Posted on Tuesday, February 26th, 2019 at 10:56 pm
You may sustain a variety of injuries from an auto accident in Sacramento. Some common auto accident injuries include broken bones, spinal cord injuries, whiplash, fractures, back injuries, and head injuries. Second Impact Syndrome or SIS is a serious injury that may develop after an auto accident. In many cases, SIS is life-threatening. Victims who survive SIS typically have severe impairments.
What is Second Impact Syndrome?
SIS occurs when an individual suffers two concussions in a row with the second concussion occurring before the brain has completely healed from the first concussion. For instance, your daughter falls during a gymnastics competition and suffers a concussion. The following week, a speeding driver hits your car, causing your daughter to suffer severe whiplash. With the whiplash, she suffers a closed head injury that results in a concussion.
The second concussion may result in SIS, which should always be treated as a medical emergency. A person with SIS may or may not lose consciousness at the time of the second concussion. However, they often look confused or stunned and typically collapse within minutes. The person’s condition quickly worsens ultimately resulting in respiratory failure. Within minutes, a person could die from SIS.
Taking Precautions After a Concussion
SIS is rare, but it can take your life or the life of a loved one. Therefore, you need to be very cautious after a head injury. If you or your loved one suffers a concussion in a car accident, following the doctor’s orders is very important. Patients should not return to work, play sports, or engage in other activities until the concussion has healed completely. Any activity that could result in a second head injury could be deadly.
If you notice signs that might indicate a head injury, such as headaches, disorientation, fatigue, vomiting, nausea, or a general feeling of being “run-down” or “in a fog,” you should seek emergency medical treatment immediately. You could be suffering from SIS. The second impact does not need to be severe to cause SIS. A light impact can cause a concussion that leads to Secondary Impact Syndrome.
Seeking Medical Care for Brain Injuries After a Traffic Accident
Head injuries range from minor to severe. It is important to keep in mind that even a minor head injury or concussion is a serious health concern. Accident victims need to review the signs and symptoms of a brain injury so that they can seek medical care if they begin experiencing any of the symptoms of brain injury.
Common symptoms of a brain injury include:
- Losing consciousness
- Headaches
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Slurred speech
- Blurred vision
- Changes in personality
- Confusion
The above list is not an exhaustive list of the symptoms that might indicate a brain injury. The Mayo Clinic and the NIH provide information on their websites about brain injuries.
Filing an Accident Claim for a Brain Injury
If you sustain a brain injury in a traffic accident, you might be entitled to substantial compensation from the person who caused the crash. The Sacramento accident attorneys of The Tiemann Law Firm can help you file an insurance claim seeking full compensation for your injuries, losses, and damages.
Call our office at (916) 999-9000 for a free consultation.
