On this page
- Why do you get a headache after a car accident?
- When should you worry about a headache after a car accident?
- How can you tell a neck headache from a concussion headache?
- How long does a headache last after a car accident?
- What helps a headache after a car accident?
- Find out what's behind your headache
- Frequently asked questions
A headache after a car accident often comes from a strained neck (whiplash) and usually starts at the base of the skull. A headache can also be a sign of concussion. Get emergency care for a headache that keeps getting worse, or one with confusion, repeated vomiting, slurred speech, weakness, or unusual drowsiness.
The crash was two days ago. Today a dull ache crept up from the back of your head and settled behind your eyes. Maybe it's stress, or the bad night of sleep. Or maybe it's something you should have checked. This guide helps you sort out which.
Why do you get a headache after a car accident?
Most headaches after a crash come from the neck, the brain, or both. The jolt of a crash throws your head forward and back in a fraction of a second. That force can strain your neck, shake your brain, or do both at once.
Headaches from a strained neck
Headaches are one of the most common whiplash symptoms. According to Mayo Clinic1, they usually start at the base of the skull. Neck pain, stiffness, and tight shoulders often come with them.
Headache experts link a headache to whiplash when it starts within seven days of the injury2. These headaches tend to build as the day goes on. Screens, reading, and long drives can make them heavier by evening. See our whiplash page for more on the neck side of a crash.
Headaches from a concussion
A concussion is a mild brain injury. According to Mayo Clinic4, headache is one of its most common symptoms. Your head doesn't have to hit anything. A sudden speeding up or slowing down of the head can be enough4.
According to the CDC3, concussion signs may take hours or days to appear or be noticed. So a headache that starts the next day still deserves attention.
Other sources of head pain
Stress, poor sleep, and tight jaw muscles can all add to a headache after a crash. Bruising from an airbag or a direct hit can hurt too. Our car accident injuries page covers the full range of crash injuries.
When should you worry about a headache after a car accident?
Worry when a headache gets worse instead of better, or comes with changes in how you think, see, speak, or move. These can be signs of a concussion or another head injury. They need a hospital, not a clinic. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have:
- A headache that gets worse and doesn't go away3
- A sudden, very painful headache5
- Repeated nausea or vomiting3
- Confusion, unusual behavior, or trouble recognizing people or places3
- Slurred speech, weakness, numbness, or trouble with coordination3
- Passing out, or growing drowsiness and trouble staying awake3
- A seizure3
- One pupil larger than the other, or double vision3
Even without those signs, a headache after a head injury deserves a medical visit. According to Mayo Clinic4, see a healthcare professional within one to two days after any head injury. Mayo Clinic5 also advises medical attention for a headache that begins or worsens after a head injury, fall, or bump.
How can you tell a neck headache from a concussion headache?
You often can't be sure on your own, but some clues lean one way. Neck-related headaches usually come with neck pain and stiffness. Concussion headaches more often come with fogginess, trouble focusing, or sensitivity to light and noise. This table can help you describe your symptoms. It isn't a diagnosis.
| Clue | Leans toward a neck-related headache | Leans toward a concussion |
|---|---|---|
| Where it starts | The base of the skull, often spreading forward1 | Can be anywhere in the head |
| Neck pain and stiffness | Usually present1 | Not a typical concussion sign |
| Worse when you move your neck | Often | Less typical |
| Foggy, slowed down, or forgetful | Sometimes | Common3 |
| Bothered by light or noise | Less typical | Common3 |
| Nausea or vomiting | Less typical | Common, especially early3 |
| Gets steadily worse | Needs a medical check | An emergency sign3 |
Many people have both. If you notice any concussion signs, start with a medical provider. For a closer look, read whiplash vs. concussion: how to tell the difference. You can also learn about concussion after a car accident.
How long does a headache last after a car accident?
Many headaches after a crash ease within days to weeks, but some last months. According to Mayo Clinic4, some people have headaches for several days to weeks after a brain injury. Headache experts call a whiplash headache new (acute) when it lasts less than three months2.
Headaches that keep coming back past the first few weeks deserve an exam. They may have settled into a pattern driven by a stiff neck and tight muscles. A headache that starts in the neck is called a cervicogenic headache. It often keeps returning until the neck problem behind it is addressed.
Keep a simple log while you recover. Note when each headache starts, where it hurts, what you were doing, and what helped. That record is useful for your medical doctor and your chiropractor.
What helps a headache after a car accident?
Once a medical provider has ruled out a concussion or other head injury, care focuses on the neck. Neck-related headaches often ease as your neck moves more freely and the muscles around it calm down.
A few things can help in the meantime:
- Keep your neck gently moving. Short, easy movements through the day help keep stiffness from building.
- Break up screen time and long drives. Change position often, and take short breaks to look up and around.
- Protect your sleep. Poor sleep and headaches feed each other.
- Use pain relievers with care. Follow the label or ask a pharmacist. If you need them often, tell your doctor.
What the research says
Guidelines support exercise and hands-on care for lingering headaches linked to neck pain. A care guideline on persistent headaches with neck pain recommends gentle exercises for the deep neck and shoulder muscles6. For headaches that start in the neck, it also supports spinal adjustment or gentle joint movement6. The guideline found no added benefit from combining all three6.
What a chiropractic visit looks like
Your doctor listens to how the crash happened and how your headaches behave. Then your doctor checks how your neck and upper back move, where it's tender, and how your nerves respond. X-rays are taken if needed. Your doctor explains what they found and talks through options, such as gentle joint movement, gentle muscle work, and exercises. You decide what's right for you. Learn more about our care for headaches and migraines.
Find out what's behind your headache
It's been a week. The headache shows up every afternoon, right around the time you've been at your desk too long. You've been cleared of anything serious, but nobody has explained why it keeps coming back.
We're here to help you find out. Chiropractic Company has cared for Greater Milwaukee since 1982, with 400,000+ patients, 1,400+ five-star Google reviews, and 20+ neighborhood clinics. Our doctors care for car accident injuries every week. We look for the cause of your pain, not just the symptoms. Your care is designed around your injury, your medical history, your daily routine, and your goals. You choose your care, and you see the same doctor as it continues.
Care is natural and drug-free. Treatment begins at your second visit, or the same day in acute cases if your doctor decides it's appropriate. We work alongside medical doctors, so your care stays coordinated.
We're in-network with most insurance companies and accept Medicare and auto accident claims. Eligible new patients can start with the $29 new-patient special, which includes a consultation, an exam, and X-rays if needed. *See offer terms.
Visit one of our 20+ neighborhood clinics across Greater Milwaukee: Milwaukee East, Milwaukee North, Milwaukee Third Ward, Shorewood, Glendale, Mequon, Cedarburg, Grafton, Germantown, Brookfield, Menomonee Falls, Waukesha, Oconomowoc, New Berlin, West Allis, West Allis North, Greenfield, Hales Corners, Franklin, Muskego, and Cudahy.
Frequently asked questions
Car accident injuries: symptoms, causes, warning signs, and how our chiropractors can help.
Read the full car accident injuries guideReferences
- Mayo Clinic. Whiplash: Symptoms and Causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/whiplash/symptoms-causes/syc-20378921
- International Headache Society. ICHD-3: 5.3 Acute headache attributed to whiplash. https://ichd-3.org/5-headache-attributed-to-trauma-or-injury-to-the-head-andor-neck/5-3-acute-headache-attributed-to-whiplash/
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Signs and Symptoms of Concussion (HEADS UP). https://www.cdc.gov/heads-up/signs-symptoms/index.html
- Mayo Clinic. Concussion: Symptoms and Causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/concussion/symptoms-causes/syc-20355594
- Mayo Clinic. Headache: First aid. https://www.mayoclinic.org/first-aid/first-aid-headache/basics/art-20056639
- Côté P, Yu H, Shearer HM, et al. Non-pharmacological management of persistent headaches associated with neck pain: a clinical practice guideline from the Ontario Protocol for Traffic Injury Management (OPTIMa) Collaboration. European Journal of Pain. 2019;23(6):1051–1070. https://busqueda.bvsalud.org/portal/resource/es/mdl-30707486
Reviewed by [Reviewer name], DC
Doctor of Chiropractic at Chiropractic Company [Clinic].