[Amnesia and responsibility following brain concussion. A study of 70 patients]

Hit- and run traffic accidents frequently occur because an intention to hide drunkenness. Later, the accused claims that he or she had amnesia due to concussion at the time of accident and what followed. In most cases, the question arises as to whether it is the truth or just a story to protect the defendant from punishment. To study this question, 70 patients (39 male, 31 female) were interrogated. They were asked about the duration of their amnesia and their ability to recall their own actions, or what they had been told. In 80% of the persons examined there was only a short period of amnesia (less than 30 min). Of 12 cases with a longer period of amnesia, 7 were also intoxicated from alcohol (one case had a concentration of 3.1%). In only one person suffering from concussion could it definitely be proved that the actions taking place long after the accident, were usually not comparable with evidence given in court.