Signs of a Concussion After an Auto Accident

What is a Concussion?
A concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and can range from minor to serious. A minor or mild concussion is strong enough to temporarily damage brain functions that control memory, balance, speech, motor skills and reflexes.

What Can Cause a Concussion?
Car accidents, sports injuries, and slip and fall incidents can all result in a concussion depending on how the head was injured. A concussion can occur following any impact or blow to the head.

Reactions to experiencing a concussion can vary. Some individuals can lose consciousness, while others may not even know they have a concussion. Most individuals who experience a concussion will fully recover, as the majority of concussions are mild.

Symptoms of a Concussion
Concussion symptoms can appear in individuals as soon as the injury occurs or may not show until days or even weeks afterwards. Here are some symptoms to be aware of following a head injury:

• Exhaustion
• Dizziness
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Headache
• Trouble remembering or loss of memory
• Feeling confused
• Slurred speech
• Nausea and/or vomiting

Symptoms of a concussion that could present in an individual in the days or weeks after the injury may be the following:

• Trouble concentrating
• Trouble sleeping
• Irritability
• Depression
• Sensitivity to loud sounds or bright lights

How are Concussions Treated?
Most individuals who experience concussions will get better with time and plenty of rest. A successful treatment, however, is based on the severity of the concussion and the initial head injury. The more serious the injury is, the greater the risk of suffering a serious brain injury if the individual is not immediately treated.

If you have been in a motor vehicle crash and determine that you have any of the symptoms above, don’t wait any longer to see your doctor.

When to Contact a Massachusetts Injury Lawyer
If you have been seriously hurt in a car accident in Massachusetts due to a reckless driver, BEFORE you sign any forms, talk to the insurance company or hire a lawyer, contact the Massachusetts injury lawyers with Kiley Law Group to find out about your legal options.

Our car accident lawyers have 30 years of experience and a successful track record of obtaining seven figure wins for our clients in auto accident cases, medical malpractice, child birth injuries, brain injuries, and other personal injury cases.

Call 800-410-2769 to receive your free legal consultation today. And while the call is free, the information may be priceless.

Car Accidents in Los Angeles Can Leave Victims with Serious Personal Injuries

Los Angeles car accident lawyers will usually confess that an auto collision can happen to anyone and without warning.  Pedestrian collisions, slip and falls, car accidents, dog bites, and more can all cause serious personal injury. 

Some of the injuries that can occur from a personal injury accident include:

• Brain Injury:  Brain injuries can leave victims in devastating circumstances.   These accidents can happen from negligent parties who have recklessly endangered others.  Brain injuries can leave victims with short-term and long-term damage.  A number of victims will be unable to work and live the lifestyle they were once accustomed to after a brain injury.

• Concussions:  A Concussion occurs when the brain strikes the skull.   Concussions can range in severity.  Some may suffer from mild cases while others may have critical to extreme causes.  An extreme concussion could result in life-long problems such as memory loss.

• Spinal Cord Injury: One of the leading causes of spinal cord injuries are car accidents.  Spinal Cord injuries can be severe and life changing to injured victims.  The results can be overwhelming.  Injured victims can lose their ability to walk or move as they once did before.  The affects of a spinal cord injury can be permanent and severe for personal injury victims.

If you have been injured in a car accident you need an experienced lawyer who can help you receive a just settlement.   Contact a Los Angeles injury lawyer at BISNAR | CHASE to receive a free consultation today.  We have helped thousands of injured accident victims recover hundreds of millions of dollars and would like to do the same for you. 

State Trooper Crashes SUV, Avoids Basketball Equipment on 495

Last Wednesday morning, Massachusetts State Trooper John McGrath crashed his unmarked SUV off of Route 495 South in Haverhill after he lost control of the SUV when he swerved to get out of the way of a basketball hoop and backboard that had fallen out of the back of a truck driving in front of him. Once McGrath swerved out of the way of the basketball equipment, his SUV rolled over in the breakdown lane and up against the tree line off of the highway.

McGrath sustained minor injuries as a result of the accident and was treated at an area hospital. His SUV was towed from the scene, while fellow State Police responded to the accident site.

Haverhill’s Ernest Penachio, the 61-year-old driver of the truck carrying the unsecured equipment, was cited by police.

The accident caused severe back-ups on both the highway and back roads due to lane closures as an investigation was conducted. That same morning there were a number of additional accidents on both 495 and Route 93, causing residual delays and curiosity traffic in the opposite lanes of travel.

If you have recently been in a car accident, contact Massachusetts car accident attorney Thomas M. Kiley for your free consultation.

Involved in a Car Accident? Avoid These Common Mistakes

Right after a car accident, you will most likely be in a state of shock, maybe even shaking, and your common sense may have shut off because of the trauma you just experienced. If you want to make sure that you recover what is rightfully yours following the accident, you must make the right decisions to protect any claim you have.

We'll be presenting the 7 most common mistakes made after a car accident and by outlining what to do to help your case, you will be better prepared for what lies ahead of you.

Fatal Mistake #1: Not Documenting Everything at the Accident Scene

1. Stop immediately without blocking traffic and check for any injuries. By law in Massachusetts, you must stop when there has been an accident of any kind, no matter the damage. Do what you can to help those with minor injuries but do not move anyone who has serious injuries unless it’s to move them away from any danger. If you haven’t already, call 911 for immediate medical assistance. These are extremely important: keep your cool, don’t argue or place blame towards the other driver, and do not claim fault, such as “I’m sorry, I didn’t see you.” Anything that you say from now on can be recounted by other parties and could potentially be used against you.

2. Call the police immediately and fully cooperate with the responding officers. If the other driver tries to dissuade you from calling the police, don’t listen. When the officers arrive, make sure to request a written report of the accident and also the incident number of the repost. You will also want to get the name, badge number, and exact agency that the officer works for. Once the police report is filed, it should be available at the department for pick up in the days following the accident. Verify all of the information in the report and clarify any errors immediately with the officer who wrote the report.

3. Gather information. If the accident happened at a place of business, make sure that the manager on duty at the time of the accident speaks with you in order to write an incident report. If there are surveillance cameras at the scene of the accident, request that the footage be preserved as evidence, in the event your injury was taped. Write the names, addresses, phone numbers, and license plates down of all the people involved in the accident. Contact information on witnesses to the accident is incredibly valuable as well, so try to get a name and at least a phone number.

Take pictures if you are able to, even with your cell phone. If you can record video with your phone, this will also be valuable evidence. Try to get photos of each vehicle involved in the crash. Get pictures of the scene and of street signs, traffic signs or lights and any additional relevant traffic guides. If there are skid marks on the roadway, snap a picture. If there was damage to a telephone pole or a fire hydrant or any other landmark, get a picture. Try to get pictures of the other parties involved or the witnesses, if you can.

4. Exchange information with the other drivers and passengers involved in the accident, as well as any witnesses. Get the other driver’s identification, license plate number, vehicle insurance information, address, phone number and any other contact information. Try to get the contact information for the other passengers and any witnesses that may have seen the accident. Again, whatever you do, don’t say anything about fault or injuries to the other parties. Any statement you do make about the accident, make to the responding police officers or the paramedics who are treating you.

Check back in the coming weeks for the rest of the 7 Fatal Mistakes so that you'll know what to do in the event of an accident.

Two Women Injured in Andover 3-Car Crash

Two women suffered minor injuries in a 3-vehicle accident on I-495 in Andover, MA.

The accident happened near the Route 133 exit at 9:45 am yesterday.

One of the drivers, Christine Leeds, 63, of Andover, was operating a Porsche when she collided with a Mercury Milan driven by Annielu Dewitt-Santini, 39, of York, Maine.

Both women were taken to Saints Memorial Hospital in Lowell for treatment of minor injuries, police said.

Their cars were damaged in the crash and were towed away.

The third driver in the accident, Carol Finocchario-Nerney, 41, of Manchester, NH, was not injured and was able to drive her car from the accident scene, the Eagle Tribune reported.

The accident is under investigation. No charges have been filed.

Lawrence Man and Methuen Woman in Car Crash

A Lawrence man and a Methuen woman were injured in a Sunday morning car accident near Calareso's on Main Street in Reading, MA, news reports said.

Their rescuers said they were "lucky to be alive" after an SUV, driven by the Lawrence man, struck a utility pole on the side of the road before 4:49 am.

The crash took down the pole, while at the same time knocked both the driver and his passenger unconscious. The Methuen woman, who it is believed was not wearing a seat belt, was sent under the dashboard in the crash.

The car was found on its side.

Both victims, whose names are not yet released by police, were taken to the Lahey Clinic.

The accident remains under investigation.

Methuen Man Faces OUI Charges in Crash

A motor vehicle accident in Methuen last Saturday, Aug 28, which left two Massachusetts women seriously injured was probably caused by drunken driving.

The 2-vehicle accident happened on Route 213 at the ramp from Route 113 in Methuen around 9 pm on Saturday.

One of the vehicles, a 2010 Ford Escape, driven by a Methuen man Steven Kurelko, 35, crashed with a 2000 Honda Civic, driven by a 52-year-old North Chelmsford woman.

The Honda driver was seriously injured and was airlifted by medical helicopter to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Her passenger, a 60-year-old woman also from North Chelmsford, was also seriously injured. Police did not release the women’s identities.

Kurelko was transported to Lawrence General Hospital with minor injuries.

He was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence. In addition, he faces charges of negligent operation and speeding.

News source: The Boston Globe.