Car accidents can cause injuries that are not immediately obvious. Neck pain, back pain, and bruising may be easy to recognize, but neurological symptoms can be more difficult to identify. Concussion symptoms after a car accident may include headaches, dizziness, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, vision changes, fatigue, nausea, and sensitivity to light or noise. Some symptoms appear immediately, while others become more noticeable during the hours or days following the collision.
A concussion is a type of mild traumatic brain injury. Importantly, a person does not have to lose consciousness to experience one. A direct impact to the head is not always required either. A forceful collision can cause rapid movement of the head and brain that may result in a concussion.
At Grennan Injury Rehab, patients receive treatment for musculoskeletal injuries that commonly accompany automobile accidents. However, suspected concussions and other neurological injuries require appropriate medical evaluation. When an accident causes both types of injuries, different healthcare providers may need to address different parts of the recovery.
What Are the Most Common Concussion Symptoms After a Car Accident?
Concussions can affect physical function, thinking, sleep, mood, and sensory processing.
According to the CDC’s concussion information, symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury can include headaches, dizziness, vision problems, difficulty thinking clearly, memory problems, tiredness, and sensitivity to light or noise.
After a motor vehicle collision, possible symptoms can include:
- Headaches or pressure in the head
- Dizziness
- Balance difficulties
- Nausea
- Vision problems
- Light sensitivity
- Noise sensitivity
- Fatigue
- Mental fog
- Difficulty concentrating
- Memory problems
- Sleep changes
- Irritability
- Feeling unusually slowed down
The combination and severity of symptoms can differ significantly between patients.
One person might primarily experience headaches. Another may notice that driving, reading, or working on a computer suddenly becomes difficult.
This variability is one reason concussion evaluation should focus on the patient’s complete symptom pattern.
Can You Get a Concussion Without Hitting Your Head?
Yes.
This is particularly relevant to automobile accidents.
A concussion can result from a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. The CDC explains how concussions occur and notes that a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body can cause the brain to move rapidly within the skull.
Consider a rear-end collision.
The vehicle suddenly moves forward while the occupant’s body interacts with the seat and restraint system. The head and neck can undergo rapid acceleration and deceleration even if the skull never strikes the steering wheel, dashboard, or window.
Someone may therefore have both a concussion and significant neck injuries following the same accident.
Can Concussion Symptoms Be Delayed After a Car Accident?
Yes. Not every symptom is obvious at the scene.
The CDC notes that signs and symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury may appear immediately or may not appear until hours or days after the injury.
This can create confusion for accident victims.
Someone may feel relatively normal while speaking with police and exchanging insurance information. Later that evening, a headache develops. The following morning, they notice dizziness or difficulty concentrating.
That progression should not automatically be dismissed simply because the person initially felt fine.
Paying attention to changes during the days following an accident can help patients recognize symptoms that need medical evaluation.
Headaches Following a Collision
Headaches are among the most recognizable concussion symptoms after a car accident, but they can also be complicated.
A collision can cause several injuries capable of producing head pain.
Concussion is one possibility. A neck injury is another.
Whiplash can cause pain and stiffness throughout the cervical region. Some neck injuries can also contribute to headaches.
A patient receiving treatment from a chiropractor for whiplash should therefore describe the complete symptom pattern, particularly when headaches occur alongside dizziness, cognitive problems, vision changes, or other neurological concerns.
It should not simply be assumed that every post-accident headache originates from the neck.
Likewise, a concussion diagnosis does not mean accompanying neck injuries should be ignored.
Both conditions may need attention.
Dizziness and Balance Problems
Dizziness after a collision can take several forms.
A patient might feel lightheaded when standing. Another may feel unsteady while walking. Some people describe the environment as moving or spinning.
Busy visual environments can also become uncomfortable. Walking through a grocery store, scrolling quickly on a phone, or driving through traffic may suddenly provoke symptoms.
Persistent dizziness following a suspected concussion may require additional evaluation.
Depending on its cause, treatment may eventually involve vestibular rehabilitation or another targeted approach.
However, dizziness has many possible causes. Patients should avoid assuming that every episode is automatically related to concussion.
Memory and Concentration Problems
Some of the most disruptive concussion symptoms are not physically visible.
After an accident, a person may notice difficulty:
- Remembering recent conversations
- Staying focused on a task
- Reading for extended periods
- Multitasking
- Following complex instructions
- Working at a computer
- Recalling information
- Maintaining their normal workload
These symptoms can make returning to work particularly difficult.
Someone who appears physically recovered may still struggle with cognitive demands that were routine before the accident.
Persistent cognitive symptoms can be one reason a patient is referred to a post-concussion syndrome neurologist or another provider experienced in concussion care.
Vision Problems and Sensitivity to Light
Vision is another area that can be affected following concussion.
Patients may experience blurred vision, difficulty focusing, eye strain, or discomfort while reading. Bright lights and screens may trigger headaches or worsen existing symptoms.
These problems can interfere with driving and work.
For someone who spends much of the day using computers, even relatively mild visual symptoms can significantly reduce productivity.
Persistent visual difficulties may require specialized evaluation rather than simply waiting indefinitely for them to resolve.
Sleep Changes and Fatigue
Concussion can also disrupt sleep.
Some people have trouble falling asleep. Others sleep substantially more than usual or experience poor-quality sleep that leaves them tired throughout the day.
Fatigue may also become more noticeable during mental activity.
A patient might tolerate a short conversation but feel exhausted after a meeting. Reading or concentrating for an hour may require significantly more effort than it did before the accident.
These symptoms can make recovery frustrating because physical appearance does not necessarily reflect how the patient feels.
Tracking sleep and fatigue patterns can provide useful information during medical evaluation.
Whiplash and Concussion Can Happen Together
Whiplash and concussion should not automatically be treated as competing explanations for symptoms.
A person can have both.
The rapid movement associated with a motor vehicle collision can injure the cervical spine and surrounding tissues while also causing a concussion.
A patient may therefore experience neck stiffness, muscle spasms, and limited movement alongside dizziness, mental fog, or memory difficulties.
Receiving chiropractic care after a car accident can address appropriate musculoskeletal injuries. Suspected brain injuries require separate medical evaluation.
This distinction allows each problem to be addressed without asking one treatment approach to do something outside its intended role.
How Are Concussions Diagnosed?
There is no single test that identifies every concussion.
Healthcare professionals generally consider how the injury happened, symptoms, medical history, and findings from a physical or neurological examination.
Evaluation may involve:
- Memory
- Concentration
- Vision
- Hearing
- Balance
- Coordination
- Reflexes
- Strength
- Sensation
The circumstances of the collision can also provide important context.
Patients should describe symptoms accurately, including those that may seem unrelated to the accident.
Changes in sleep, concentration, mood, or tolerance for light and noise may all provide useful information.
Will a Concussion Show Up on an MRI or CT Scan?
Not necessarily.
This is a common misunderstanding.
CT and MRI scans can help doctors identify certain structural problems, including bleeding or other complications following head trauma. However, a standard scan is not a simple test that confirms or rules out every concussion.
Someone can have concussion symptoms despite normal conventional imaging.
Imaging may still be important when a healthcare professional identifies warning signs or needs to rule out a more serious injury.
The decision depends on the patient’s symptoms and clinical circumstances.
When Persistent Symptoms Become Post-Concussion Syndrome
Most concussion recovery discussions focus on the period immediately following an injury. However, symptoms can persist.
A patient might continue experiencing headaches, dizziness, cognitive problems, fatigue, or other difficulties well after the accident.
Persistent symptoms may lead to a more specialized recovery approach.
Post-concussion treatment can involve different strategies depending on which symptoms remain. A patient with balance problems may need different care than someone primarily experiencing headaches or cognitive difficulties.
Likewise, a concussion specialist may become involved when symptoms are complicated, persistent, or interfere significantly with normal activities.
There is no universal treatment plan because there is no universal symptom pattern.
Physical Injuries Still Matter During Concussion Recovery
Neurological symptoms can understandably become the priority after a suspected concussion.
However, the rest of the body still experienced the collision.
Patients can simultaneously sustain:
- Whiplash
- Lower back injuries
- Muscle strains
- Shoulder injuries
- Joint restrictions
- Reduced range of motion
- Other musculoskeletal injuries
These physical problems may require rehabilitation even while concussion symptoms are being evaluated separately.
An injury rehabilitation chiropractor can focus on appropriate musculoskeletal injuries and restoring movement and function.
Coordinated treatment becomes especially useful when one accident produces several different injuries.
When Should You Seek Immediate Medical Attention?
Some symptoms after a head injury should not wait for a routine appointment.
The CDC identifies danger signs following a head injury that require emergency medical attention. These include repeated vomiting, seizures, increasing confusion or unusual behavior, inability to wake or stay awake, slurred speech, weakness or numbness, decreased coordination, one pupil larger than the other, and a headache that gets worse and does not go away.
These are different from routine recovery symptoms.
When serious neurological warning signs develop after an accident, emergency medical evaluation should take priority over chiropractic treatment or a routine specialist appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Concussion Symptoms After Car Accidents
How soon do concussion symptoms start after a car accident?
Some symptoms occur immediately, while others may appear hours or days later. Patients should pay attention to new neurological or cognitive symptoms during the period following a collision.
Can you have a concussion without losing consciousness?
Yes. Many concussions occur without loss of consciousness.
Do you have to hit your head to get a concussion in a car accident?
No. A forceful jolt to the body can cause rapid head and brain movement capable of producing a concussion.
Is dizziness normal after a car accident?
Dizziness can occur following concussion and other injuries, but it should not automatically be dismissed. Persistent or severe dizziness deserves appropriate evaluation.
Can concussion symptoms appear the next day?
Yes. Symptoms can be delayed and may become more apparent hours or days after the initial injury.
How long do concussion symptoms last?
Recovery varies considerably. Many people improve over time, while others experience persistent symptoms that require additional evaluation or rehabilitation.
Can a chiropractor diagnose or treat a concussion?
A suspected brain injury requires appropriate medical evaluation. Chiropractic care can address certain musculoskeletal injuries that occur during the same accident, but it should not be presented as a substitute for concussion-specific medical care.
What doctor should I see for persistent concussion symptoms?
Depending on the symptoms, care may involve a neurologist, concussion specialist, sports medicine physician, physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, or another appropriately trained provider.
Treat the Accident, Not Just the Most Obvious Symptom
A motor vehicle collision can affect several parts of the body simultaneously.
Headaches and dizziness may indicate a concussion or another condition requiring medical evaluation. Neck stiffness may result from whiplash. Back pain could involve muscles, joints, discs, or nerves. Other injuries may become apparent only after the initial shock of the accident subsides.
The treatment plan should account for those differences.
Grennan Injury Rehab focuses on musculoskeletal injury treatment and physical rehabilitation while recognizing when symptoms indicate that neurological or other specialized medical care may be necessary.
If you are experiencing neck pain, back pain, reduced mobility, or other physical injuries following a collision, schedule an appointment with Grennan Injury Rehab to begin evaluating the musculoskeletal side of your recovery.