If you were in a car accident in North Carolina and hit your head or feel “off,” it is important to take that seriously. Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are common after crashes in places like Raleigh, Charlotte, and Greensboro, or along highways such as I-40 and I-85. Symptoms can show up right away or appear gradually over the next day or two.
Some signs are emergencies that call for 911 or an emergency room visit. Others still need medical attention and careful follow up. Good documentation protects your health and also becomes important evidence if you later bring a brain injury claim in North Carolina. First, here is a quick overview of what to watch for after a crash.
What to Watch For After a North Carolina Crash
After a crash in North Carolina, watch for symptoms such as:
- Headache
- Feeling dazed or “foggy”
- Confusion or trouble thinking clearly
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Nausea or vomiting
- Memory gaps
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Changes in sleep or mood
These can appear within minutes, hours, or over the next couple of days.
Certain danger signs require emergency care right away, including:
- A worsening or severe headache
- Repeated vomiting
- Trouble waking up or staying awake
- Seizures or convulsions
- Weakness or numbness on one side of the body
- Slurred speech or behavior that seems very unusual
If anything feels wrong, seeing a doctor and documenting your symptoms helps both your recovery and any future brain injury claim.
Most people then want to know what the earliest signs of a concussion look like right after a car accident.
What Are the First Signs of a Concussion After a Car Accident?
Right after a crash, some of the most common early signs of a concussion are:
- Headache
- Feeling dazed, “foggy,” or not quite yourself
- Confusion or difficulty thinking clearly
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Trouble focusing or following conversations
For many people, these symptoms show up in the hours after a crash, sometimes while they are still dealing with the scene, tow trucks, and police. You can have a concussion even if you did not lose consciousness and even if your head did not strike the steering wheel, window, or airbag. A strong jolt alone can be enough.
To understand these injuries better, it helps to know what doctors mean by “concussion” versus “traumatic brain injury.”
Concussion vs Traumatic Brain Injury: What the Terms Mean
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury, usually on the mild end of the spectrum. “Mild TBI” is a medical label that describes the initial findings, such as how long you were confused or whether imaging looks normal. It does not automatically mean the impact on your life will feel mild.
Traumatic brain injury is a broad term that covers:
- Mild TBI (concussion): Brief confusion or dizziness, sometimes no loss of consciousness, often normal CT or MRI scans.
- Moderate TBI: Longer confusion or unconsciousness, more noticeable symptoms, and a higher chance of imaging changes or hospital stays.
- Severe TBI: Prolonged unconsciousness or coma, obvious bleeding or swelling on scans, and intensive care, sometimes with surgery.
Medical records and North Carolina injury claims may use both words “concussion” and “mild TBI” for the same injury. Labels help doctors categorize what they see clinically, but what matters most to your life is how long symptoms last and how they affect your ability to function.
Symptoms That Can Show Up Right Away or Days Later
Some concussion and TBI symptoms appear at the crash scene. Others emerge hours or days later as adrenaline wears off and the brain responds to the injury. After a wreck on I-40 near Raleigh or during a commute in Charlotte or Greensboro, you might feel mostly shaken up at first, only to wake up the next day with a pounding headache or mental fog.
Both early and delayed symptoms matter for your safety and for any future claim. It helps to think about them in categories.
| Symptom Category | Examples | What to Watch For |
| Physical | Headache, dizziness, nausea, balance problems, blurred vision | Pain that does not improve, trouble walking straight, repeated vomiting, difficulty focusing your eyes |
| Cognitive | Confusion, memory gaps, trouble concentrating, feeling “foggy” or slowed | Difficulty following conversations, forgetting simple tasks, getting lost in familiar places, feeling mentally slowed |
| Emotional | Irritability, anxiety, sadness, mood swings | Mood changes that are noticeably different from your usual self, feeling overwhelmed by small stressors |
| Sleep | Sleeping more or less than usual, trouble falling or staying asleep | Major changes in sleep pattern after the crash, waking up unrefreshed, daytime sleepiness |
| Other | Sensitivity to light or noise, feeling overwhelmed in stores or busy environments | Needing dark or quiet more often, avoiding normal environments because they feel “too much” |
One of the most common questions is whether these concussion symptoms can be delayed after a crash.
Can Concussion Symptoms Be Delayed After a Crash?
Yes. Some people feel fine or only mildly shaken at the scene, then develop headaches, dizziness, confusion, nausea, light sensitivity, or sleep problems later that day or over the next several days. As adrenaline and stress hormones decrease, pain and cognitive changes can become more noticeable.
If new symptoms appear, or if existing symptoms get worse instead of better in the first several days, it is important to contact a medical provider or return to care. That follow-up visit helps protect your health and creates a clear record that links the symptoms to the crash. Delayed or not, some symptoms cross the line from “watch and follow up” into “go to the ER right now.”
Danger Signs That Need Emergency Care
Call 911 or go to the emergency room right away after a crash if you notice any of these danger signs:
- Worsening or severe headache, especially if sudden or different from usual
- Repeated vomiting or nausea that will not stop
- Weakness, numbness, or loss of coordination in your face, arms, or legs
- Slurred speech or trouble speaking clearly
- Increasing confusion, agitation, or behavior that seems very unusual
- Difficulty waking up or staying awake
- One pupil that looks larger than the other
- Seizures or convulsions
- Any loss of consciousness, even for a short time
- Any symptom that feels rapidly worse or very frightening
When Should You Go to the ER for a Possible Brain Injury?
If any of the danger signs above appear, or if you are scared by how quickly your symptoms are getting worse, you should go to the emergency room or call 911. Head injuries can change fast, and it is safer to have an emergency provider evaluate you than to wait at home.
Emergency providers can check for life-threatening problems, order CT scans when needed, and give clear instructions for follow up. Once any immediate emergency has been ruled out or treated, the next 72 hours are critical for monitoring and follow up.
What to Do in the First 72 Hours After a Suspected Concussion
The first 72 hours after a suspected concussion are about safety, following medical instructions, and avoiding things that make symptoms worse. It is also the time to start tracking symptoms so you and your doctors can see patterns.
During the first 72 hours after a suspected concussion in North Carolina, you should:
- Get checked by a medical professional such as an emergency doctor, urgent care provider, or primary care doctor
- Follow discharge instructions carefully and watch for any danger signs that should send you back to the ER
- Rest at first, then increase activity only as your provider recommends, stopping if symptoms worsen
- Avoid high-risk activities where another head impact is possible, such as contact sports, heavy physical work, or risky home projects
- Ask a family member or friend to keep an eye on you, especially during the first night or two
- Write down symptoms and note when they appear, change, or get worse
- Schedule and attend follow-up visits if your provider recommends them
A lot happens on the very first day, so it helps to know what to do right away if you hit your head or feel “off.”
What Should You Do the Same Day as the Crash If You Hit Your Head or Feel “Off”?
If you hit your head, felt your head snap back and forth, or just feel “off” after a crash in North Carolina, seek medical evaluation the same day when possible. This might mean going to the ER, urgent care, or your primary care office, depending on how you feel and what resources are available. If you feel dizzy, confused, or not fully alert, it is safer to have someone else drive you or to call 911.
Avoid returning to work, sports, or other demanding activities until you have been checked. Those first records describe how you felt soon after the crash and become an important baseline for both your health and any future claim. Once you are in front of a doctor, it helps to know what they typically check and how they decide on imaging and treatment.
Diagnosis and Treatment: What Doctors Often Check After a Crash
When you see a provider after a crash, they start by asking questions about what happened and how you have felt since. They will ask whether you lost consciousness, had memory gaps, felt confused, or experienced nausea, vomiting, or seizures. They also ask about prior concussions or neurological conditions.
The exam usually includes a physical and neurological check. The provider looks at your eyes, balance, coordination, strength, reflexes, and sensation. They may ask you to follow a finger with your eyes, walk in a straight line, or recall a list of words. Diagnosis is based on this exam and your symptom history.
Treatment often focuses on:
- Relative rest
- A gradual return to normal activities
- Medications targeted at specific symptoms such as headache, nausea, or sleep problems
Therapies such as vestibular therapy, physical therapy, or cognitive rehabilitation may be recommended if symptoms do not improve.
Common parts of a concussion or TBI exam include:
- Questions about the crash and how symptoms started
- A neurological exam of eyes, balance, coordination, and reflexes
- Simple cognitive checks such as orientation, memory, and concentration
- Observation of behavior, mood, and response to light and sound
One of the most common questions is whether you need a CT scan or MRI.
Do You Need a CT Scan or MRI for a Concussion?
Doctors are more likely to order a CT scan when they are concerned about more serious injuries such as bleeding in or around the brain or skull fractures. CT scans are often used in the emergency room when someone has sustained a significant blow, has very concerning symptoms, or takes blood thinners. MRIs are usually reserved for persistent, unexplained, or more complex symptoms that are not improving as expected.
Many concussions have normal CT or MRI scans. A normal scan does not mean you did not have a concussion. Doctors often rely on your symptoms and neurological exam to diagnose a mild TBI. Imaging is one useful tool, but it is not the only way brain injuries are identified.
Can You Have a Concussion Without Hitting Your Head in a Crash?
Yes. You can have a concussion even if your head never struck the steering wheel, window, or airbag. A sudden jolt or whiplash-type motion can cause the brain to move and bounce inside the skull. That movement can stretch and injure brain tissue, resulting in concussion symptoms.
This is common in rear-end collisions in stop-and-go traffic around places like Raleigh or Charlotte, where your body is thrown forward and back quickly. If you were jolted hard in a crash and now have headache, dizziness, confusion, or other symptoms described earlier, treat it as a possible concussion and get evaluated. Over the next days and weeks, concussion or TBI symptoms can affect far more than just how your head feels.
How Concussion and TBI Symptoms Can Affect Work, Driving, and Daily Life
Even when someone looks normal on the outside, concussion and TBI symptoms can make everyday tasks much harder. Staring at a computer screen can trigger headaches or make it difficult to concentrate. Noisy or visually busy environments such as grocery stores, classrooms, or open offices can feel overwhelming. Simple tasks that were easy before the crash can suddenly take more time and effort.
Driving can also be affected. Some people experience dizziness or headaches while driving, especially at night or in heavy traffic. Others feel mentally slowed or have trouble handling quick decisions, which makes highway driving feel less safe. Talking openly with doctors about how symptoms affect work, driving, parenting, and household tasks is important, and asking for written restrictions can help protect you.
Common ways concussion or TBI can affect daily life include:
- Headaches with reading, computer use, or watching television
- Dizziness or headaches while driving, especially at night or in heavy traffic
- Trouble multitasking or staying focused at work or school
- Feeling exhausted or “wiped out” after normal daily activities
- Irritability, anxiety, or mood changes that strain relationships
How Can a Concussion or TBI Affect Your Ability to Work and Drive After a North Carolina Crash?
Doctors often recommend temporary restrictions after a concussion, such as no driving until symptoms stabilize, reduced hours, or light duty work. For commuters, commercial drivers, or workers whose jobs involve heavy machinery, these restrictions can be especially significant. Tasks that require quick decisions, constant attention, or physical balance can be unsafe during recovery.
Written work and driving restrictions from your doctor help keep you safe and also serve as important evidence in a North Carolina claim. They show how the concussion or TBI limits your daily function and income, which matters when calculating lost wages and future earning capacity. Because these symptoms affect your life and work, they also affect how an injury claim is handled under North Carolina law.
North Carolina Claim Issues: Documentation, Deadlines, and Contributory Negligence
North Carolina law sets deadlines and fault rules that can heavily affect concussion and TBI cases. Insurers often push hard in these cases because head injuries are sometimes invisible and depend on symptom reports. They study timelines, medical records, crash reports, and recorded statements for anything that might undermine your claim.
Law enforcement crash reports, such as the DMV 349 used across North Carolina, include an “injury status” at the scene, but those codes tell only part of the story. “Possible injury” on a crash report can still involve a significant concussion once you are evaluated. Full medical documentation carries much more weight than a brief box on a form.
Documentation that usually matters most in North Carolina concussion and TBI claims includes:
- Emergency room and urgent care records noting the crash and early symptoms
- Neurological exam notes from ER, urgent care, or follow-up providers
- Imaging reports such as CT or MRI if they were performed
- Follow-up notes from primary care doctors, neurologists, or concussion clinics
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy, or vestibular therapy notes
- Work notes, wage records, and documentation of reduced hours or duties
- Your own symptom diary, kept consistently over time
How Long Do You Have to File a Car Accident Injury Lawsuit in North Carolina?
In most North Carolina car accident injury cases, including those involving concussion and traumatic brain injury, you generally have three years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit in court. This time limit comes from North Carolina’s statute of limitations, found in G.S. 1-52. Settlement negotiations do not stop the clock, so it is important to keep this deadline in mind.
There are exceptions, such as cases involving minors or certain claims against government entities, so speaking with a lawyer early can help clarify which rules apply to your situation.
What Medical Records Help Prove a Concussion or TBI Claim in North Carolina?
Emergency and urgent care notes documenting the crash and early symptoms, along with any CT or MRI results, are the backbone of many North Carolina concussion and TBI claims. These records show that you reported head-related symptoms soon after the wreck and that clinicians performed a neurological assessment.
Follow-up notes from primary care doctors, neurologists, or concussion specialists show how long symptoms persist and how they evolve. Therapy notes from physical, occupational, or vestibular therapy can give practical examples of balance issues, dizziness, or cognitive fatigue. Work notes, wage records, and your symptom diary help fill in how often you miss work, how your performance has changed, and how symptoms affect your daily life.
Because these cases blend complex medical issues and North Carolina law, many people find it helpful to talk with a brain injury lawyer sooner rather than later.
When to Contact a Lawyer for a Concussion or Brain Injury After a North Carolina Crash
Brain injuries are often misunderstood and sometimes minimized, both by injured people themselves and by insurance companies. If your symptoms are serious, not improving, or affecting your ability to work, drive, or care for your family, or if an insurer is questioning whether your concussion is real or related to the crash, it can be wise to speak with a lawyer.
Lanier Law Group handles car accident and brain injury claims across North Carolina, including Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro, and other communities. Early advice can help you avoid common mistakes such as giving detailed recorded statements before you know the full extent of your injuries, agreeing to broad medical authorizations, or waiting too long to collect key records.
When Should You Talk to a North Carolina Brain Injury Lawyer After a Crash?
It is a good idea to talk with a North Carolina brain injury lawyer if:
- You have ongoing or worsening symptoms
- Doctors expect you to miss work or need long-term care
- The insurer is disputing your injury or pushing a quick settlement
- The crash caused a moderate or severe TBI
- There are significant disputes about who was at fault
- You are being pressured to sign releases or give detailed recorded statements
Prompt medical care and careful documentation are the first priorities after a head injury. Once you have taken those steps, consulting with an experienced North Carolina car accident lawyer can help you understand your options, protect your rights, and focus on recovery while someone else handles the legal and insurance details.
Get Help After a Concussion Or Brain Injury From a North Carolina Crash
If you still feel “off” after a car accident in North Carolina, you do not have to ignore those symptoms or let an insurer decide how serious they are. Headaches, brain fog, dizziness, memory gaps, mood changes, and sleep problems can all signal a concussion or traumatic brain injury, even when scans are normal and you look fine on the outside. Early evaluation, careful follow up, and clear documentation protect both your health and any future claim, especially in a state like North Carolina where insurers scrutinize timelines and records closely and may try to downplay head injuries as stress or “just a bump.”
If a crash in North Carolina left you with head injury symptoms that are not going away, you do not have to navigate medical visits, work restrictions, and insurance pressure on your own. Call Lanier Law Group at 919-342-1368 or contact us online for a free consultation. Our team is ready to review your records, listen to what you are experiencing day to day, explain your options under North Carolina law, and fight like heavyweights to protect your right to full and fair compensation while you focus on healing.