Concussion After a Car Accident in Georgia: What to Know Right Now

A concussion after a car accident in Georgia is a brain injury that deserves a medical evaluation, even when symptoms seem mild or show up days later. If another driver’s or company’s negligence caused the crash, a claim may make sense. Looking into a concussion after car accident Georgia cases can feel overwhelming, so this guide explains the signs, the records, and the Georgia rules in plain terms.

Who This Guide Is For and What a Concussion Is

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury caused by a blow or sudden jolt that disrupts how the brain works. In a crash, the head may hit the steering wheel, a window, or the airbag. The brain can also move inside the skull from a sudden stop, even with no direct hit.

You don’t have to lose consciousness to have a concussion. Many people stay awake and still have one. Standard scans can also come back normal while symptoms are real, so how you feel and what a doctor finds both matter.

This guide is for people who were in a crash and have a diagnosed concussion or symptoms that need medical care. It’s also for families worried about a parent, spouse, or adult child. It doesn’t cover minor bumps that need no care.

Signs of a Concussion After a Car Crash and Why They Can Appear Late

Concussion symptoms can appear right away or hours and days later. A missing symptom at the scene doesn’t rule out a concussion.

Common signs people report include:

• A headache that keeps coming back
• Dizziness or balance problems
• Nausea
• Confusion or a feeling of fog
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Trouble concentrating or remembering
• Unusual tiredness or sleep changes
• Irritability or mood changes
• Gaps in memory about the crash or the hours after it

Some signs need emergency care right away. These include a headache that gets worse, repeated vomiting, a seizure, slurred speech, weakness or numbness, or a person who can’t be woken up. Get emergency help first.

Family members often notice changes first. A person who seemed fine on the day of the crash may seem quieter, slower, or more forgetful to a spouse or friend.

Why Prompt Medical Evaluation and Records Matter

See a medical doctor after any crash with a head impact or new symptoms. Then keep every record that follows.

A medical exam creates a record of what you reported and what the clinician found. That record usually includes your symptom history, exam findings, imaging decisions, follow-up plans, and referrals. Some patients are referred to neurology or neuropsychological testing when symptoms last.

Gaps in care can be questioned. If you miss follow-up visits, an insurer may argue your symptoms were minor or came from something else. Tell your doctor about every symptom, and keep the appointments they recommend.

Georgia law also looks closely at medical bills. Medical expense damages are limited to the reasonable value of medically necessary care, treatment, or services, and the trier of fact (the jury or judge) decides that amount (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-1.1-pdf.pdf)-pdf.pdf)-pdf.pdf)-pdf.pdf)).

Start a simple journal. Write down symptoms, sleep, missed work, and questions for your doctor. Save bills, prescriptions, and appointment notes.

When a Claim May Make Sense

A claim may make sense when another party’s negligence caused the crash and the injury is supported by medical care. The facts of each crash decide the outcome.

Under O.C.G.A. § 51-1-2-2017-pdf.pdf), ordinary diligence is the degree of care exercised by ordinarily prudent persons under the same or similar circumstances, and the absence of such diligence is termed ordinary negligence. A person can recover for a breach of a legal duty that causes damage (O.C.G.A. § 51-1-6-2017-pdf.pdf)-2017-pdf.pdf)-2017-pdf.pdf)-2017-pdf.pdf)).

Fault matters a lot. If that person is 50 percent or more responsible, they cannot recover any damages (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33-pdf.pdf)-pdf.pdf)-pdf.pdf)-pdf.pdf)). Each liable person pays only its own share, not joint liability.

Commercial vehicles add layers. Georgia law makes a person liable for torts committed by a servant on that person’s command or within the scope of the business (O.C.G.A. § 51-2-2-2017-pdf.pdf)-2017-pdf.pdf)-2017-pdf.pdf)-2017-pdf.pdf)). Under 49 CFR § 391.11, a person shall not drive a commercial motor vehicle unless he or she is qualified to drive one, and a motor carrier shall not require or permit a person to drive unless that person is qualified (49 CFR Chapter III).

Georgia law generally requires actions for injuries to the person to be brought within two years after the right of action accrues (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33-2023-pdf.pdf)-2023-pdf.pdf)-2023-pdf.pdf)-2023-pdf.pdf)). Don’t wait to get the facts reviewed.

How the Claim Process Works, Step by Step

Most claims move through a first call, records collection, an investigation, insurer contact, and, if needed, a lawsuit filed before the deadline.

1. Free first call. The first consultation is free, confidential, and has no obligation to continue. Intake is available in English or Spanish.
2. Gather records. This includes medical records, bills, insurance information, and any notes you kept.
3. Get the crash report. The Georgia Department of Transportation describes how police crash reports can be obtained through BuyCrash or GDOT (GDOT crash reporting).
4. Investigate. Look at how the crash happened, who was responsible, and what coverage may apply.
5. Contact insurers. Communication and a demand for payment may follow.
6. File suit if needed. A lawsuit is filed before the deadline, followed by discovery and the court process.

Timelines vary from case to case.

What a Concussion Claim Can Include

A Georgia injury claim can seek money for medical expenses, lost income, and the effects of the injury on daily life. No general guide can say what any case is worth.

Georgia law separates general damages, which the law presumes flow from a wrongful act, from special damages, which must be proved (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-2-2017-pdf.pdf)-2017-pdf.pdf)-2017-pdf.pdf)-2017-pdf.pdf)). Medical bills and lost wages are usually special damages, so records matter.

Necessary expenses from an injury are a legitimate part of the damages estimate (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-7-2017-pdf.pdf)-2017-pdf.pdf)-2017-pdf.pdf)-2017-pdf.pdf)). Effects on sleep, concentration, work, and relationships can also be part of the discussion. These are harder to document, so keep a journal.

If a concussion has long-lasting effects, the medical record needs to show them. Families in wrongful death cases are also part of this firm’s focus, and those losses are handled differently.

Why Ugwonali Law Group Handles These Cases

Ugwonali Law Group is an Atlanta personal injury firm led by attorney Adanna Ugwonali. The firm focuses on people with serious injuries from crashes and other accidents.

• Office: 3400 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta, Georgia.
• Where it takes matters: metro Atlanta, including Fulton, Clayton, Cobb, and Rockdale counties and cities such as Marietta, Jonesboro, and Conyers, and statewide in Georgia.
• Language: intake is available in English or Spanish.
• Support: our support staff help with scheduling, records, and paperwork, so you can focus on your care.
• Case focus: truck and car crashes, premises injuries, slip and falls, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, and wrongful death.
• Plain language: our team explains the legal and medical process in everyday words.

Frequently Asked Questions