Concussion and Head Injury After a Car Accident
Short answer: Concussions can happen even in low-speed crashes. Your head doesn't have to hit anything. Headaches, dizziness, fogginess, memory trouble and irritability after a crash deserve a medical exam.
For a suspected head injury in Fort Worth, JPS Health Network’s Level I trauma center is the county’s highest-level option. Call 911 for any red-flag symptom.
Can a low-speed crash cause a concussion?
Concussions can happen even in low-speed crashes. A concussion is a brain injury caused by the head moving or stopping suddenly. In a rear-end crash, the head can be thrown back and over the head restraint, and the brain can be strained inside the skull.
Some crash-test dummy studies report a low calculated risk. Low risk is not no risk. Dummies can't report symptoms, and real people differ in size, posture and seat setup. Those studies are listed in our research library.
Signs of a concussion after a car accident
Watch for these symptoms in the days after a crash, even if you never hit your head:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Feeling foggy or slowed down
- Memory trouble
- Irritability or mood changes
- Sleep changes
- Sensitivity to light
Call 911 or go to the ER for a worsening headache, repeated vomiting, confusion, slurred speech, unusual drowsiness or weakness.
Concussion symptoms can last for weeks or longer
A "mild" brain injury can still cause symptoms for a long time.
of people with a mild brain injury from a car crash still had more than 3 symptoms six weeks later.
Source: Hartvigsen et al., Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2014 →Your head restraint setup matters
How close your head restraint sits to your head changes how hard your head and neck are thrown in a rear-end crash. In low-speed test crashes with real people, head restraint position was one of the biggest factors (Siegmund et al.). Adjust the restraint so it's close to the back of your head.
Head injuries often come with neck injuries. Read about whiplash and delayed symptoms, or go back to all injuries.
Want a lawyer to look at your case for free?
If you were hurt in a crash that wasn't your fault, in Fort Worth or anywhere else in Texas, you can ask for a free consultation. A participating personal injury law firm will reach out to you promptly. There's no cost to ask and no obligation.