A concussion may affect your driving skills longer than you think

On Behalf of | Nov 11, 2022 | Personal injury |

If you’ve suffered a concussion in a car crash, fall or some other type of accident, you can’t really be sure how it’s going to affect you. You may have severe symptoms or experience relatively minor symptoms like dizziness, headaches and light sensitivity.

It’s crucial to get medical care and keep your doctor apprised of your symptoms. However, concussions can be deceptive. Like any kind of injury to the brain, they can affect your perception and responsiveness – two things you need to drive safely.

Most doctors tend to focus on telling their patients with concussions how long they need to take off work, school and sports. They haven’t been given specific guidelines about when it’s safe to return to driving. They might tell you to wait at least a couple of days or until your symptoms are gone. However, that might not be long enough.

It’s similar to driving drunk

One study looked at the driving skills of concussion patients two days after they reported experiencing no more symptoms. These skills were tested using a driving simulator.

The researchers found that their subjects’ driving was similar to that of people who drove while under the influence. For example, they swerved within their lanes and generally had poor control over their “vehicle.” The study’s author noted that the results are a “pretty large indicator of motor vehicle accident risk” when people “are considered recovered” from a concussion. 

If your concussion occurred because of someone else’s actions or negligence and you’re seeking compensation, it’s important to factor in any missed work or other economic damages you may suffer because you’re still recovering from your concussion – no matter how long that takes. Having legal guidance can help you get the compensation to which you’re entitled.