Concussion After a Car Accident: Symptoms, Screening & When to Seek Care

What Is a Concussion?

Concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by biomechanical forces — either a direct blow to the head or an impulsive force transmitted through the body to the head — that produces a functional disturbance rather than a structural injury typically visible on routine imaging.[2] Symptoms may evolve over minutes, hours or days.

Can a Car Accident Cause a Concussion?

Motor vehicle collisions can result in concussion depending on the forces and circumstances involved.[4] A direct blow to the head is not always required. Vehicle damage alone does not determine whether concussion occurred, and not every collision causes concussion.

What Symptoms Can Occur With Concussion?

Reported symptoms fall into overlapping categories that may include headache, dizziness, balance problems, nausea, visual symptoms, sensitivity to light or noise, cognitive difficulty, memory problems, fatigue, sleep changes and emotional symptoms.[3] These symptoms are not specific to concussion — several conditions can produce overlapping presentations, which is why appropriate evaluation matters.

Can Concussion Symptoms Be Delayed?

Symptoms may be noticed immediately or become apparent over the hours and days that follow the injury.[3] New or worsening symptoms after a head injury warrant appropriate evaluation.

What Is Concussion Screening?

Screening uses tools and clinical questions to identify symptoms and findings that may warrant further assessment. Screening helps organize information and support decision-making; screening is not the same as diagnosis.[1] A single questionnaire, eye-tracking test, balance test or computerized assessment does not definitively diagnose concussion.

How Is Concussion Diagnosed?

Diagnosis requires an appropriate clinical assessment by a qualified healthcare professional and typically considers injury history, symptoms, neurologic assessment, cognitive findings, balance and vestibular findings, visual and oculomotor findings, and other clinical factors.[1] [2] No single device or test replaces clinical assessment.

Can X-Rays Diagnose a Concussion?

No. Spinal or skull X-rays do not diagnose concussion. See our diagnostic imaging article for more on imaging.

Can CT or MRI Diagnose a Concussion?

Conventional structural imaging is often normal in concussion.[1] CT or MRI may be used when clinically indicated to evaluate for more serious structural injury or other conditions — not to confirm concussion itself. A normal CT or MRI does not by itself rule out concussion.

Concussion vs Cervical Injury After a Car Accident

After a motor vehicle collision, symptoms such as headache, dizziness, neck pain, balance complaints and visual discomfort may have overlapping potential causes. A patient may have concussion, a cervical musculoskeletal injury, vestibular involvement, more than one of these, or another cause entirely. Not all post-collision headache or dizziness is concussion, and not all such symptoms arise from the neck. Appropriate evaluation and, when indicated, referral or co-management help clarify what is contributing to symptoms and guide safe care.

What Warning Signs Need Emergency Evaluation?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies danger signs following a head injury that require emergency evaluation, including:[3]

• Headache that gets worse and does not go away
• Repeated vomiting or nausea
• Seizures or convulsions
• Increasing confusion, restlessness or agitation
• Loss of consciousness (even briefly)
• Inability to be awakened or unusual drowsiness
• Slurred speech
• Weakness or numbness in arms or legs
• Loss of coordination
• Unequal pupils, or one pupil larger than the other

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department for any of these signs.[3] [4]

What Happens After Suspected Concussion?

Current adult mild TBI guidance emphasizes appropriate evaluation, discharge education, follow-up when indicated, and a gradual return to usual activity as symptoms permit rather than prolonged strict rest.[1] [2] Sport-concussion consensus statements may inform general concepts but are not the primary source for adult non-sport motor vehicle collision guidance.[5] This page does not provide an individualized return-to-play or return-to-work protocol.

What Role Can Chiropractic Care Play After an Accident When Concussion Is Suspected?

Chiropractic evaluation may identify musculoskeletal and cervical complaints following a collision and screen for signs that warrant further assessment. If concussion is suspected, appropriate screening, medical evaluation, referral and/or co-management may be indicated depending on the patient’s presentation and provider scope.

Chiropractic care directed toward appropriate cervical or musculoskeletal complaints is not the same as treating the brain injury itself. This article does not claim that spinal manipulation treats concussion, heals traumatic brain injury, restores brain function, shortens concussion recovery or prevents post-concussion syndrome.

What About Headaches After a Collision?

Headache following trauma can have multiple potential causes, including cervicogenic headache, tension-type headache, migraine and post-traumatic headache related to concussion. Do not assume any single cause without appropriate evaluation. Learn more in our headaches and chiropractic headaches evidence resources. The existing headache evidence applies specifically to the populations and conditions studied and should not be automatically generalized to post-traumatic headache.

Concussion-Related Services at Pain 2 Wellness

Pain 2 Wellness Chiropractic Center provides evaluation of cervical and musculoskeletal complaints following collisions and other injuries, screening for signs that may warrant further assessment, and referral or co-management with appropriate healthcare professionals when concussion is suspected. Any screening tool used is for screening purposes only and does not independently diagnose concussion.