Concussion & TBI FAQs

Georgia allows recovery of economic damages (medical expenses, future care costs, lost wages and earning capacity) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life). In cases involving egregious conduct, punitive damages may also be available under O.C.G.A. § 51-12-5.1.

It may. PTSD is frequently under-diagnosed in civilian populations, especially in primary care settings where physicians focus on physical injuries. If your anxiety or sleep disruption began after your accident, is connected to memories or reminders of the crash, and is interfering with your daily life, a mental health professional evaluation using validated tools like the PCL-5 may reveal a PTSD diagnosis that more accurately reflects your condition. Proper diagnosis affects both your treatment and your legal case.

No. CT scans and conventional MRI are not sensitive to the diffuse axonal injury that causes mTBI. A normal scan is common in mTBI patients and does not rule out a concussion. If you have persistent vestibular or visual symptoms after your accident — dizziness, nausea, light or noise sensitivity, blurred vision — you should be evaluated by a neurologist or concussion specialist, not just an emergency room physician.

Potentially yes. Under Georgia law, civil personal injury claims for assault-related concussions exist independently of any criminal proceedings. You do not need a criminal conviction to pursue civil damages. Note that Georgia’s statute of limitations for personal injury is generally two years from the date of injury — do not wait. Contact us to discuss your specific situation confidentially.

Speed and impact forces can be relevant, but research has shown that concussions and persistent symptoms can occur even in lower-speed collisions. What matters legally is the full bundle of injury factors, your acute symptoms, and the documented impact on your life — not just the speedometer reading.

They may be relying on outdated data. The current science — including a meta-analysis of over 592,000 patients — confirms that up to 30% of adults with concussion experience persistent symptoms, and that car crash victims face double the risk of anyone else. We use peer-reviewed medical literature to counter these arguments directly.

Yes. The vast majority of concussions — including those with serious and persistent symptoms — do not show structural abnormalities on standard imaging. This is a well-established medical fact. At Haug Barron Law Group, we build cases around the full clinical picture: symptom burden, functional impairment, neuropsychological testing, and expert medical testimony, not just imaging results.