Concussion care
Concussion After a Car Accident
Short answer
A concussion is a brain injury, and a crash can cause one even if your head never hits anything. Headache, dizziness, brain fog, and sleep changes can start right away or over the next few days. At Auto Injury Chiropractic, every auto-injury exam includes a concussion screen. We check your symptoms, balance, eye movements, and neck, guide a gradual return to activity, and refer you to a medical provider when you need imaging or specialist care.
Get emergency care first if you have these warning signs
- A headache that gets worse or won’t go away
- Repeated vomiting, seizures, or slurred speech
- Weakness, numbness, or trouble with coordination
- Unusual drowsiness, or you can’t be woken
- One pupil larger than the other
- Confusion, agitation, or loss of consciousness
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. We see you once you have been medically cleared.
How a crash causes a concussion
In a collision, your head can whip forward and back faster than you can brace. International concussion experts define a sport-related concussion as a traumatic brain injury caused by a direct blow to the head, neck, or body that sends an impulsive force to the brain.1 A car crash can deliver that kind of force without any direct hit to your head, which is why a concussion can come with, or hide behind, a whiplash injury.
Symptoms to watch for
- Physical: headache or pressure in the head, dizziness or balance problems, nausea, blurred vision, sensitivity to light or noise, and fatigue
- Thinking: brain fog, feeling slowed down, and trouble concentrating or remembering
- Mood and sleep: irritability, anxiety, low mood, and sleeping more or less than usual
Symptoms can show up right away or over the first days, and they often overlap with whiplash, which can cause headaches and dizziness of its own.
How we screen for concussion
- Every auto-injury exam includes a concussion screen.
- A standardized symptom questionnaire measures your symptoms so we can track change at each visit.
- Balance and eye-movement (vestibular and oculomotor) screening.
- A neck exam, because a neck injury can cause or worsen headaches and dizziness.
- No brain imaging on site. If your symptoms or exam call for a CT or MRI, we refer you to a medical provider who can order it.
How recovery works
You may have heard that a concussion means resting in a dark room until every symptom is gone. Current guidance says that isn’t helpful. The 2022 international consensus on sport-related concussion recommends relative rest right after the injury, meaning normal daily activities with less screen time, and says people can return to light physical activity within the first 24 to 48 hours.1 From there, activity increases step by step as your symptoms allow.
The same consensus recommends cervicovestibular rehabilitation, treatment aimed at the neck and the balance system, when dizziness, neck pain, or headaches last more than 10 days.1 That guidance was written for sport-related concussion. We apply its principles to concussions from crashes: your plan includes a gradual, symptom-guided return to work, driving, exercise, and screens, and neck care plus balance and eye-movement exercises when your exam shows a need. Re-exams, not the calendar, decide each step.
When we bring in a medical provider
We coordinate with your primary care provider, a neurologist, or another specialist when:
- your symptoms are getting worse
- you aren’t improving as expected
- your exam shows signs that need imaging or medical testing
- you’ve had several concussions before
The emotional side of recovery
Anxiety behind the wheel, low mood, irritability, and trouble sleeping can follow a crash. Auto Injury Counseling offers secure telehealth counseling anywhere in Oregon for adults 18 and over with Dr. Manesha Ram, PsyD, psychologist resident, supervised by David Kays, PsyD. Her first visit is a new concussion assessment or counseling intake.
Why early documentation matters for your claim
Concussion symptoms that aren’t recorded early can be harder to connect to the crash later. An exam soon after the collision creates a clear record, and re-exams show how your symptoms change. Oregon PIP pays reasonable and necessary medical expenses after a crash, regardless of fault, and we bill it directly. Read how Oregon PIP pays for your care.
Auto Injury Chiropractic
Get care near you
Oregon City
1404 Molalla Ave
Oregon City, OR 97045
Mon to Thu 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM,
Fri 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Concussion care in Oregon City
Book onlineMilwaukie
13152 SE Rusk Rd
Milwaukie, OR 97222
Mon to Thu 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM,
Fri 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Troutdale
233 E Columbia River Hwy
Troutdale, OR 97060
Mon to Thu 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM,
Fri 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Return to a pain-free life.
Common questions
Can you get a concussion without hitting your head?
Yes. The sudden acceleration and stop of a crash can injure the brain even when your head doesn’t strike anything.
How long does concussion recovery take?
It varies from person to person. We track your symptoms at each visit, and re-exams, not the calendar, guide each step back to full activity. If you aren’t improving as expected, we bring in a medical provider.
Should I rest in a dark room until I feel better?
No. Strict rest until every symptom is gone isn’t recommended. Relative rest with normal daily activities and less screen time comes first, then light activity, increased step by step as your symptoms allow.
Do you do brain scans?
No. If your symptoms call for a CT or MRI, we refer you to a medical provider who can order it.
Does PIP cover concussion care?
Oregon PIP covers reasonable and necessary medical expenses after a crash, within your policy limits. We verify your coverage and bill PIP directly.
What if I’m anxious or not sleeping after the crash?
Tell your provider. You can also book Auto Injury Counseling: secure video visits anywhere in Oregon with Dr. Manesha Ram, PsyD, psychologist resident, supervised by David Kays, PsyD.
Related reading
- Chiropractor for headaches
- Whiplash treatment: what works and what to expect
- Chiropractor for vertigo and dizziness after a car accident
- Chiropractor for neck pain
- Eye and neck coordination exercise
- Auto Injury Counseling
References
- Patricios JS, Schneider KJ, Dvorak J, et al. Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport, Amsterdam, October 2022. Br J Sports Med. 2023;57(11):695-711. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2023-106898. PMID 37316210.