, or being jostled violently in a back-and-forth motion, which is common in a rear-end collision. While concussion injuries commonly occur in severe car accidents, these injuries are sometimes missed in the immediate aftermath of a crash, heightening the risk of a serious impact on a victim’s brain function if left untreated. Some common symptoms that a concussed victim might experience include:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Loss of consciousness, even for seconds
• Headache
• Tiredness
• Dizziness or confusion
• Trouble with vision
• Sensitivity to light or noise.

Concussions vary from minor to those that lead to lengthy or permanent impairment. The most severe concussions can involve traumatic brain injury which impacts a victim’s memory and can cause paralysis in the most severe cases. When a victim suffers a second concussion before the first one heals, he or she can experience Second Impact Syndrome, which involves the swelling of the brain, and is sometimes fatal. The most important thing a victim should do after an accident where they may have suffered a concussion is to seek immediate medical attention so that these injuries can be diagnosed and treated.

Most car accidents are caused by the negligent acts of a driver or other person on the road. Negligence is the basis of personal injury claims, and the legal standard a victim, or plaintiff, needs to show to recover damages for his or her concussion injury. Negligence is proven when the plaintiff has established that a defendant has breached an owed duty of reasonable care, which causes the plaintiff’s injury, and results in the damages sought. Some indicators that a driver has breached his or her duty of care include excessive speeding, driving under the influence of drugs, tailgating or other aggressive maneuvers, texting or other forms of distracted driving. A personal injury lawyer can help you identify responsible parties for your concussion and seek compensation on your behalf.

Florida also allows for compensation to victims who have partially, or even mostly, caused their own injuries. Following a ‘pure comparative fault’ scheme for awarding damages, a plaintiff’s award amount is determined in proportion to each party’s degree of liability. Therefore, even if a Miami driver has been found 40 percent negligent, he or she can still receive 60 percent of the damages from another negligent party.

Victims who have suffered a concussions in car accidents may be entitled to compensation for any past or anticipated medical expenses related to their injury, as well as for lost income or changes in their ability to perform their jobs as they did before an injury. Lawyer Robert Dixon is committed to seeking compensation for victims in West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Miami so that they may continue to live life as they once did. If you have questions regarding your legal rights and options following a car accident, please call the Law Offices of Robert Dixon at (877) 499-4878 or contact us online to set up a free, no-obligation consultation.