Concussion Compensation: When Can I Claim?

A concussion can be a serious injury. But dealing with the symptoms of a concussion in the long term can make the whole situation even worse.

Although many might think a concussion is not a severe injury, it is actually a temporary injury to the brain, according to the NHS.

It is usually caused by a blow to the head. This could be caused by a fall, a sporting injury, a physical assault or being jolted in a car accident.

If these accidents were caused by someone else being negligent in their duty of care to you, it could be considered a personal injury and you could be able to claim compensation.

Concussion symptoms

You might not realise at first that you’ve suffered a concussion. The symptoms of a concussion can take a few days to appear. So if you’ve hit your head, it’s important to pay attention to any issues or symptoms in the days after.

Concussion symptoms can include:

• Anxiety
• Difficulty balancing
• Dizziness
• Feeling dazed or confused
• Headaches that don’t go away
• Memory loss
• Nausea
• Sensitivity to noise or light
• Unusual behaviour – such as mood swings
• Vision problems – including blurred and double vision

Post-concussion syndrome

Post-concussion syndrome can cause the symptoms of a concussion to last much longer than they would normally.

Most people who suffer a concussion experience symptoms for up to three months. With post-concussion syndrome, the symptoms can last for over a year.

According to the Mayo Clinic in the US, the risk of post-concussion syndrome isn’t directly related to how severe your initial injury was. This means even a minor concussion could cause you to have long-term symptoms.

You may be able to claim post-concussion syndrome compensation if this has affected you.

When can I make a claim?

You could make a compensation claim for the concussion you’ve suffered if it was caused by someone else’s negligence.

This means that if you were involved in an accident caused by someone else, you could be entitled to make a claim against them.

You may have been hurt in a public place, such as a supermarket. This is more likely in slip, trip or fall accidents. In cases like these, you could be able to hold the supermarket responsible if your fall was caused by their negligence.

To find out if you could make a claim, just get in touch with the team at First4Lawyers. We can help you work out if you might be entitled to concussion compensation.

Concussion compensation

How much concussion or post-concussion syndrome compensation you are entitled to will depend on how severe your symptoms are and how long they are likely to last.

You can claim compensation for the pain and suffering you’ve experienced, as well as any financial losses your injury has caused. This can include a loss of earnings if you had to stop working or medical treatment, including prescription medication.

As part of your claim, you will probably have to undergo a medical assessment. The expert who carries this out will set out their expectations for your recovery.

This will allow your solicitor to negotiate with the responsible party to get you the compensation you deserve.

Make sure you report the accident when it happens. This could be to the police if it was a car accident, your employer if it happened at work or a shop if it happened in their building.

Take photographs and video footage of the accident scene and your injury when it happens if you can. This can help when your solicitor puts their evidence together.

Remember that you’ll only have three years from the date of your accident to make your concussion compensation claim.

Concussion in children

If you’re worried about head injury in children, the best thing to do is seek medical attention. Symptoms can appear different in children, so it’s always advisable to get them checked out by a medical professional.

You could claim compensation on their behalf if they were injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence – whether that was at school, in a car accident or in a public accident.

Claims involving children don’t have to be submitted by the same strict deadlines as those involving adults. You can start a claim on your child’s behalf at any point until they turn 18. On that date, they will have three years to submit a claim for themselves.

First4Lawyers could help you through the process. Just give us a call or start your claim online to find out more.