What To Do If You Have A Headache After A Car Accident
It is common to experience aches, pain, and stiffness after a car accident. The body has been through a traumatic experience. But headaches that result from a car accident can be a sign of significant injury, mainly when the pain is out of the normal range of an average headache or tends to intensify.
Knowing what to do after a car accident can significantly affect recovery. Experiencing a headache after a car accident should never be ignored or “toughed out.” Beneficial treatment after a Syracuse personal injury can be costly but is often vital to healing.
Seek Medical Attention
More than anything, it is critical that medical attention is sought after a car accident. Initially, an accident victim may not notice their injuries, which is expected after the flood of adrenaline people experience throughout their bodies when a traumatic event occurs. However, following up with a doctor by making and keeping an appointment is vital to begin the documentation process after a car accident.
Failing to receive medical care allows an insurance company to place the blame for your injuries on incidents other than the car accident. And even minor car accidents can produce severe injuries. After seeing a doctor, follow their suggested treatment plan to show you take your accident and recovery seriously.
Determining the Source of a Post-Car Accident Headache
Injuries to various parts of the body can result in a post-car accident headache. Determining where the pain is coming from will point to the source of the headache and pave the way for treatment of the injuries. The force of impact and stress can result in a headache following a car accident, but a persistent headache can point to severe head injuries.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
One of the primary concerns of experiencing a headache after a car accident is that a traumatic brain injury (TBI) has occurred. TBI results from a violent blow, jolt, or bump to the head. The forceful impact on the brain can lead to the brain moving violently back and forth, leading to damage to brain tissue and causing bleeding. Traumatic brain injury headaches can be accompanied by blurry or double vision and an inability to concentrate.
Concussion
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury usually resulting from a blow to the head. Symptoms caused by concussion are generally temporary, but a doctor’s visit can help determine the seriousness of the injury. Complications due to untreated concussion can be severe or even fatal, and blurry vision, memory loss, and ringing in the ears can also accompany post-concussion syndrome headaches.
Whiplash
Whiplash is often the result of rear-end collision car accidents, causing the head to thrust forward and then severely snap back, causing tearing of the neck muscles, ligaments, or tendons. A whiplash headache is often felt at the skull’s base and can lead to stiffness and pain in the neck area, accompanied by fatigue and dizziness. The neck’s range of motion can become limited after experiencing whiplash with ongoing stiffness, increasing the chances of continual headaches after a car accident.
Speak With a Syracuse and Central New York Car Accident Attorney
The injuries experienced from a car accident can be costly, and finding the appropriate medical help for current and future treatment is vital. Experiencing a headache after a car accident means you should never delay treatment for your injuries and seek knowledgeable legal advice in Central New York. Contact Gattuso & Ciotoli, PLLC, today and request a free consultation to discuss your injuries resulting from a car accident.