The Hidden Dangers of Concussion Misdiagnosis from a Car Collision
November 2025
A concussion is a brain injury. When it is missed or misdiagnosed, a cascade of hidden dangers can follow that affect every area of the injured person's life. The most common hidden danger is post-concussion syndrome (PCS). Without proper initial diagnosis and management concussion symptoms can persist for years and in some cases found to be permanent. Another rare, but life threatening condition is second impact syndrome (SIS). This a a rare, but life-threatening condition. If a person sufferes a second concussion before the first has healed, it can cause severe and rapid brain swelling, leading to permanent brain damage or death.
The cornerstone of concussion treatment is cognitive and phyiscal rest. In other words, slow everything down and take the time to heal. A person who does not know if they had a concussion will continue on with their normal life by looking atscreens, using their phone, doing work around the house, and continuing to work - all of which will worsen symptoms and delay the healing process.
If you have been in a car collision, even if you think it is minor take the time to think about the collision again. A car collision is a complex event. Many forces acted on your body from many different angles in a event that lasted at most seconds. A concussion can occur alongside many other injuries and is often overshadowed and missed.
If you have been injured in a car collision, take the time to find experienced legal counsel for your case. At Herrick & Hart, we have been on the side of the injured since 1951.