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Can you get a concussion without hitting your head?

October 13, 2025

While it may seem surprising, it is possible to suffer a concussion or traumatic brain injurywithout direct impact to your head. Especially in vehicle collisions, impact to a person’s body can cause their brain to hit the inside of their skull, often causing bruises or other damage to soft tissues.

If you’ve experienced a concussion due to an accident anywhere in Buffalo or throughout New York, a personal injury lawyer can help you hold parties accountable and get your life back. Call us at (716) 854-0700 or fill out our online contact form to request a free consultation.

What does it mean to have a concussion?

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury resulting often from a blow to the head or a sudden force to the body causing the brain to be jostled violently within the skull. Non-penetrative TBI, blunt TBI, or closed head injury are other terms for a concussion.

So, can you get a concussion without hitting your head? With many types of major accidents, yes.Even if you have no visible injuries, you should always receive medical attention to check for any internal injuries, including a concussion.

Signs of a concussion

Even with “invisible” injuries such as concussions, symptoms often will still appear that let you know something is wrong. Symptoms of a concussion may include:

  • Loss of consciousness
  • Vertigo, dizziness or lightheadedness
  • Nausea, vomiting
  • Confusion
  • Sleep disruption, such as extreme tiredness or inability to sleep

Symptoms can sometimes start to appear hours or even days after the actual incident. Even if you’vebeen cleared by a medical doctor after an accident, you should return to seek additionalmedical attention if any of the above symptoms arise later.

RELATED:3 Signs of a Brain Injury After a Car Accident

Can a concussion impact quality of life over time?

Concussions are considered traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs. Traumatic brain injuries can widely vary in severity. The more severe the injury, the more likely it will have long-term impacts.

That said, even a mild concussion can cause symptoms lasting for months or more after the initial injury. This is known as “persistent post-concussion syndrome.” The severity of the concussion doesn’t necessarily predict whether a person will experience post-concussion syndrome.

Symptoms of post-concussion syndrome can include the following:

  • Frequent or persistent headaches
  • Vertigo, dizziness, or nausea
  • Sensitivity to noise and/or light
  • Vision problems
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability or extreme mood swings
  • Depression
  • Seizures
  • Confusion, memory loss, or other cognitive changes

There is no medical test that can diagnose persistent post-concussion syndrome. If you’ve experienced a concussion and you’ve had any of the above symptoms for over a month after the incident, you should consult a doctor.

While post-concussion syndrome may not be a lifelong affliction, it can still cost you and your family a lot. You may lose wages due to being unable to perform at work. Depression, anxiety, or cognitive issues because of a concussion can be considered undue pain and suffering. If the individual with the concussion is unable to care for themselves or for their children while they recover, they may also need to hire a caregiver, which can be costly.

A skilled personal injury lawyer can help advocate for your family’s needs after a concussion, whether those needs are temporary or long-term.

Close-up of a gavel and brass scales of justice on a desk, with two professionals in business attire discussing legal documents in the background.

Concussion and their lasting effects can make for tricky injury claims. Because personal injury cases heavily rely on tangible evidence, it can be difficult to convince an insurance company or a jury of the legitimacy of an internal injury. While some medical imaging may make the injury apparent, it may not be as clear or impactful to viewers as an open wound.

Settlements for invisible injuries can also be much lower than those for visible injuries for the same reasons. Even if the jury or insurance company can be convinced of an injury, they may argue that the injury is milder or less life-altering than it is.

Because symptoms of a concussion or traumatic brain injury can be somewhat delayed after the initial accident, insurance companies may also argue that the concussion was unrelated to the accident to avoid paying a claim.

A brain injury lawyer can help overcome these obstacles by presenting the evidence in a clear and persuasive manner, so that the deciding parties can grasp the true severity of the injury and its implications for the victim’s quality of life.

Emergency responders fitting a neck brace on an injured man seated in a car after an accident.

What to Do if You or Your Loved Has Suffered a Concussion Due to Negligence

If you or a loved one have been in an accident that resulted in a concussion, take the following steps to ensure that you receive all the support you need for recovery.

  • Seek medical attention. Always put your health first.Seek medical attention as soon as possible after the accident, even if you don’t have visible injuries. If you’ve suffered a concussion, be sure to visit your doctor if symptoms persist for over a month or if any new symptoms arise. Follow up with your doctor as often as they recommend.
  • Save all relevant medical records in a safe and accessible place. Not only should you keep the records from right after the accident, but also from any follow-up appointments. These will help your attorney to prove that your concussion was related to the accident and that it has impacted your life. If you experience persistent post-concussion syndrome, your records will help them specifically to show that your symptoms arose after the concussion, further supporting your claim.
  • Advocate for yourself. Even if your concussion isn’t severe enough to show up on an MRI or a CT scan, it can still greatly impact your life. Don’t dismiss your symptoms just because you were given a “mild” diagnosis.
  • Seek legal representation.A New York personal injury attorney can help you receive a fair settlement to improve your quality of life after a concussion.

RELATED:How Insurance Companies Try to Downplay a Brain Injury from a Car Accident

Contact Feroleto Law

If you or a loved one hassuffered a concussion or other form of brain injury in an accident or through someone’s negligence, our attorneys can help you recover the compensation you need for short- and long-term needs. Call us at (716) 854-0700 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free and confidential consultation.

The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.

Sources:

https://health.ucdavis.edu/blog/cultivating-health/how-to-spot-a-concussion-and-what-to-do-if-you-suspect-a-brain-injury/2022/09

https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/traumatic-brain-injury-tbi#:~:text=Signs%20and%20symptoms%20of%20traumatic,tend%20to%20develop%20during%20recovery

https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/injuries/head-and-neck-injuries/post-concussion-syndrome-pcs/ 

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