Battle Born Injury Lawyers | July 25, 2025 | Personal Injury
Can you drive with a concussion? Many people who have experienced a head injury wonder how soon they can start driving again. Getting back behind the wheel after a concussion is a big step forward in a person’s recovery. Many factors influence when it’s safe to return to the driver’s seat.
Understanding these factors is key to protecting both your safety and others on the road. Keep reading to learn what signs to watch for and when it’s truly safe to drive after a concussion.
What Is a Concussion?
The term “traumatic brain injury” (TBI) sounds frightening, and some TBIs are severe, life-changing injuries. However, many injuries to the brain are considered mild TBIs. A concussion is a type of mild TBI that alters brain function in some way. The effects are typically short-term.
Any impact to the head can cause a concussion, including auto accidents, slip and fall accidents, or accidents at the work site. However, not every blow to the head causes a concussion.
What Are the Common Symptoms of a Concussion?
Symptoms of a concussion include:
- Headache
- Ringing in the ears
- Fatigue
- Blurry vision
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Memory loss
- Slurred speech
- Dizziness
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Trouble sleeping
- Depression
- Mood swings
People may or may not lose consciousness when they are concussed.
Should You Drive With a Concussion?
Driving seems like second nature after a few years, but it is a complicated task that requires several brain systems to work together. Drivers must make fast decisions, visually scan the area continuously, and steer as they control the gas and brake pedals. A safe driver needs to make well-informed decisions and make them quickly.
People who have experienced a concussion may temporarily lose the ability to multitask efficiently. Concussions can cause poor coordination, impaired judgment, and slower reaction times. Typical concussion symptoms, like dizziness or light sensitivity, could interfere with driving safety.
Unfortunately, some people return to driving before they have been medically cleared to do so. A study by the National Institutes of Health found that adolescents, in particular, frequently start driving before they have even been cleared to participate in sports activities.
How Long Until It Is Safe to Resume Driving?
Concussion patients are advised to wait until their reaction and concentration times have returned to normal and any vision or dizziness issues have resolved before getting behind the wheel. Generally speaking, a person is considered safe to drive after they have not experienced concussion symptoms for 48 consecutive hours.
Many people exhibit symptoms for 24 to 48 hours after a concussion, but some people have symptoms for longer. The length of recovery can be affected by the person’s age, their overall health, the severity of the concussion, and any related injuries.
The best approach is to check with your primary care doctor. When you are medically fit to drive, start with short, familiar routes with limited traffic. Give your brain the chance to reacquaint itself with all the skills necessary for driving before driving at night or in heavy traffic.
What Should You Do After a Concussion?
Is it safe to drive with a concussion? This is an important question to consider. It is even more critical to protect your health and financial security. If you have been concussed, seek medical care as soon as possible. You don’t have to lose consciousness for a concussion to be severe.
Emergency care is appropriate if the person has slurred speech or is vomiting repeatedly. Unusual behavior, loss of consciousness for more than 60 seconds, or any limb weakness also indicates the need for immediate care.
Contact the Las Vegas Personal Injury Attorneys at Battle Born Injury Lawyers Today
If the accident that caused your concussion was caused by someone else’s negligence, such as a slip and fall, Battle Born Injury Lawyers is here to help.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident in Las Vegas and you need legal assistance, contact our personal injury attorneys at Battle Born Injury Lawyers and schedule a free consultation with our legal team.
Battle Born Injury Lawyers
400 S 4th St Suite 290,
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 703-6102
Battle Born Injury Lawyers – Las Vegas Office
10789 W Twain Ave #100
Las Vegas, NV 89135
(702) 297-7164
Battle Born Injury Lawyers – Reno Office
675 W Moana Ln #206
Reno, NV 89509, USA
(775) 252-4219
Battle Born Injury Lawyers – Henderson Office
8540 S Eastern Ave #200
Henderson, NV 89123
(702) 723-7095
