If you have a tension headache after a car accident, you should take it seriously and see a medical provider. Get checked out even if the pain feels minor or shows up a day or two later.
While many car crash headaches are caused by tightened neck and shoulder muscles, some can signal more serious conditions like a concussion, whiplash, or a neck injury.
Once you’ve received treatment, a Marietta car accident lawyer can pursue compensation for any injuries, pain, or losses you’ve suffered due to the wreck. Let’s take a closer look at what to do when you have a tension headache after a collision and how a personal injury attorney can help you seek damages.
What Causes Tension Headaches After a Car Accident?
Tension headaches after a car accident usually come from the sudden strain a collision puts on your neck, shoulders, and upper back. Even a low-speed crash can snap your head forward and back in an instant, stretching and tightening the muscles and soft tissue that support your head.
This is the same mechanism behind whiplash. As those muscles tense up and spasm, they can trigger a dull, aching, band-like pressure around your head. This pressure often starts at the base of the skull, the temples, or across the forehead.
Several factors can make these headaches worse or slower to appear. The stress and adrenaline of a crash cause you to clench your muscles, and that tension can linger for days. Having poor posture while you recover and disrupted sleep that follows can add to the strain.
If you have a headache after a car accident, contact an attorney soon. A lawyer can provide more information on what to do if you have a tension headache after a car accident and pursue compensation for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Warning Signs That Require Immediate Medical Attention
While most tension headaches after a car accident are not dangerous, certain symptoms can point to a more serious injury like a concussion, brain bleed, or neck trauma. It’s important to pay close attention to how your headache behaves and what other symptoms show up alongside it.
If you notice any of the following, seek medical care right away or go to the emergency room:
- A headache that suddenly worsens or becomes severe
- Confusion, memory problems, or difficulty concentrating
- Blurred or double vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Nausea or vomiting
- Slurred speech
- Dizziness or coordination problems
- Numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arms or legs
- Drowsiness or difficulty waking up
- Seizures
- Fainting
- Stiffness in your neck accompanied by fever
Any one of these warning signs can indicate that something more serious is going on beneath the surface, and delaying care could put your health at real risk. If you notice any of these signs, seek medical care soon. Knowing what to do if you have a tension headache after a car accident can protect you from severe health outcomes.
How Delayed or Untreated Symptoms Can Affect Your Claim
Having a clear idea of what to do if you have a tension headache after a car accident can help with your insurance claim. When you wait to get treatment after a crash, insurance companies notice.
A gap between the accident and your first medical visit gives them room to argue your headache wasn’t caused by the crash, or wasn’t serious.
The same goes for skipping follow-ups or ignoring your doctor’s instructions. Insurers use these gaps to question your credibility and reduce or deny your claim. Prompt, consistent treatment builds a clear medical record linking your symptoms to the accident, which is exactly what you need to recover fair compensation.
Get in touch with an attorney today to learn more about the steps to take when you have a headache after a car accident. They’ll offer legal advice, deal with insurers on your behalf, and push for damages that cover your medical bills and other losses.
How a Lawyer Can Help You if You Have Headaches After a Car Accident
If you have a tension headache after a car accident, getting medical care is just the first step you should take. Once you’ve seen a doctor and received a treatment plan, you should get started on the claims process. A lawyer can handle every step of your case, giving you the best chance possible at getting the damages you deserve.
Here’s what an attorney will do to get what you’re owed:
- Investigate the crash and gather evidence like police reports, photos, and witness statements
- Collect your medical records to tie your headache and injuries to the accident
- Connect you with doctors who provide treatment on a lien basis, allowing you to pay for care once you’ve received damages
- Calculate the full value of your claim
- Negotiate with insurers to get the damages that cover all your losses
- Take your case to trial, if insurers don’t offer what you deserve
- Answer any questions you have about what to do if you have a tension headache after a car accident
Learn More About What To Do if You Have Tension Headaches After a Car Accident
If you’re dealing with headaches after a car accident, injuries, and losses, don’t wait to get help. At Jones & Swanson, we have over 50 years of combined experience and have won more than $50 million in damages for clients like yourself. We are a smaller firm by choice, which allows us to provide the personalized attention your case needs to succeed.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn more about your legal options. We’ll meet with you to discuss your injuries, answer your questions, and offer more insight into what to do if you have a tension headache after a car accident. We look forward to working with you soon.
