After a Fall: Concussion Symptoms

When you think about tripping and falling, it might not seem like something that’s particularly hazardous, particularly if you’re young and in good health. 

But minor injuries like a twisted ankle aren’t the only thing that can happen as a result of a slip and fall: Depending on the circumstances of the fall, accident victims may be at risk of a concussion. And while concussions are often mild, sometimes a concussion can be severe, with serious medical consequences. 

What Is a Concussion?

In medical terms, a concussion is a traumatic brain injury resulting from a blow to the head. This blow can range from something as mild as a bump on the head to a more violent jolt or blow. You can also sustain a concussion if you’re involved in any sort of incident where you receive a hard hit to the body that causes your head to jerk forcefully to the side or back and forth. 

When a concussion occurs, your brain actually moves around inside your skull. Depending on the force of the blow or hit to the head, this movement can cause damage ranging from chemical changes that temporarily alter your normal brain functions, to brain cell damage. 

Symptoms of a Concussion

If you’ve hurt your head in a slip and fall accident, you should be aware of the following concussion symptoms:

• Headache
• A feeling of pressure in the head
• Sluggishness or grogginess
• Feeling foggy-headed
• Trouble concentrating or focusing
• Difficulty understanding things
• Feelings of confusion
• Trouble remembering things
• Irritability, nervousness, or anxiety
• Nausea or vomiting
• Dizziness, or trouble keeping your balance
• Lightheadedness
• Vision problems, such as blurriness or seeing double
• Being sensitive to light or noise
• Ringing in the ears
• Feeling sad, down, or depressed
• Sleep changes
• A general feeling of being “not right” 

And if someone you know has been involved in a slip and fall accident where there’s a risk of concussion, keep a watchful eye on them for any of the following symptoms:

• Difficulty remembering things that happened before or after the fall
• Confusion or difficulty grasping instructions
• Loss of consciousness, brief or otherwise
• Changes in mood or behavior
• Personality change
• Clumsy or awkward movements
• Seems to be stunned or dazed

While concussion symptoms often arise right after an injury, they can also occur up to a few days after the accident. If you or a loved one are experiencing any of these symptoms after a fall, or if symptoms get worse, it’s important to seek medical treatment immediately. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also has a list of concussion danger signs and symptoms on its site. If any of these danger signs occur after the accident, you should call 9-1-1 or take the accident victim to a hospital emergency room immediately. 

Contact a Tifton Slip and Fall Attorney Today

A slip and fall can result in a serious head injury. If you or a family member have been injured as a result of a slip and fall accident, a Tifton slip and fall attorney at Hudson Injury Firm can help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.