Concussion education / St. Petersburg & Clearwater

Hit on US-19 in Pinellas? Concussion Signs to Watch After a Crash

Rear-ended on US-19, Ulmerton Road or a causeway? Concussion signs to watch in St. Pete, Clearwater and Largo, and how to get tested.

A crash on US-19 can leave you shaken long after the tow truck leaves. If you were rear-ended near Largo, sideswiped on Ulmerton or hit crossing a causeway, and something still feels off, you are not imagining it, and you are not alone.

Life on Pinellas roads

US-19 runs the length of Pinellas with frequent signals and turning traffic, and Ulmerton Road, the Bayside Bridge and the Howard Frankland Bridge carry heavy commuter traffic every day. Rear-end and side impact crashes on these roads are among the most common reasons people in Largo, Pinellas Park, Palm Harbor and Clearwater end up seeing a chiropractor or doctor. A head does not have to hit anything for a concussion to happen: the fast back and forth motion of a rear-end collision can be enough.

Why a crash can cause a concussion

The brain can be injured by a direct hit or by the head moving quickly back and forth, as in a rear-end collision. Seat belts and airbags protect against far worse injuries, but they cannot stop that motion entirely.

If you were hurt and your head still does not feel right a week or two later, that is reason enough to tell your provider.

Common concussion symptoms

• Physical: headache, nausea, dizziness, balance problems, blurry vision, sensitivity to light or noise.
• Thinking: feeling foggy or slowed down, trouble concentrating or remembering.
• Emotional: irritability, sadness, anxiety.
• Sleep: sleeping more or less than usual.

When to go to the emergency room

Call 911 or go to the nearest ER right away for danger signs such as a headache that gets worse and does not go away, repeated vomiting, weakness or numbness, slurred speech, seizures, unusual confusion, one pupil larger than the other, or loss of consciousness. In the area, hospitals with emergency departments include Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg and Morton Plant Hospital in Clearwater; in an emergency, go to whichever ER is closest.

Getting checked in St. Petersburg & Clearwater

If symptoms are not severe but are not going away, start with your treating provider, such as your primary care doctor, chiropractor, orthopedist, pain management physician or physical therapist. Keep a short symptom diary to share with them. If they decide objective testing makes sense, they can refer you to Braintree. We are a mobile service: our team brings concussion and TBI testing to your provider's office across St. Petersburg & Clearwater, so you are tested somewhere familiar. Your provider receives a physician-reviewed diagnostic report and decides on your care.

Not sure where to start? Call our help line at 813-709-3771. We can walk you through how testing works and help you think about next steps for getting checked and finding care. You can also read our guide for patients and families.

For local providers

If you treat accident or injury patients in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Largo and Palm Harbor, Braintree brings mobile concussion and TBI testing to your office and returns a physician-reviewed diagnostic report. You stay in charge of care. We diagnose. You treat. See how it works for providers or send a referral.

For legal teams

Personal injury firms serving St. Petersburg & Clearwater can learn how testing at the client's treating provider's office produces objective, physician-reviewed diagnostic reports. Testing is ordered by the treating provider. See information for attorneys.

Frequently asked questions

Related: Concussion testing in St. Petersburg & Clearwater | Concussion testing in Florida | For patients and families | Call 813-709-3771

Sources

• CDC: About mild TBI and concussion
• CDC HEADS UP: Concussion signs and symptoms
• NIH NINDS: Traumatic Brain Injury

This article is educational and is not medical or legal advice. If this is a medical emergency, call 911.