A sudden jolt. A moment of dizziness. You feel your head strike the car’s interior. In that instant, everything changes. You may glance around at twisted metal, broken glass, or flashing lights and wonder, “What should I do now?” Understanding what you can do after you hit your head in a car accident can protect your health, preserve evidence, and safeguard your right to compensation.
What can you do after you hit your head in a car accident
- Seek immediate medical attention, even if symptoms are delayed
- Document all symptoms and how they affect your daily life
- Follow your doctor’s orders for rest, treatment, and follow-ups
- Preserve evidence like photos, medical records, and accident details
- Get witness names and the official police report if possible
- Report the crash to your insurance without speculating or admitting fault
- Avoid social media posts that may be used against your claim
- Hire a auto accident lawyer who specializes in head injuries
Why Can a Head Injury Be So Serious?
A head injury, even one that seems minor, can have serious, long-term consequences. Concussions, skull fractures, and traumatic brain injuries can develop symptoms hours or days later. If someone else caused the situation that led to your head injury, you may be eligible to bring a legal claim to recover compensation to help pay for your financial losses.
Acting quickly can help you avoid medical and physical complications and build a stronger legal case. While you focus on your medical recovery, you should partner with an experienced personal injury lawyer who focuses on head injuries to protect your legal rights.
After a car accident, many questions and concerns usually arise. Let’s walk through everything you’re facing, including recognizing possible injuries, seeking proper care, and exploring legal options to secure the help and compensation you need.
Steps You Can Take After Sustaining a Head Injury in an Auto Accident
Head injuries should never be taken lightly. What may seem like a little bump could be a serious situation that causes extensive and lifelong issues. Even if you think your injury is minor, take these steps to help ensure it doesn’t become a chronic concern.
- Seek Immediate Medical Attention
- Even if you feel fine, get evaluated by a qualified medical professional. Some injuries don’t show symptoms right away.
- Submit to a full neurological exam and imaging (CT scan or MRI) if recommended.
- Document Your Symptoms
- Keep a daily log of headaches, dizziness, vision changes, or mood swings.
- Note when each symptom started and how long it lasted.
- Memorialize how your symptoms and restrictions affect your daily life, including activities you can no longer do and events you miss.
- Follow Your Doctor’s Orders
- Rest as directed. Avoid screen time, driving, or strenuous activity until cleared.
- Attend all follow-up appointments and therapies.
- Preserve Evidence
- Photograph your injuries, vehicle damage, and the accident scene.
- Keep copies of medical records, bills, and prescriptions.
- Gather Witness Information
- Ask bystanders for names and contact details, if you are able, at the scene of the collision.
- Request a copy of the official police report.
- Notify Your Insurance Company
- Report the accident promptly, but stick to the facts. Do not discuss who may have been at fault or how the crash occurred.
- Avoid speculating about your condition or admitting fault.
- Avoid Social Media
- Anything you post about your crash, treatment, or injuries can be seen by the other parties involved and their insurers and defense attorneys. To defend a legal claim, they will use your posts against you, if possible.
- Don’t post photos or videos about your actions after the collision. While attending a birthday party may be challenging after your head injury, posting a video could portray your situation differently and lead to different conclusions.
- Consult an Experienced Attorney
- Find a local personal injury lawyer who focuses their practice on head injury cases as soon as possible. You have a limited timeframe to bring legal action to recover compensation. Different states have different statutes of limitations, so ask a skilled lawyer how long you have to file a lawsuit before that time has passed.
- A tenacious head injury lawyer can handle legal negotiations, investigations, and paperwork, which will allow you to focus on your physical, emotional, and financial recovery.
What Types of Car Accidents Can Lead to a Head Injury?
Car crashes come in many forms, and each involves the risk of hitting your head. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, certain collision types account for a large share of head trauma in drivers and passengers. Recognizing these scenarios helps you understand how injuries occur and why prompt medical evaluation matters.
- Rear-End Collisions
A sudden impact from behind thrusts occupants forward. Heads often strike headrests, steering wheels, or windows, causing whiplash or concussion. - Side-Impact (T-Bone) Crashes
When another vehicle strikes your door, side windows offer little protection. Your head may slam against the window frame, seat, or interior panel, leading to bruising or more severe brain trauma. - Head-On Collisions
Front-to-front impacts deliver extreme force. Even at moderate speeds, your head can snap forward and backward, risking skull fractures and diffuse axonal injuries. - Rollovers
Vehicles that flip or roll can toss occupants against the roof or side pillars. Lack of proper support increases the chance of your head striking hard surfaces repeatedly. - High-Speed Impacts
Crashes above 50 miles per hour amplify force exponentially. Helmets or airbags may not absorb all shock, and your head can hit interior components or outside forces with great energy. - Single-Vehicle Accidents
Losing control on curves or slippery roads often leads to striking fixed objects like guardrails or trees. Heads can collide with airbags, dashboards, or windows, resulting in contusions or lacerations.
Each accident type brings unique dangers. Even a seemingly minor fender-bender can cause head injury symptoms that emerge later. If you hit your head in any of these scenarios, seek medical attention right away and consult with an experienced injury attorney to help document the crash details to protect your health and legal rights.
Types of Possible Head Injuries You Might Suffer After a Car Crash
Since auto collisions can occur in many different ways, a variety of head injuries is possible depending on the type of crash, where you were seated, the magnitude of the impact, and many other factors. Here are a few of the most common head injuries suffered after an auto accident:
Concussion
A concussion happens when someone’s brain bangs around inside their skull. They can be mild or severe depending on how they happen. Common concussion signs include:
- Headache or pressure in the head
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Sensitivity to light or noise
Even a mild concussion can disrupt memory, concentration, and sleep.
Contusion
A bruise on the brain, known as a contusion, occurs when an impact causes small blood vessels to bleed under the brain’s surface. Symptoms often mirror a concussion but may include localized swelling seen on imaging scans.
Skull Fracture
After a motor vehicle crash involving head trauma, broken bones in the skull can range from hairline cracks to depressed fractures where bone pushes inward and damages the brain. Look for:
- Visible skull deformity
- Bleeding from the ears or nose
- Clear fluid leaking from the nose (cerebrospinal fluid)
Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)
This severe injury involves widespread tearing of brain tissue. Victims may lose consciousness immediately and require emergency care.
Coup-Contrecoup Injury
During a crash, the victim may experience whiplash (where their neck and head suddenly snap back and forth or side-to-side). Or, upon a direct impact, the person’s brain may strike the inside of the skull in two places, both the site of impact and the opposite side of the skull. In these circumstances, the victim can face bruising, inflammation, and damage to two areas of the brain.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
Repeated blows to the head, such as multiple minor vehicle crashes, can lead to CTE, a degenerative condition that emerges years later. Symptoms of CTE include memory loss, mood swings, and severe cognitive decline.
Legal Alternatives You Can Pursue After You Hit Your Head in a Car Accident
After you sustain a head injury in a car crash, a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can explain the several legal paths that may help you recover damages, including:
- Personal Injury Claim Against the At-Fault Driver
If another driver caused the crash, you may sue for compensation covering medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. - Uninsured (UM) or Underinsured Motorist (UIM) Claim
If the at-fault driver lacks sufficient insurance, your own policy’s UM/UIM coverage may apply and provide financial compensation for your losses. - Third-Party Product Liability
If a vehicle defect (such as faulty airbags or seat belts) contributed to your head injury, you might bring a products liability claim against the manufacturer. These cases are complicated and require specific knowledge about product liability laws. - Government Entity Claims
Crashes caused by poorly maintained roads or malfunctioning traffic signals can trigger a claim against a city, county, or state. If a governmental entity contributed to your accident and related injuries, you must follow special notice rules to preserve your rights. - Third-Party (Employer) Liability
If the other driver was employed and driving in the scope of their job at the time of your collision, you may be able to bring a claim against the employer under the laws of vicarious liability.
Each avenue involves strict deadlines and procedural rules. A qualified lawyer at Auto Injury Litigation Center can help you identify all responsible parties, gather evidence, and file timely claims.
Costs You May Experience After You Hit Your Head in a Crash
Head injuries carry significant medical and non-medical expenses. Knowing typical costs helps you plan and supports your claim for full compensation.
Emergency Room Visit
The average ER bill for head trauma ranges from $1,200 to $3,500, depending on tests and treatment complexity. Severe cases requiring observation or admission can exceed $10,000 for head injury cases.
Imaging and Diagnostic Tests
According to Health System Tracker:
- A typical CT scan can cost between $500 and $1,500 per scan
- MRIs can run $1,000 to $2,500 per scan
- Neuropsychological testing costs $1,200 to $3,000 for a comprehensive assessment
Rehabilitation Services
- Physical therapy usually runs $100 to $250 per session
- Occupational therapy will cost $120 to $260 per session
- Speech and cognitive therapy amount to $150 to $300 per session
Long-Term Care for Severe TBI
Lifetime costs for severe traumatic brain injury patients average $1.4 million to $3 million, covering home care, assisted living, and medical equipment
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
Head injury victims can miss weeks, months, or years of work. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, lost wages from a concussion alone average $4,000 to $10,000 per incident, excluding diminished future earnings.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Travel to appointments, prescription copays, and home modifications can add $1,000 to $5,000 more, depending on injury severity and support needs.
After suffering a head injury in a car crash, it’s wise to document each expense with bills, receipts, and economic expert estimates for future losses. A detailed cost breakdown strengthens your claim and maximizes recovery.
Trust Auto Injury Litigation Center to Help After You Hit Your Head in a Car Accident
Recovering from a head injury takes time, resources, and legal guidance. At Auto Injury Litigation Center, our attorneys:
- Conduct in-depth investigations with accident reconstruction experts and medical specialists
- Work directly with hospitals and therapy providers to document every injury detail
- Assemble a comprehensive demand package that quantifies both economic and non-economic losses
- Negotiate with insurers to fight lowball offers and insist on full, fair compensation
- File suit and represent you in court if needed, never settling for less than you deserve
With our national experience in motor vehicle accident claims, we stand by you from your first doctor’s visit until your case resolves. Let us shoulder the legal burden while you focus on healing.
After You Hit Your Head in a Car Accident, Contact a Skilled Personal Injury Law Firm to Protect Your Legal Rights
If you or a loved one hit your head in a recent car crash and sustained head injuries, don’t wait. Contact Auto Injury Litigation Center today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’ll review your medical records, explain your legal options, and chart a clear path toward the compensation you need to move forward.
Contact our knowledgeable team by calling (866) 933-0623 or completing our online contact form today.