What Should I Do If I’m Dizzy After a Car Accident?

CALL (800) 863-5312 IF YOU FELT DIZZY AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT TO SPEAK WITH A LAWYER FOR FREE

https://zindalawgroup.wistia.com/medias/16rnglkxnx

When a car accident occurs, your head may be quickly thrown against a headrest, steering wheel, or airbag. If you experience dizziness after a car accident, this may be a sign of an underlying head injury, such as a concussion, whiplash, or vertigo. Treating head injuries can leave car crash victims with significant medical bills.

The car accident attorneys at Zinda Law Group have experience helping victims get the compensation they deserve and offer car accident legal advice. If you are feeling dizzy after a car accident, call us today at (800) 863-5312  for a free attorney consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I’M DIZZY AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT?

A car accident can leave you with many injuries, but dizziness or vertigo after a car accident may be a symptom of an underlying brain injury. Dizziness may make you feel lightheaded, faint, unsteady, off-balance, or the sensation that you’re slowly moving while motionless.

Dizziness is one of the most common reasons that individuals visit a doctor. When dizzy spells frequently occur, they can disrupt your life. Importantly, dizziness after a car accident may be the sign of a condition that requires further treatment. For that reason, if you are feeling dizzy after an accident, you should visit your doctor as soon as possible.

It is important to continue to monitor your health even after you leave the hospital or doctor’s office and watch for any additional signs or symptoms of injuries that can occur in the days following an accident. 

Read More: Brain Bleed Injury Lawyers

WHAT IS A CONCUSSION?

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that affects your brain function. A concussion is usually caused by a blow to the head. In a car accident, many objects in your vehicle can hit your head hard enough to cause a concussion. Smashing your head against the steering wheel, window, or flying objects in your car may be enough to cause a concussion.

Some serious concussions may cause you to lose consciousness or blackout during your car accident, although most concussions do not. The effects of a concussion are usually temporary but can include headaches and problems with concentration, memory, balance, and coordination. Most people usually recover fully after a concussion.

Common Symptoms of a Concussion

The signs and symptoms of a concussion may not appear immediately after a car accident. It is important to monitor your health in the days and weeks following an accident for a potential concussion. Some of the common symptoms of a concussion may include:

• Headache
• Ringing in the ears
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Blurry vision
• Slurred speech
• Confusion or feeling as if in a fog
• Amnesia surrounding the traumatic event
• Dizziness or “seeing stars”
• Difficulty concentrating and memory loss
• Irritability and other personality changes
• Sensitivity to light and noise
• Sleep disturbances
• Depression
• Disorders of taste and smell

WHAT IS WHIPLASH AND WHAT CAUSES IT?

Whiplash is a neck injury that usually occurs when your head is forcefully and quickly thrown backward then forward. This motion can injure bones in the spine, disks between the bones, ligaments, muscles, nerves, and other tissues of the neck. Whiplash is commonly caused by rear-end car accidents, and many victims experience dizziness after whiplash.

Most people with whiplash get better within a few weeks by following a treatment plan that includes pain medication and exercise. However, some people have chronic neck pain and other long-lasting complications.

Symptoms of Whiplash

• Neck pain and stiffness
• Worsening of pain with neck movement
• Loss of range of motion in the neck
• Headaches, most often starting at the base of the skull
• Tenderness or pain in the shoulder, upper back, or arms
• Tingling or numbness in the arms
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Ringing in the ears
• Sleep disturbances
• Irritability
• Difficulty concentrating
• Memory problems
• Depression

CAN YOU GET VERTIGO FROM A CAR ACCIDENT?    

Vertigo is the sudden sensation that you’re spinning or that the inside of your head is spinning, causing brief episodes of dizziness. This sensation is usually caused by an inner ear problem.

The most common type of vertigo is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which can be triggered by a rapid change in head movement, such as a blow to the head in a car accident.

Vertigo Symptoms

If you suffer from vertigo, you may feel like your surroundings are spinning or moving even though you remain in one place.  It usually occurs when your brain receives signals from the inner ear that aren’t consistent with what your eyes and sensory nerves are receiving.  Vertigo after a car accident may come and go and frequently and can last a few seconds, minutes, hours, or even days.

The activities that can bring about the signs and symptoms of vertigo may vary from person to person, but they usually occur because of a change in head position. This could be caused by turning over in bed or quickly standing up. Some individuals may also feel out of balance when standing or walking. Some of the most common symptoms include:

• Dizziness
• A sense that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving
• A loss of balance or unsteadiness
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Although dizziness does not always signal a serious injury, you should immediately see your doctor if you experience vertigo and the following symptoms as they could signal a more serious problem:

• A new, different, or severe headache
• A fever
• Double vision or loss of vision
• Hearing loss
• Trouble speaking
• Leg or arm weakness
• Loss of consciousness
• Falling or difficulty walking
• Numbness or tingling

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO RECOVER?

The time it takes to recover from your injuries will depend on the type and severity of the injury. Your doctor may be able to give you specific recommendations on when you will begin to feel better and completely recover. It is important to remember that every head injury is unique and that should follow your doctor’s recommendations on the best treatment, rest, and recovery plan for your injuries.

Whiplash

Most people who suffer from whiplash feel better within a few weeks of sustaining their injury, and the majority of people are fully recovered after three months. However, it may take longer for individuals to recover if they have had whiplash before, are older, have existing low back or neck pain, or were involved in a high-speed injury.

To help alleviate the pain and muscle stiffness you feel from whiplash, your doctor may recommend that you rest, apply hot or cold packs, pain medication, or muscle relaxants. Additionally, your doctor may give you stretching and movement exercises to help restore the range of motion in your neck and aid in your healing process. If your whiplash symptoms are ongoing, your doctor may also recommend that you visit a physical therapist to continue to help in your recovery process.

Concussion

The time it takes to recover from a concussion will depend on the severity of the injury and your age. In general, it takes younger children and older adults longer to recover from a concussion. Regardless of your age, you should not push yourself when recovering from a concussion, as this can make the recovery process take longer.

It is recommended that those recovering from a concussion gradually increase their activity levels. Importantly, ensuring that you get enough sleep, stay hydrated, eat healthily, and refrain from drinking alcohol can aid in the recovery process. It is also important to take breaks when needed. If you exercise, it should be done at a very low intensity level when you are initially recovering from a concussion.

Vertigo

Because vertigo can come and go and frequently, it may be hard to determine if you have truly recovered. If you experience nausea, your doctor may be able to prescribe anti-nausea medicines to help ease your vertigo episodes. Additionally, physical therapy movements may be able to help alleviate your vertigo symptoms. For many people, simply waiting for the symptoms of vertigo to go away on their own may be the best course of treatment.

GET HELP FROM OUR CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS

At Zinda Law Group, our personal injury attorneys have helped many crash victims who suffer from dizziness seek the compensation they deserved.  We know that medical bills can be overwhelming, but our lawyers have the knowledge and resources to fight for compensation for doctor’s visits, physical therapy, and time taken off work for your injuries.

We believe a car accident victim should never have to worry about being able to afford legal representation. That is why we offer 100% free consultations, and why you pay nothing unless we win your case. That’s our No Win, No Fee Guarantee.

If are feeling dizzy after an accident, call Zinda Law Group at (800) 863-5312 to receive your free consultation with one of our experienced car accident lawyers.

Meetings with attorneys by appointment only.