Concussion education / Daytona Beach & Volusia County

Motorcycle Crash Head Injury in Daytona Beach: Concussion Even With a Helmet

Hurt in a motorcycle crash in Daytona Beach, DeLand or Palm Coast? Why concussion is possible even with a helmet, and how testing is arranged in Volusia County.

Riders in Volusia County know the roads, the crowds and the risks. If you went down on your bike, even with a good helmet on, a concussion is still possible, and it is worth knowing the signs.

Riding in Volusia County

Volusia County sees heavy motorcycle traffic, especially during Bike Week each spring (late February into March) and Biketoberfest each October, along with race traffic on International Speedway Boulevard and busy stretches of US-1, US-92, SR 40, I-4 and I-95. Helmets save lives and lower the risk of serious head injury, but they cannot fully stop the brain from moving inside the skull, so a rider can still have a concussion.

Concussion with a helmet on

Always wear a helmet. Even so, a helmet mainly protects the skull. A sudden stop can still move the brain inside the skull, so riders should watch for concussion symptoms after any crash or hard fall.

Riders and passengers both should be watched after a crash, and anyone who feels foggy should not ride again until cleared.

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 Halifax Health Medical Center of Daytona Beach and AdventHealth Daytona Beach; in an emergency, go to whichever ER is closest.

Getting checked in Daytona Beach & Volusia County

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 Daytona Beach & Volusia County, 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 Daytona Beach, Deltona, DeLand and Palm Coast, 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 Daytona Beach & Volusia County 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 Daytona Beach & Volusia County | 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.