Why Early Concussion Treatment Matters
At Earnhart Law, our Delray Beach personal injury attorneys always encourage injured members of the public to seek medical treatment as soon as possible. There are many reasons for doing so, including the fact that prompt treatment bolsters a legal case after a car wreck or other accident. By seeking care, clients can document their injuries thoroughly, which helps when making claims for compensation.
When it comes to concussions, recent research is showing that prompt, specialized care is also key to recovery. A recent study published in JAMA Neurology looked at the recovery times for 162 athletes between the ages of 12 and 22 who were diagnosed with a concussion. Researchers found that those treated within a week of the injury recovered faster than those who received treatment after one week of diagnosis.
Although this study looked at only athletes, there is no reason to assume that its findings do not apply to the general public. Once diagnosed with a concussion, patients can receive clinical care that includes behavioral management and certain rehabilitation exercises. This treatment can help patients return to work or school sooner than they would without any medical intervention.
Why People Delay Getting Treatment
One reason why people delay treatment is that they might not even know that they have a concussion. For example, they might not have passed out after the collision. Or their symptoms might not have developed for a couple days after an accident. As a result, they don’t suspect they have anything too serious wrong with them. Maybe just a headache.
However, not everyone who has a concussion is knocked unconscious, so you should still go to the doctor. Remember that concussions can develop even if you did not suffer a direct blow to the head. Sometimes, whiplash or a blow to the body is enough to impair how the brain functions. If you were involved in a traumatic accident, like a car wreck, you should tell your doctor.
Also pay close attention to symptoms that develop in the days following an accident, in particular:
- Intense headaches
- Sleep disturbances
- Mood swings
- Difficulty concentrating
- Blurred vision
- Slurred speech
- Trouble standing upright or moving your limbs
Any of these could be a sign that you have suffered a concussion, so seek treatment.
Help is Available
There is good news included in the study published in JAMA Neurology. Researchers found that even those who delayed seeking medical treatment still responded positively to it once it was administered. In fact, they found that the delayed recovery was almost entirely due to the delay in seeking medical treatment in the first place.
Once you have a positive concussion diagnosis, it is vital that you consider next steps legally. Florida law allows those injured in accidents to seek compensation for their injuries to make up for the cost of medical care and lost income.
Contact Earnhart Law today. For over three decades, we have provided compassionate legal guidance to those in Delray Beach who have been injured due to someone else’s negligent or reckless conduct. To schedule a free consultation, please call 561-265-2220 today.
Resource:
futurity.org/concussion-brains-2249482-2/
https://www.delrayinjuryattorneys.com/hotel-shuttle-bus-accidents/
