Traumatic brain injuries are common injuries suffered by car accident victims. A direct blow to the head can jolt the brain within a patient’s skull, causing damage or bruising. A concussion often occurs when the brain collides with the skull.
According to Web MD, there are various levels of concussion.
Grade one and two concussions
Patients who have a grade one concussion have the mildest concussions. Most people with grade one concussions do not have symptoms for more than 15 minutes. Grade two concussions tend to have moderate symptoms. They do not involve any loss of consciousness; the symptoms last for more than 15 minutes. A person may have headaches, dizziness, light sensitivity and nausea.
Grade three concussions
Grade three concussions involve a loss of consciousness. Severe traumatic brain injuries like grade three concussions can cause confusion and impact memory skills. Doctors may ask patients simple questions about themselves and the current world such as:
- What is your name?
- Who is the president?
- What is the date?
- Where do you live?
Victims with grade three concussions may show slowed thinking and mental fogginess. Behavioral changes become apparent as people feel more irritable, emotional or sad following the injury. Serious concussions require a patient to undergo CT scans to determine whether a person has bleeding or damage to the central nervous system.
Patients must visit a medical professional to find out the level of a concussion. Those who suffer grade one or two concussions might recover within days or a week and can return to normal activities once the symptoms disappear. For those with a more severe concussion, however, the head injury can affect the patient for much longer.
