Farmer, Cline & Campbell, PLLC | June 12, 2024 | Brain Injuries

Delayed Concussion Symptoms

Delayed concussion symptoms can pop up a significant amount of time after a head injury. Victims who experience a blow to the head should seek prompt medical care, even when they perceive no immediate injury. Unfortunately, those who do not get care may suffer from an undiagnosed delayed concussion, which could lead to more serious problems.

Concussion Symptoms

A long list of symptoms can potentially follow a concussion. Victims may experience a few or sometimes many of them at once and should seek medical attention as soon as possible after being injured. 

Common concussion symptoms include:

  • Headaches
  • Dizziness and balance problems
  • Blurry vision
  • Sluggishness
  • Light and noise irritation 
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Tinnitus

If you suffer a concussion, you might also feel that something simply is not right, or you may feel uncharacteristically or inexplicably down or depressed. 

Can Concussion Symptoms Be Delayed?

Yes. Concussion symptoms may be delayed for hours, days, or weeks after a blow to the head. This late appearance of symptoms makes it important for anyone with a head injury to seek prompt medical care, even when all appears to be well.

Delayed Concussion Symptoms

Delayed concussion symptoms, such as delayed vomiting after a concussion, can take you by surprise and appear weeks after a blow. Acting on the signs of a delayed concussion will not only help you address the concussion but also aid in paving the way for any legal action for compensation you might take. 

The medical record your visit generates will be necessary to prove damages if someone else caused your injury. 

A close look at these symptoms shows that they are largely the same symptoms that can appear immediately after a concussion, including:

  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Blurry vision
  • Tinnitus
  • Sleep problems

As in the case of immediate concussion symptoms, those who experience delayed concussion symptoms are strongly urged to seek medical care as soon as possible. 

Can Concussion Symptoms Come and Go?

Yes. It is not uncommon for concussion symptoms to come and go for a few months after a concussion. Patients often feel great after recovering from an initial blow to the head. Subsequently, however, symptoms may return with a vengeance, or new symptoms may manifest.

Most symptoms of concussions can come and go. However, the following commonly do so:

  • Headaches
  • Blurred or double vision
  • Memory problems
  • Fatigue
  • Balance problems and vertigo

Often, concussion symptoms come and go due to patients ignoring doctors’ orders. The danger in not following medical care instructions is that you risk exacerbating your concussion as well as experiencing a second impact injury. 

A second impact injury occurs when you receive a blow to the head before your first injury has healed completely. 

This type of injury is more common with those who experience physical trauma on a daily basis, such as:

  • Athletes
  • Demolition and explosive experts
  • Military personnel

Regardless of the circumstances, concussion injury victims should heed doctors’ orders to the letter and be on the lookout for recurring symptoms.

Common Concussion Causes

As mentioned, a concussion or delayed concussion may occur after a blow to the head. Seeing that many situations can cause a blow to the head, there are ample opportunities for concussions to occur.

Common causes include:

Whatever the cause, victims may seek compensation when negligence underlies the reason for an accident and subsequent injury. 

Common acts of negligence might include:

  • Traffic negligence, such as distracted driving or speeding
  • Failure to address slipping or tripping hazards
  • Failure to supply or require proper safety equipment at work
  • Failure to provide or supply appropriate safety equipment during sports activities

Keep in mind that negligence is but one underlying cause of injury accidents. Recklessness and intentional actions also cause injuries. The former occurs when an actor disregards the rights and safety of others, such as in the case of an overzealous coach who, knowing a player to be susceptible to injury, causes said player to become injured by subjecting them to high-injury risk.

Concussions and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

CTE is a progressive, degenerative condition that can develop in a person after years of repeated blows to the head. Medical professionals believe that the continual trauma to the brain over time leads to the degeneration of brain tissue as well as the buildup of a specific protein that interferes with physical, cognitive, and emotional faculties. 

What makes CTE cases difficult is the fact that the condition cannot be objectively diagnosed until the death of a subject. Doctors need to thoroughly examine a person’s brain outside of the skull before a definitive diagnosis may be made. 

Your rights after a concussion depend on the circumstances of the injury. As mentioned, you have the right to seek damages when another’s negligence or wrongdoing causes you harm. 

Damages available for your losses might include:

  • Pain and suffering
  • Medical and hospital costs
  • Lost wages and future income
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Other intangible losses

In cases where a concussion comes about through reckless or malicious action, punitive damages may be available. Punitive, or exemplary, damages send a message to the defendant and others that the conduct in question is worthy of punishment and should never have taken place. 

However, victims must be aware of the time limit to seek damages in personal injury cases. In West Virginia, the statute of limitations is two years for most personal injury cases. There are exceptions, however, in cases where the harm is discovered after it was inflicted. 

Take Prompt Action After Suffering a Blow To the Head

Prompt action to seek medical care after a blow to the head can save your life and prevent further injury to your brain. Acting quickly to contact an experienced brain injury lawyer will keep your claim from expiring under the state’s statute of limitations and lead to a stronger case. 

Contact the Personal Injury Law Firm of Farmer, Cline & Campbell, PLLC for Help Today

For more information, please contact an experienced brain injury lawyer at Farmer, Cline & Campbell, PLLC, to schedule a free initial consultation today. We have convenient locations in Charleston, Beckley, Morgantown, WV.

Farmer, Cline & Campbell, PLLC – Charleston
746 Myrtle Rd
Charleston, WV 25314
(304) 346-5990

Farmer, Cline & Campbell, PLLC – Beckley
101 N Kanawha St, Suite 101
Beckley, WV 25801
(304) 252-5990 

Farmer, Cline & Campbell, PLLC – Morgantown
453 Suncrest Towne Centre Drive, Suite 300
Morgantown, WV 26505
(304) 225-5990