A concussion after a car accident can happen even if your head never hit anything and you never blacked out. The sudden stop can shake the brain inside the skull. The CDC says some symptoms may not appear for hours or days. If something feels off after a wreck, see a doctor and tell them about the crash.
Can You Get a Concussion if You Didn’t Hit Your Head?
Yes, you can. A concussion is a brain injury. MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine’s health site, calls it “mild TBI, also called a concussion.” TBI means traumatic brain injury. The lawyers at Wilson Law Group, LLC have written about how a hard stop at speed can drive the brain against the skull, in our piece on traumatic brain injuries after car accidents.
You don’t have to pass out, either. MedlinePlus puts it plainly: “Most people never pass out.”
Picture it. You’re rear-ended on the highway outside Orangeburg. The airbag goes off. You feel shaky but fine. You tell the officer you’re okay. You mean it.
What Are the Signs of a Concussion After a Car Accident?
The CDC sorts concussion symptoms into four groups: physical, thinking and remembering, social or emotional, and sleep (CDC). Physical signs include headaches, dizziness, nausea, vision problems and sensitivity to light or noise. Thinking signs include foggy thinking, trouble concentrating and memory problems. You might snap at people. You might sleep far more or far less than usual.
Any one of these can look like stress. You just wrecked your car. Of course you’re tired and short with people. That’s why family members often notice first. If your spouse says you’re not yourself, take it seriously.
Vision changes after a crash deserve a look too. Read about eye floaters and vision problems after an accident.
Why Do Concussion Symptoms Show Up Days Later?
Concussion symptoms often show up late because the body is running on adrenaline at the scene. The CDC says some symptoms “may not appear for hours or days after the injury.” The headache comes the next morning. The fog shows up when you go back to work and can’t follow a conversation.
Getting sent home from the ER doesn’t close the question. MedlinePlus lists a head CT scan and a brain MRI among the tests doctors may use. It also says recovery “may take days to weeks, or even months.” If new symptoms show up, tell your doctor. Only a doctor can tell you what they mean.
When Is a Concussion an Emergency?
Some signs call for emergency care right away. The CDC says to “seek immediate emergency medical care” for danger signs like these:
- A headache that gets worse and does not go away
- Repeated vomiting
- Slurred speech or unusual behavior
- Weakness, numbness, seizures or poor coordination
- Confusion, or not recognizing people or places
MedlinePlus also flags “vomiting more than 3 times.” Brain injuries can be deadly. The CDC counted over 69,000 TBI-related deaths in the United States in 2021.
What Should You Tell the Insurance Company About a Concussion?
Tell the other driver’s insurance company as little as you can. The adjuster may call within days. They’ll ask how you feel and may ask to record it. “I’m fine” on day one can follow you for the whole claim. Say you’re still being checked out.
A concussion is hard to see. There’s often no cast and no stitches. The insurance company knows that. They may call it mild and offer something fast. Mild is a medical label. It doesn’t promise you’ll feel better next week.
Your records speak for you. Keep your follow-up appointments. Keep a short daily note of headaches, missed work and the things you forgot. Don’t sign a release until you know how you’re healing, because a release closes the claim for good.
South Carolina sets a three-year limit for most injury lawsuits (S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5)). Exceptions exist. Talk to a lawyer about your own dates instead of counting them yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a concussion after a car accident show up days later?
It can. The CDC says some symptoms may not appear for hours or days.
Can you get a concussion from a minor car accident?
You can. The sudden jolt matters more than the size of the dent.
Do you have to black out to have a concussion?
No, you don’t. MedlinePlus says most people with a mild TBI never pass out.
What are the symptoms of a concussion after a car accident?
The CDC lists headaches, dizziness, foggy thinking, mood changes and sleep changes among the common ones.
Call Us Soon After a Crash That Left You Hurt
Chris Wilson and Lauren Dangerfield bring more than three decades of combined experience to injury cases at Wilson Law Group, LLC. Read about our work on traumatic brain injury cases and as a South Carolina car accident lawyer. Then call 803-245-7799 or use our contact page for a free consultation, with no obligation. The filing deadline may look far off. Still, call right away. Evidence needs to be preserved, witness statements need to be taken, and every insurance policy that might apply needs to be found early.
This article is general information about South Carolina law, not legal or medical advice. Reading it doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship.
