Headaches After a Car Accident: When to Go to the ER

Call 911 or go to an emergency room now if, after the crash, you:

have a headache that gets worse and does not go away
vomit repeatedly
are confused, restless or agitated, or cannot recognize people or places
have slurred speech or unusual behavior
have one pupil (the black center of the eye) larger than the other
have weakness, numbness or decreased coordination
have convulsions or a seizure
lose consciousness, look very drowsy, or cannot be woken up

These are the CDC's danger signs in adults after a concussion or mild traumatic brain injury [1]. The CDC explains that, in rare cases, a dangerous blood clot can develop that crowds the brain against the skull, and that the people checking on you should call 911 or take you to an emergency department right away if any of these appear [1]. If someone is with you, show them this list. Don't drive yourself.

Common reasons headaches follow a crash

This section describes possibilities. It does not tell you which one you have. Only an exam can start to sort that out, and some of these need a medical doctor.

Neck strain

A collision can move the head and neck quickly in one direction and back, which is how whiplash-type neck strain happens. Headaches that come along with neck pain and stiffness after a crash are something people often describe. Read more on whiplash and on a stiff neck after a car accident.

Concussion

The CDC lists headaches among the physical symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury and concussion, along with dizziness or balance problems, nausea, being bothered by light or noise, and vision problems [1]. It also lists thinking symptoms, such as feeling foggy or slowed down, and changes in mood and sleep [1]. The CDC notes that some symptoms appear right away while others may not appear for hours or days after the injury [1]. If you hit your head, lost consciousness even briefly, or have any of these symptoms, a medical doctor should evaluate you for concussion.

Something else

Headaches have many causes, and some have nothing to do with the crash. That is one more reason not to guess. Tell whoever examines you when the headache started, where it is, and what makes it better or worse.

What a chiropractic exam does and doesn't cover

What it does: a chiropractic exam after a crash takes a history of the collision and of each symptom, including when the headache started. It examines the neck and upper back: range of motion, tenderness, orthopedic tests, and a neurological screen of strength, reflexes and sensation in the arms. Findings are written down with the date.

What it doesn't do: it is not an emergency room, and it is not a brain-injury workup. The clinic does not do CT or MRI scans, and it does not diagnose or rule out concussion. If your history or exam points to concussion, to imaging, or to something that needs medical specialists, the clinic refers you out for it, and you'll be told before any chiropractic care starts.

Why early, dated documentation matters

Your medical record is the written account of what you reported, what was found and when. An exam dated close to the crash records the headache, the neck findings and the date they were first reported. Later visits can be compared against that starting point.

When weeks pass before anyone writes the headache down, the record has nothing to say about those weeks. Insurers and attorneys read these records. The clinic records what it finds; it does not predict what anyone will decide about a claim. More on how records are kept: personal injury documentation.

Who pays for care after a car accident

Auto insurance, MedPay, PIP, and liens accepted.

Which one applies depends on your policy and the crash, and the clinic checks your coverage before your first visit. The who-pays tool walks through the options.

Seeing the clinic

Oakland Accident Care is a chiropractic clinic in downtown Oakland that sees only people hurt in motor vehicle collisions. Visits are in English, Spanish or Russian, with Dr. Ben Glass or Dr. Irina Velichko. The clinic holds same-day appointment slots for new accident patients. If the headache came days after the crash, see delayed symptoms after an accident; if it came with neck pain, see neck pain or a stiff neck after a car accident. Not sure who should examine you? See which doctor to see after a car accident.

Ask for a call back

Leave a first name and number. We'll call you back within 30 minutes during clinic hours; outside clinic hours, first thing the next morning.

Questions

When is a headache after a car accident an emergency?

The CDC says to call 911 or go to an emergency department right away if, after a head injury, you have a headache that gets worse and does not go away, repeated vomiting, confusion or agitation, slurred speech, one pupil larger than the other, weakness or numbness, a seizure, or unusual drowsiness or loss of consciousness.

Can a headache from a concussion start later?

The CDC notes that some concussion symptoms appear right away while others may not appear for hours or days after the injury. If you hit your head or have concussion symptoms, a medical doctor should evaluate you.

Does a chiropractor check for concussion?

Not at this clinic. A chiropractic exam looks at the neck and upper back and records findings with a date. It does not diagnose or rule out concussion, and the clinic refers you out when your history or exam calls for a medical doctor or imaging.

Who pays for care after a car accident?

Auto insurance, MedPay, PIP, and liens accepted. Which one applies depends on your policy and the crash, and the clinic checks your coverage before your first visit.

Sources

CDC, "Symptoms of Mild TBI and Concussion" (page dated Sept. 15, 2025). Read October 5, 2026.

This page is general information, not medical advice, and it does not diagnose. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911.

Headaches After a Car Accident