Headaches are a common condition following a serious car accident. These headaches could result from head trauma or stem from the stress that an accident can bring. In some cases, debilitating headaches could continue for days, weeks, or months after a crash.
If you are dealing with headaches after a car accident, you might be entitled to financial compensation. An attorney can help pursue a monetary award to cover your pain and suffering, as well as other damages.
Types of Headaches After Car Accidents
In broad terms, there are two types of headaches, according to the Mayo Clinic. Primary headaches involve pain that results directly from an injury or a lifestyle trigger, like alcohol abuse.
Secondary headaches involve pain that results indirectly from other conditions, like stroke, meningitis, or ear infections. Car accidents generally result in primary headaches, which have multiple subtypes.
Some of the types of headaches that can result from a motor vehicle accident include:
- Post-concussive headache: These headaches are a chemical response to a sudden jolt to the brain. This type of headache is associated with not only pain but also light sensitivity and nausea
- Spasm headaches: One of the most common types of headaches that can stem from a car accident does not involve trauma to the head at all. Spasm headaches result from strains and injuries to the neck and upper back muscles. These soft tissue injuries can cause spasming and headaches.
- Whiplash headaches: Whiplash is an injury from a sudden impact that causes your head to snap forward and then whip back again. This injury is commonly related to motor vehicle accidents. While whiplash is a neck injury, it can also cause serious pain at the base of the skull.
- Post-traumatic headache: Post-traumatic headaches are caused by an impact on the head or neck during an auto accident. These headaches might not manifest for days or weeks after the crash.
- Occipital neuralgia headache: Sometimes, headaches can result from a pinched or impinged nerve. These are known as occipital neuralgia headaches. When nerves are compressed, it can lead to headaches, numbness, tingling, and other symptoms.
- Fracture headaches: One of the most serious types of headaches is a fracture headache. This condition is a symptom of a fracture of the skull or neck. The end result is serious pain that can take a long time to heal.
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What to Do When Suffering Headaches After an Accident
There are a few steps that you could take in the aftermath of a car crash. If you are living with a persistent headache after a car crash, these steps could aid in your recovery and strengthen your potential personal injury case.
Seek Immediate Medical Care
You should never wait to talk to a doctor about constant headaches following a car accident. In some cases, these headaches could be a symptom of more serious health issues.
The sooner you see a doctor, the sooner you could be on the road to recovery. If your headaches do not subside, do not attempt to tough it out or mask the pain with over-the-counter medication. Let a doctor evaluate your condition right away.
Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions
After your evaluation, your doctor may prescribe a treatment plan. Sometimes, this plan might include little more than pain management.
In other cases, medical intervention might be necessary to address underlying issues. What is important is that you follow the guidance of your doctor to the letter.
Consider Working with an Attorney
Ensuring your medical health is the most important step following a car accident. You should not ignore your legal rights, though. If your accident occurred primarily due to another party, you might be entitled to monetary compensation. Your attorney could advise you on your rights after a crash.
The good news is that you do not have to guess what your injury claim might be worth. Our attorneys can carefully review your case and determine your legal options.
Compensation for Your Headaches
There are different forms of monetary compensation that could be available for your headache claim. Some of these damages include:
- Medical bills: You could recover the cost of your medical care after a car crash. This could include your doctor’s visits, prescription drugs, or other treatments.
- Lost wages: If your headaches are so severe they prevent you from working, lost wages could replace the income you missed out on.
- Pain and suffering: You could be entitled to a monetary award based on the physical suffering you experience from your headaches.
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Discuss Your Case with Our Firm
Chronic headaches could leave you with long-term pain and an inability to meet your own basic needs. If you are living with headaches after a car accident, you have the right to pursue an injury lawsuit against the party that caused the crash.
The attorneys of Kaine Law are ready to help you pursue the compensation you deserve. Call for your free consultation right away.
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