Do Car Crashes Cause Vertigo?

If you feel dizzy after being involved in a car crash, there is a strong possibility that you may have vertigo. When an accident victim has this condition, they usually describe it as feeling like the room is twisting, turning, or spinning. Although you may think that vertigo is something minor that will go away on its own, you should consider seeking immediate medical attention to ensure that you do not have an injury that is causing it. Without the proper treatment, vertigo has the potential to become worse and affect your life tremendously.

Is it normal to have vertigo after a car accident?

Unfortunately, vertigo can be quite common after a car accident. It is usually caused by neck trauma or other injuries associated with the accident. Neck trauma typically occurs when a person experiences a sudden and forceful impact, which causes their neck to jerk or move rapidly back and forth. This can cause inner ear damage that leads to vertigo. With professional medical treatment, symptoms of vertigo may improve within a few months. However, if you have a severe case of vertigo that is left untreated, it could become worse over time and begin to impact your quality of life.

What are the symptoms of vertigo?

Vertigo has a variety of different symptoms that you should look out for after a car accident. Some of the most common symptoms include:

• Feeling nauseous
• Headaches
• Vomiting
• Balance issues
• Strange eye movements
• Sweating
• Ear ringing
• Hearing loss
• Feeling like you or the room around you is moving
• Feeling lightheaded
• Motion sickness

Sometimes, these symptoms can be temporary, come and go, or be permanent. Therefore, it can be difficult to know whether you have vertigo or something else. However, if anything feels off after a car accident, you should seek medication attention as soon as possible to go over the symptoms you are feeling.

Can head or brain trauma cause vertigo?

Head or brain trauma can also cause vertigo. Therefore, if a car accident victim suffers a blow to the head, they may develop a concussion, which is a type of traumatic brain injury. Those who are diagnosed with concussions or other types of brain injuries usually report symptoms of vertigo within a few days after the accident. However, it can take several weeks for them to become aware of or notice that their extreme dizziness is actually a sign of vertigo.

How long does it take for vertigo to show up after a car accident?

Symptoms of vertigo can show up after a car accident almost immediately. However, depending on what may be causing your vertigo, it is not uncommon for some people to have delayed symptoms that emerge within days or weeks. Once you begin getting treatment for vertigo, you may experience lingering symptoms that affect your everyday life.

How is vertigo treated?

Vertigo is usually treatable by a licensed healthcare provider. Depending on how severe or minor your vertigo is, the doctor may try a few different treatment options to help relieve your symptoms. These are some of the most common treatment options for vertigo:

• Prescriptions and medications: One of the first treatment options that a doctor will likely try to help your vertigo is prescriptions and medications. This usually helps with the dizziness, nausea, motion sickness, and other effects that vertigo causes. If the doctor determines that you have swelling or another condition or injury that is causing the vertigo, they may prescribe antibiotics to help with that condition or injury, which may ultimately reduce your vertigo symptoms as well.
• Vestibular rehabilitation: Vestibular rehabilitation is a form of physical therapy that helps the patient strengthen their vestibular system. The vestibular system is responsible for communicating and sending signals to the brain through body and head movements. Therefore, if you have a severe case of vertigo, the doctor may use vestibular rehabilitation to encourage your other senses to take over and relieve your vertigo.
• Canalith repositioning maneuvers: This is a treatment option recommended by the American Academy of Neurology that requires the patient to do certain exercises and make certain movements with their head and body. As a result, calcium will move from the ear canal to the inner ear channel, which allows the body to absorb it. A doctor or physical therapist is usually present to help you do these exercises and movements correctly and successfully.
• Surgery: Lastly, if your vertigo is caused by an injury to your brain or neck that fails to go away on its own or with the use of less invasive treatments, the doctor may recommend surgery to repair or fix your condition.

If you are struggling with vertigo after a car accident, the Maryland car accident attorneys from Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. are here to help. We have 40 years of experience helping car accident victims with various injuries and complications following car accidents, including vertigo. When you work with our firm, you can have peace of mind knowing that we understand the ins and outs of these types of cases and will do everything we can to fight for the compensation you need and deserve. Call our office or submit our contact form to request a free consultation today. Our team is available to assist you in multiple locations across Maryland.