Serious car crash: how to spot symptoms that need medical care
Emergency care advice for your first few days after a collision
Being sent home from the emergency room is a good sign. Even so, some symptoms may not have shown up yet. The ER team looks for injuries that need treatment right away. They also count on you to watch for changes once you leave. A better question than “Do I hurt?” is “Is this symptom new, getting worse or changing how my body works?”
Below, you’ll learn when to call for emergency help and when to get medical advice quickly. You’ll also see how to keep an eye on yourself at home. Your own discharge papers come first. They are based on your exam, your tests, your injuries and your medicines.
Which level of care fits right now
- Call emergency services right away for severe trouble breathing, fainting or heavy bleeding. Do the same for signs of a serious head or spine injury, or symptoms that point to bleeding inside the body. Do not drive yourself if you might be seriously ill.
- Get prompt medical advice today for any new symptom or one that is getting worse. Reach out too if your care plan isn’t controlling your pain or you’re unsure about your discharge instructions.
- Watch mild, steady symptoms at home. Stick to your written care plan. Book the checkup you were told to schedule. If the pattern shifts, move up to the higher level of care that fits the change.
If you can’t tell which level fits, call the emergency department, your doctor or a local medical advice line. If no one answers quickly and the symptom might be serious, get emergency care. Insurance questions can wait until your health is out of danger. [1, 2]
Signs that mean you call for emergency help now
A crash can hurt the brain, the spine, the chest or the organs in your belly. Some of these problems become clearer after the first exam. Call your local emergency number if you notice any of the signs below. You can also go to an emergency department with another person. Do so only when travel is safe and transport is ready right away.
- Breathing or chest: Get help for shortness of breath that is severe or getting worse. The same goes for chest pain that is new or getting worse, or for coughing up blood. [1, 3]
- Possible bleeding or shock: Watch for heavy bleeding that won’t stop, fainting or confusion. Marked weakness with pale or clammy skin is another sign. So is belly pain or swelling that is new or getting worse, most of all with dizziness or weakness. [1, 4]
- Head injury: Look for a headache that grows worse and won’t go away. Repeated vomiting, a seizure or odd behavior are danger signs too. So are growing confusion, slurred speech and one pupil bigger than the other. Being very drowsy or hard to wake is another. [2]
- Spine or nerve injury: Watch for new weakness or numbness, or trouble walking or moving an arm or leg. Losing control of your bladder or bowels is a warning sign. So is severe neck or back pain that comes with any of these changes. [1, 5]
- A fast turn for the worse: The person grows less alert, can’t talk or move normally, or seems seriously ill. Go by the change in front of you, even if an earlier test came back fine. [1]
When you call, tell the dispatcher the person was in a car crash. Say when it happened and what has changed. Then follow the dispatcher’s directions. If the spine might be hurt, avoid moving more than you must while you wait for help. [5]
Symptoms that call for medical advice today
An ambulance isn’t needed for every new symptom. After a hard crash, though, a new symptom still needs a closer look. Reach out soon to the provider named on your discharge papers, the emergency department or an urgent care clinic if:
- Your pain is getting worse or isn’t controlled by the plan you were given. Call too if pain stops you from filling your lungs, walking, sleeping or doing basic tasks. [3]
- After a possible head injury, you notice symptoms no one went over during your exam. These include headache, dizziness, nausea or a foggy feeling. Trouble focusing, unusual tiredness and changes in sleep count too. They can be signs of a concussion, even if you never passed out. [2, 6]
- Neck or back pain shows up later, turns severe or comes with tingling. New weakness, trouble walking or loss of bladder or bowel control needs emergency care instead. [5, 7]
- After a chest injury, you get a fever or a new cough. Call as well if pain makes it hard to breathe deeply and cough. [3]
- You’re confused about which medicines to take, or a drug is causing side effects that worry you. The same goes if you can’t follow the plan you were given. [8]
Whoever you reach may suggest an exam that same day, a different level of care or more watching and waiting. If no one picks up and your symptoms are getting worse, go back for an urgent exam.
Why you might feel worse once you're home
Soreness and stiffness can set in hours after a crash. A strained neck, for example, might not hurt at the scene but ache more the next day. Concussion symptoms may also show up later. They can grow more obvious once you go back to your usual routine. A change like this isn’t automatically a sign of a dangerous injury. Still, don’t brush it off just because you didn’t have it in the ER. [2, 7]
Pay attention to the pattern. Mild soreness that holds steady and fits your discharge plan can usually be watched at home. A symptom needs medical care if it is severe, new or getting worse. It also needs care if it changes your ability to think, breathe, move or stay awake. How badly the car is damaged can’t tell you if you’re hurt. Your symptoms and your exam count for more than how the vehicle looks.
Keeping watch at home without it taking over your day
- Go over your discharge papers once with someone you trust. Mark the symptoms that mean you should go straight back. Also mark your medicines and doses, activity limits, checkup date and the number to call with questions. [8]
- Keep short notes on your symptoms. Write down when each one started, where it is and whether it’s getting better or worse. Jot down what it keeps you from doing. List the medicines you took and any side effects. Short notes give your doctor a clearer picture than a long story pieced together days later.
- If you might have hurt your head, have someone check on you the way your discharge papers say. Sleep is generally fine once you’ve been examined. Still, follow the exact instructions you got about being watched. If you can’t be woken up normally, get emergency care. [2, 9]
- Do not drive if you feel dizzy, confused or unusually sleepy. The same goes if you aren’t sure how a medicine affects you. Ask your doctor when you can safely drive again or do other things that need fast reactions. [6, 10]
- Go to your checkup even if you feel a bit better. At that visit, you can review your symptoms, daily function and medicines. You can also talk about the next stage of recovery. If you get worse before then, don’t wait for the appointment. [6, 8]
When to be extra careful
Some details raise the level of concern. Mention them clearly whenever you ask for medical advice:
- You take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder. Tell your doctor about any blow to the head or possible head injury, even if you feel fine. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own. [11]
- You were pregnant at the time of the crash. If no one has examined you yet, get checked soon, even if you feel unhurt. Tell the care team about any belly pain, bleeding, contractions or leaking fluid. Report any change in how the baby moves, too. [12]
- The injured person is an older adult or someone who can’t easily explain symptoms. A friend or relative may be the first to spot new confusion, odd sleepiness or a change in how they walk. [2, 11]
- A child was riding in the car. Kids may not describe a symptom clearly. Instead, you may see changes in behavior, eating, alertness or balance. Get a medical exam and a checkup plan made for children. [2]
What to say if you need to be seen again
Your account of the crash doesn’t have to be perfect. Share what you know. Say so when you aren’t sure. Start with the time of the crash and whether you were driving or riding. Say whether you wore a seat belt and whether an airbag went off.
Mention any blow to the head or passing out. Then describe your symptoms, when each began and whether each is getting better or worse. Bring your discharge papers and a list of your medicines. Bring any medical history that applies, too, especially blood thinner use or pregnancy.
You can open like this: “I was seen after a crash yesterday and sent home. Since then I’ve developed ____. It started at ____. It’s getting ____. I need to know if I should be checked again.”
Questions for your discharge or your next visit
- Which symptoms mean I should call emergency services? Which mean I should go back to the ER or call your office?
- What changes should I expect in the next two days? Which changes would be unexpected?
- How do I take each of my medicines? Are there medicines or activities I should stay away from?
- When should I be seen again? Who do I call if I can’t get that appointment?
- How soon can I safely drive, work, exercise or care for others?
Ask for the answers in writing. If you like, a friend or relative can take notes. You should walk out knowing which signs to watch, who to call and what happens next. [8]
Keep following your plan after the ER visit
An ER exam shows how you were doing at one point in time. Keep following the plan you were given. Treat new or worsening symptoms as serious. Get emergency help if there’s a change in breathing, alertness, strength, walking or signs of bleeding. For less urgent changes, get medical advice soon instead of deciding alone.
Sources and further reading
- 1MedlinePlus ER care
- 2CDC concussion signs
- 3NHS chest injury
- 4MedlinePlus bleeding
- 5MedlinePlus spine injury
- 6CDC concussion recovery
- 7NHS whiplash
- 8MedlinePlus discharge
- 9MedlinePlus concussion discharge
- 10CDC impaired driving
- 11CDC older adults and TBI
- 12ACOG pregnancy and car safety
This article is for general education only. For your own recovery, follow the instructions your care team gave for your injuries.
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