It is not uncommon for individuals to experience headaches after a vehicle accident occurs. However, there are various reasons why a person may experience a headache after a collision. Here, we want to discuss what a headache after a car collision in Colorado could mean as well as whether or not you need to seek medical treatment.
Our heads are one of the most vulnerable areas of the body when it comes to riding in a vehicle. This is certainly not a good thing if a vehicle accident occurs. Yes, our torsos are held in place by a seat belt, but the force of a vehicle accident collision often causes our necks and heads to whip back and forth or side to side, depending on the type of collision. This can lead to significant injuries.
Studies show that motor vehicle accidents are responsible for more than 220,000 emergency room visits, over 56,000 hospitalizations, and more than 16,000 deaths annually.
When a collision occurs, our heads can be impacted in a number of ways. The most obvious way that a head injury could occur is as a result of the head striking other objects inside the vehicle, including the steering wheel, the dashboard, windows, metal frame, and any other object in the vehicle.
However, the head does not have to necessarily directly impact anything for a brain injury to occur. The whipping back and forth of the head could lead to the brain jostling around inside of the skull, causing a concussion or a more severe traumatic brain injury.
It is not uncommon for individuals to not feel any pain right away after a vehicle accident occurs. However, headaches could begin to occur in the hours or even in the days following the incident. Any individual who begins to experience a headache after they have been involved in a vehicle accident needs to seek medical care right away. A headache could indicate any number of major medical issues, and it will be impossible to know the full extent of the injury without seeking help from a doctor.
Some of the possible causes of a headache after a car accident occurs include:
Individuals often put off going to the doctor for a headache because they cannot actually “see” what is causing the incident, but this is dangerous. There have been times when individuals sustained brain injuries, thought it was no big deal, and then passed away because they did not receive medical treatment for underlying severe brain trauma.
The number one priority after experiencing a headache after a vehicle accident is medical care. After the initial emergency is over with, you need to report the injury to your insurance carrier so you can recover compensation for your losses. You should be able to recover compensation from a negligent driver for any injuries you have sustained as a result of the incident, even if the injury is a “headache.” Any medical expense you incur as a result of the incident should be reimbursed by the at-fault party’s insurance carrier, as well as compensation for any pain and suffering you have had to endure as a result of their negligence.
Call us today to speak with a Denver car accident attorney.
