Motor Vehicle Accidents and Concussions

Every day in New York City; cars, taxis, delivery trucks, bicycles, and pedestrians converge on the city's streets. With so many vehicles and people sharing the roads, it's imperative that everyone puts safety first and abides by traffic laws.

Unfortunately, this isn't always the case and drivers throughout the city routinely run red lights, fail to yield to pedestrians, speed, and engage in distracting and dangerous behaviors while behind the wheel of motor vehicles.

In cases where occupants in a car are injured in a rear-end accident by a distracted driver or a pedestrian is hit while crossing the street in the crosswalk, serious injuries may result. Even crashes and collisions that, outwardly, appear to be minor in nature can result in those drivers and passengers involved suffering painful and debilitating injuries.

Head and neck injuries are among some of the most common types of injuries suffered in motor vehicle accidents. A concussion is another term that’s commonly used to describe a traumatic brain injury. While once considered a minor injury with temporary symptoms, today, medical professionals understand that a concussion is a serious injury that can have many adverse and long-term side effects.A driver or passenger who suffers a blow to the head may experience one or more of the following symptoms.

• Dizziness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Loss of consciousness
• Fatigue
• Confusion
• Slurred speech

In cases where a young child suffers a concussion or an individual has suffered repeated concussions, symptoms can be more serious and pronounced. In the event an individual displays any of the following symptoms or behaviors, it's important to seek immediate medical attention.

• Repeated vomited
• Seizures
• Loss of coordination
• Changes in speech
• Vision disturbances
• Persistent dizziness

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Source: Mayo Clinic, "Concussion," July 6, 2015