Call 911 or go to an emergency room now if, after a crash, you:
- have a headache that gets worse and does not go away, vomit repeatedly, or have slurred speech [1]
- are confused, restless or agitated, cannot recognize people or places, or look very drowsy or cannot be woken up [1]
- have one pupil larger than the other, or convulsions or a seizure [1]
- have weakness, numbness or decreased coordination [1], or weakness or numbness in both legs that is severe or getting worse [3]
- lose control of your bladder or bowels, or have numbness around or under your genitals or around your anus [2] [3]
- have chest pain [2], shortness of breath that is getting worse, or are coughing up blood [4]
Sources: the CDC's danger signs after a concussion [1], the NHS pages on back pain [2], sciatica [3] and rib injuries [4]. The NHS also lists back pain or a rib injury that started with a serious accident, such as a car accident, as a reason to call emergency services [2] [4]. Don't drive yourself. A chiropractic office is not an emergency room.
Symptoms to watch for and write down
Symptoms can show up in the hours or days after a crash, so check again each day. The CDC lists headaches, dizziness, trouble concentrating, sleep changes and mood changes among the symptoms of a concussion [1]; if you hit your head or notice them, a medical doctor should evaluate you.
Head and neck
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Trouble turning or tilting your head
- Headaches (note where they start)
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Trouble concentrating, feeling foggy or slowed down
- Being bothered by light or noise
- Jaw pain or ringing in the ears
Shoulders, arms and hands
- Shoulder pain, or pain reaching overhead
- Numbness, tingling or pins and needles in an arm or hand
- Weakness or trouble gripping
- Wrist or elbow pain
Chest and back
- Pain when breathing deeply, coughing or sneezing
- Bruising along the seatbelt line
- Pain between the shoulder blades
- Lower back pain or stiffness
- Pain bending, sitting or getting up
Hips and legs
- Hip or pelvic pain
- Pain, numbness or tingling into a buttock or leg
- Knee, ankle or foot pain
- Limping
Sleep, mood and daily life
- Pain that wakes you or keeps you from getting comfortable
- Sleeping much more or less than usual
- Feeling anxious, irritable or more emotional than usual
- Things you can't do now that you could before (work, driving, lifting, childcare)
Symptom log
One row per symptom. Bring it to your exam.
| Symptom | Day it started | Better, same or worse? | What makes it worse |
|---|---|---|---|
For the rest of the first days after a crash (reports, the DMV SR-1, collision reports), see the Oakland Crash Kit.
If an insurance company calls
You don't have to describe your injuries before you have been examined. It is accurate to say that you are still being evaluated. What you say and sign is your decision; for legal questions, talk to an attorney.
The only way to know is an exam
The only way to know is an exam.
A page can tell you what to notice. It can't tell you what is injured or how badly. An exam looks at how you move, where it is tender, and what orthopedic and neurological tests show, and it writes that down with a date. If the exam calls for imaging or for medical specialists, the clinic refers you out.
Auto insurance, MedPay, PIP, and liens accepted.
Oakland Accident Care is a chiropractic clinic in downtown Oakland that sees only people hurt in motor vehicle collisions, with Dr. Ben Glass and Dr. Irina Velichko, in English, Spanish or Russian. The clinic holds same-day appointment slots for new accident patients. To ask for a call back, use the form on Apply for Care; this page has no form and sends nothing.
Related pages
Sources
- CDC, "Symptoms of Mild TBI and Concussion" (page dated Sept. 15, 2025). Read October 5, 2026.
- NHS, "Back pain" (last reviewed March 5, 2026). Read October 5, 2026.
- NHS, "Sciatica" (last reviewed December 3, 2024). Read October 5, 2026.
- NHS, "Broken or bruised ribs" (last reviewed January 10, 2024). Read October 6, 2026.
This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not diagnose, score or rate anything, and it collects nothing. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911.