Concussion after a car accident — it's a brain injury, take it seriously.

What concussion is, medically

Concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) caused by a knock or jolt that disrupts normal brain function. You don't have to hit your head — rapid acceleration and deceleration (like in a rear-end collision) can cause the brain to move inside the skull enough to do it.

Loss of consciousness is not required. About 90% of concussions happen without it. The diagnosis is based on symptoms and clinical assessment, not on whether you blacked out.

Symptoms to watch for

Symptoms can appear immediately or up to 72 hours after the crash. The classic clusters:

• Physical — headache (most common), dizziness, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light or noise, balance problems, blurred vision, fatigue.
• Cognitive — brain fog, difficulty concentrating, slowed thinking, memory gaps, trouble finding words.
• Emotional — irritability, mood swings, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed by normal stimuli.
• Sleep — trouble falling asleep, broken sleep, sleeping much more than usual.

Any of these after a crash warrants a GP visit. If symptoms are severe — repeated vomiting, worsening headache, confusion, weakness in a limb, seizure — go to emergency.

Why concussion is non-threshold (usually)

Under MAIA 2017, "minor injury" (the threshold band) is defined as soft-tissue injury or minor psychological injury. Traumatic brain injury — including mild TBI / concussion — is not within the minor-injury definition. That puts most concussion cases on the non-threshold side, which is significant:

• Statutory benefits available regardless of fault — same as for threshold injuries.
• Damages claim potentially available — pain, suffering, past and future economic loss, future care.
• Medical funding can continue past 52 weeks where the medical evidence supports it.

See threshold vs non-threshold for the underlying mechanics, and damages claims explained for what the lump-sum side looks like in practice.

What CTP funds for concussion treatment

Initial assessment

• GP consultation and clinical examination.
• CT scan or MRI if a doctor orders it to rule out bleeding or structural injury.
• Referral to a neurologist where symptoms are severe or persistent.

Active recovery

• Vestibular physiotherapy — specialised physio for dizziness, balance, and motion sensitivity. The single most effective treatment for post-concussion balance symptoms.
• Cognitive rest then graduated return — managed reintroduction of screen time, reading, work tasks.
• Headache management — medication, sometimes occipital nerve blocks for persistent post-traumatic headache.
• Psychological support — for the anxiety, irritability, and cognitive impacts that frequently come with concussion.
• Sleep intervention where sleep is disrupted.

Return to work

• Workplace assessment for cognitive load (especially desk-based or driving work).
• Reduced-hours plan negotiated with your employer.
• Adjustments — quieter environment, reduced screen time, longer breaks.

Post-concussion syndrome — when it doesn't go away

About 15% of people who have a concussion have symptoms beyond 3 months. This is post-concussion syndrome (PCS). Common features: persistent headache, ongoing fatigue, cognitive difficulties, sleep problems, mood changes.

PCS cases are clearly non-threshold, often involve significant whole-person impairment, and the damages claim becomes a major component. Future economic loss can be substantial if PCS is keeping someone out of full-capacity work for months or years.

What to do right after the crash

1. Get assessed. Even if you feel fine at the scene, see a GP within 24–48 hours if you took any knock or sudden jolt.
2. Tell every clinician you might have a concussion. The clinical assessment is symptom-led — they need to know what to look for.
3. Document everything early. Symptom diary from day one. Sleep quality, headache intensity, what cognitive tasks feel harder than usual.
4. Get the CTP claim in inside 28 days. See the 28-day rule.
5. Avoid the "push through" trap. Going back to full work too soon can prolong recovery and complicate the claim. Listen to your treating doctor.
6. No alcohol while symptomatic. Avoid driving until cleared. Avoid contact sports.

What we do for you

We get the claim in, set up the treatment funding, and build the medical evidence base from day one. We argue the non-threshold classification properly — concussion is regularly downplayed by insurers in early assessments. If your case progresses into PCS territory, we build out the damages claim for past and future economic loss.

Take the short check at /check, or call (02) 7238 7379 and a real person picks up.