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.
How the seatbelt shapes a side-impact crash
A three-point belt has two parts. The shoulder belt runs diagonally from one shoulder across the chest to the opposite hip; the lap belt runs across both hip bones. In a crash the belt holds the torso and pelvis in place. That is its job, and it is why the head, neck and arms keep moving while the body is held, and why bruising along the belt line is common.
In a side impact the force comes from the side, so the body is pushed sideways against the belt and toward or away from the door. Which areas take the most load depends on where you were sitting and which side was hit.
Area by area
None of this tells you what you have. It describes what a crash can strain, so you know what to mention.
Neck
What the crash can strain: In a side impact the head is thrown sideways while the shoulder belt holds the torso, which can strain the muscles, ligaments and small joints on one side of the neck. Rear-end crashes move it forward and back instead.
Mention at your exam:
- which side hurts, and whether it is the side the car was hit on
- how far you can turn and tilt your head each way
- headaches, and where they start
- numbness, tingling or weakness in an arm or hand
More: Whiplash treatment.
Shoulders
What the crash can strain: The shoulder belt crosses one shoulder (the left for a driver in the U.S.), which concentrates force there. The other shoulder can take a direct hit from the door or be strained by bracing on the steering wheel.
Mention at your exam:
- which shoulder, and whether the belt crossed it
- reaching overhead or across your body
- lying on that side at night
- bruising along the belt line
- wrist or elbow pain if you braced on the wheel
Chest and ribs
What the crash can strain: The shoulder belt crosses the chest diagonally, and a side impact can push the door into the ribs.
Mention at your exam:
- pain when you breathe deeply, cough, sneeze or turn in bed
- any shortness of breath (if it is getting worse, see the emergency signs above)
- bruising along the belt line
More: Rib and side-impact injuries.
Mid-back
What the crash can strain: The middle of the back, where the ribs attach to the spine, takes twisting and sideways force in a side impact.
Mention at your exam:
- pain between the shoulder blades
- aching that wraps around toward the ribs
- pain when you twist or take a deep breath
Lower back
What the crash can strain: The lap belt holds the pelvis, so the lower back above it takes much of the sideways and compressive force.
Mention at your exam:
- where it hurts: center, one side, or both
- pain bending, sitting, or getting out of a chair or bed
- pain, numbness or tingling that travels into a buttock or leg, and how far it goes
Hips and pelvis
What the crash can strain: The lap belt crosses both hip bones. In a side impact one hip can be pushed into the door or the center console.
Mention at your exam:
- pain at the belt line or over the outer hip
- pain standing up from sitting, climbing stairs or lying on that side
- limping, or pain that travels toward the groin or thigh
Write it down
For each area, note the day it started and whether it is getting better or worse. The post-accident symptom checklist is a printable version with a log.
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.