Short Answer

In North Carolina, a normal CT scan does not automatically mean you are “fine” after a head injury. A CT scan is mainly used to look for emergencies like bleeding in the brain or a skull fracture, but many concussions and other traumatic brain injuries do not show up on CT imaging. If you still have headaches or other concussion-type symptoms, you should get follow-up medical care and document your symptoms and treatment, because ongoing symptoms can matter both for your health and for a potential personal injury claim.

Understanding the Problem

If you were hurt in North Carolina and you are still having headache and possible concussion symptoms after a fall, you may be asking what you can do next even though the emergency room CT scan did not show bleeding or a fracture, especially since you needed staples for the head wound.

Apply the Law

Under North Carolina personal injury law, the key issue is not whether a CT scan was “normal,” but whether the fall caused an injury and related losses. In a negligence claim (such as a hotel slip-and-fall), you generally must show: (1) the property owner owed you a duty of reasonable care, (2) the property owner breached that duty, (3) the breach was a proximate cause of your injury, and (4) you suffered damages. Ongoing symptoms after a head impact can support the injury and damages parts of the claim, even when initial imaging does not show bleeding or a fracture.

Forum-wise, these claims are typically filed in North Carolina state court (Superior Court or District Court depending on the amount and other factors). Timing matters because most personal injury lawsuits in North Carolina must be filed within a set limitations period.

Key Requirements

• Medical follow-up and documentation: Continued headaches, dizziness, light sensitivity, sleep changes, or concentration problems should be evaluated and recorded by a medical provider; consistent records help connect symptoms to the incident.
• Causation (link to the fall): You must be able to show the head impact and the timeline of symptoms make medical sense, especially when symptoms appear or worsen after the ER visit.
• Damages (losses you can prove): This can include medical bills (even if insurance paid part), out-of-pocket costs, and the impact symptoms have on daily life.
• Premises negligence proof: In a hotel setting, the focus is often whether the property had an unreasonably slippery condition, lacked reasonable safety measures, or failed to address a known hazard.
• Contributory negligence risk: North Carolina’s rules can bar recovery if the defense proves you were also negligent and that negligence contributed to the fall, so facts and documentation matter.

What the Statutes Say

• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52 (Three years) - Sets a three-year limitations period that commonly applies to personal injury claims.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-139 (Burden of proof of contributory negligence) - Places the burden on the party asserting contributory negligence to prove it.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-407.57 (Concussions and head injuries) - Provides a North Carolina statutory definition of concussion as a traumatic brain injury that may or may not involve loss of consciousness (in the school athletics context), which is consistent with the general medical reality that concussion symptoms can exist even without abnormal CT findings.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: Here, you report a head impact with significant bleeding and staples, followed by ongoing headaches and later-noticed neck/shoulder pain. Those facts can support that you suffered an injury and that you have continuing damages, even if the CT scan did not show a fracture or bleeding. The legal pressure point is proving the ongoing symptoms are connected to the fall and documenting the care you reasonably needed because of it.

Process & Timing

1. Who acts: You (the injured guest) and your medical providers. Where: With your treating providers in North Carolina; for the legal claim, typically North Carolina state court in the county where the incident happened or where the defendant can be sued. What: Follow-up evaluation for concussion-type symptoms (often primary care, urgent care, neurology, or a concussion clinic depending on symptoms) and written documentation of restrictions and treatment. When: As soon as symptoms persist or worsen after the ER visit.
2. Preserve evidence early: Request and keep copies of ER records, imaging reports, discharge instructions, and itemized billing; write down a symptom timeline (headache severity, triggers, sleep issues, dizziness) and keep it updated.
3. Legal filing deadline: If you pursue a negligence claim, most North Carolina personal injury lawsuits must be filed within three years of when the claim accrues, so you should not “wait and see” until the end of that period to start investigating and preserving proof.

Exceptions & Pitfalls

• Assuming a normal CT ends the issue: A CT can rule out certain emergencies, but it does not necessarily rule out concussion or explain persistent symptoms; gaps in follow-up care can also give an insurer an argument that symptoms came from something else.
• Delayed symptom reporting: Neck/shoulder pain and concussion symptoms are sometimes noticed later, but you still want them documented promptly so the timeline is clear and medically supported.
• Contributory negligence arguments: Defendants may argue you caused your own fall (for example, by not using available safety features). North Carolina’s contributory negligence rules can be harsh, so details and evidence about the condition of the shower area matter.
• Medical bills confusion: Even with insurance, you may have deductibles, co-pays, and other out-of-pocket costs; also, health insurers may assert reimbursement rights from any settlement, so it is important to track what was billed and what was paid.

Conclusion

In North Carolina, ongoing headaches and concussion-type symptoms can still be consistent with a real injury even when a CT scan shows no bleeding or fracture. For a personal injury claim, the key is proving the fall caused your symptoms and documenting the medical care and losses that followed. Your next step is to get prompt follow-up evaluation and keep complete records, and if you are considering a claim, do not miss the three-year deadline to file suit.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney

If you're dealing with ongoing headaches and possible concussion symptoms after a hotel slip-and-fall, our firm has experienced attorneys who can help you understand your options, what documentation matters, and how timelines like the statute of limitations may apply. Reach out today. Call {{CONTACT_NUMBER}}.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about North Carolina law based on the single question stated above. It is not legal advice for your specific situation and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, procedures, and local practice can change and may vary by county. If you have a deadline, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.