On this page
- Can a car accident cause a neck injury?
- Red flags: call 911 or get care right away
- What the sources say about neck injury and whiplash
- How is a neck strain treated?
- Why does my neck hurt after I fell and hit my head?
- Back pain after a crash
- Can a car accident cause sciatica?
- What a provider may ask, and keeping your records
- Questions
- Sources
CrashFirst is not a medical provider and cannot tell you what is wrong. If you cannot move your arm or leg, have numbness that spreads, lose control of your bladder or bowels, or suspect a serious head or neck injury, call 911. For any pain after a crash, see a doctor or other health care provider. Do not delay care.
Short answer
Can a car accident cause a neck injury?
Yes, according to MedlinePlus: "Falls or accidents, including car accidents, are another common cause of neck pain." [1] AAOS OrthoInfo says "Motor vehicle or diving accidents, contact sports, and falls may result in neck injury." [3] A health care provider has to decide what an injury is. After a crash, see a doctor and do not delay.
Call 911 or get care now
Red flags: call 911 or get care right away
These are the sources' own warnings. They are not a checklist for diagnosing yourself.
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| AAOS OrthoInfo | "If severe neck pain occurs after an injury (motor vehicle accident, diving accident, or fall), a trained professional, such as a paramedic, should immobilize the patient to avoid the risk of further injury and possible paralysis." [3] It adds "It is essential to seek medical care immediately" [3] |
| AAOS OrthoInfo | "You should also seek immediate medical care when an injury causes pain in the neck that radiates down the arms and legs." [3] |
| AAOS OrthoInfo | "Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as changes in handwriting, trouble buttoning buttons, and dropping keys and cups, may be a subtle sign of serious spine issues." [3] |
| MedlinePlus (spinal injury) | "Call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you think someone has a spinal cord injury." [7] |
| MedlinePlus (spinal injury) | "Never move anyone who you think may have a spinal injury unless it is absolutely necessary." [7] |
| MedlinePlus (neck pain) | "Your neck pain was caused by a fall, blow, or injury -- if you cannot move your arm or hand, have someone call 911 or the local emergency number" [2] |
MedlinePlus says "Symptoms of a spinal cord injury may include any of the following" [7] numbness or tingling that spreads down an arm or leg, weakness, difficulty walking, loss of bladder or bowel control, and stiff neck, headache, or neck pain. Call 911 if you or someone else has them after a crash. Do not wait to see if they pass.
Neck
What the sources say about neck injury and whiplash
- What whiplash is. MedlinePlus: "Whiplash, a soft tissue injury to the neck, is also called neck sprain or strain." [1] OrthoInfo: "A rear-end automobile collision may result in hyperextension, a backward motion of the neck beyond normal limits, or hyperflexion, a forward motion of the neck beyond normal limits." [3]
- Common neck injuries. OrthoInfo: "The most common neck injuries, sprains and strains, involve the muscles and ligaments." [3]
- More serious injuries. OrthoInfo: Severe neck injuries "with a fracture or dislocation of the neck may damage the spinal cord and cause paralysis." [3] MedlinePlus: "Accidents or falls can cause severe neck injuries, such as vertebral fractures, whiplash, blood vessel injury, and even paralysis." [2]
- Seat belts. OrthoInfo: "The regular use of safety belts in motor vehicles can help to prevent or minimize neck injury." [3]
The sources do not say how long whiplash lasts or when symptoms show up, so we do not give a time. A provider can discuss your own case.
Treatment
How is a neck strain treated?
MedlinePlus says "Treatment depends on the cause, but may include applying ice, taking pain relievers, getting physical therapy or wearing a cervical collar." [1] Its encyclopedia article says "Treatment and self-care for your neck pain depend on the cause of the pain." [2] We do not tell you which treatment to use. Two details MedlinePlus gives for minor, common causes of neck pain, to raise with a provider:
- On medicines: "Take over-the-counter pain relievers" [2] is on its list, and it also says "Your provider will probably not order any tests during the first visit." [2]
- On collars: "Ask your health care provider about using a soft neck collar to relieve discomfort. However, using collar for a long time can weaken neck muscles." [2]
MedlinePlus says to contact a provider if "Symptoms do not go away in 1 week with self-care" [2], if "Your pain does not go away with regular doses of over-the-counter pain medicine" [2], or if "You have numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm or hand" [2]. OrthoInfo says to seek medical care when neck pain is "Accompanied by headaches, numbness, tingling, or weakness" [3]. See a health care provider rather than treating it alone, especially after a crash.
Head and neck together
Why does my neck hurt after I fell and hit my head?
A head injury and a neck injury can happen together, and the sources treat that as a reason to get care. MedlinePlus says "The spinal cord is also likely to be injured from falls from a significant height or ejection from a vehicle." [8] Its first-aid guidance lists, among signs to get medical help for right away, that the person "Develops a severe headache or stiff neck" [8] or "Loses consciousness, even briefly" [8].
MedlinePlus adds: "Get medical help right away if you have a headache after a blow to your head, or if you have a headache along with a stiff neck, fever, confusion, loss of consciousness, or pain in the eye or ear." [9]
The CDC's adult danger signs after a head injury include "Have a headache that gets worse and does not go away" [10], repeated vomiting, and "Lose consciousness, look very drowsy or cannot be woken up" [10]. The CDC says to "call 9-1-1 or take you to an emergency department right away" [10]. The full list is on our page about concussion and brain injury after a car accident. Call 911 for any of them; see a health care provider for any head or neck pain after a blow.
Back
Back pain after a crash
- How common. MedlinePlus: "Back pain is one of the most common medical problems, affecting 8 out of 10 people at some point during their lives." [4]
- After an injury. MedlinePlus: "You should also get medical attention if you have back pain following an injury." [4]
- Types of back injury. "Common back injuries include" [5] sprains and strains, herniated disks, and fractured (broken) vertebrae, according to MedlinePlus.
- How long. MedlinePlus: "Acute back pain comes on suddenly and usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Back pain is called chronic if it lasts for more than three months." [4]
- Rest. MedlinePlus says "staying in bed for more than 1 or 2 days can make it worse." [4] Follow your provider's instructions.
- Treatment. "Treatment for back pain depends on what kind of pain you have, and what is causing it." [4]
- When to call. MedlinePlus: "If your back pain is severe or doesn't improve after three days, you should call your health care provider." [4]
Sciatica
Can a car accident cause sciatica?
MedlinePlus describes it this way: "Sciatica is a symptom of a problem with the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body." [6] It lists these causes:
- "A ruptured intervertebral disk" [6]
- "Narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the nerve, called spinal stenosis" [6]
- "An injury such as a pelvic fracture." [6]
It also says "In many cases no cause can be found." [6] The same site says back injuries can come from "a sudden jolt such as a car accident" [5]. We did not find a source that states how often a crash causes sciatica, so we do not say a crash caused any person's sciatica. MedlinePlus says "Sometimes sciatica goes away on its own. Treatment, if needed, depends on the cause of the problem." [6] A health care provider is the person to ask what is causing leg pain, weakness, numbness or tingling.
Before a visit
What a provider may ask, and keeping your records
MedlinePlus says that for neck pain "Your provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your neck pain, including where you feel it, how often it occurs, and how much it hurts." [2] Some people find it easier to answer if they have written those details down. CrashFirst is not a medical provider and this is not medical advice. For one place to keep visit dates, bills and symptoms, see the free crash journal and how to get medical records and bills.
Legal deadlines exist and differ by state. They are separate from medical care; do not delay care because of them. See the pages for Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma and South Carolina, the deadline calculator, or ask an attorney how a deadline applies to you. For the first steps after any crash, see what to do after a car accident.
Want to talk it through? A person usually calls you back in about 15 minutes (8am to 8pm Central). You never pay CrashFirst. CrashFirst is not a law firm or a medical provider, does not evaluate your crash and does not give legal or medical advice. For an emergency, call 911. General information as of November 9, 2026.
Sources
- MedlinePlus (NIH/NLM), Neck Injuries and Disorders (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“Falls or accidents, including car accidents, are another common cause of neck pain.”“Whiplash, a soft tissue injury to the neck, is also called neck sprain or strain.”“Treatment depends on the cause, but may include applying ice, taking pain relievers, getting physical therapy or wearing a cervical collar.”“You rarely need surgery.”
- MedlinePlus (NIH/NLM), Neck pain (Medical Encyclopedia) (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“Your neck pain was caused by a fall, blow, or injury -- if you cannot move your arm or hand, have someone call 911 or the local emergency number”“Accidents or falls can cause severe neck injuries, such as vertebral fractures, whiplash, blood vessel injury, and even paralysis.”“Treatment and self-care for your neck pain depend on the cause of the pain.”“Take over-the-counter pain relievers”“Your provider will probably not order any tests during the first visit.”“Ask your health care provider about using a soft neck collar to relieve discomfort. However, using collar for a long time can weaken neck muscles.”“Symptoms do not go away in 1 week with self-care”“Your pain does not go away with regular doses of over-the-counter pain medicine”“You have numbness, tingling, or weakness in your arm or hand”“Your provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your neck pain, including where you feel it, how often it occurs, and how much it hurts.”
- AAOS OrthoInfo, Neck Pain (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“Motor vehicle or diving accidents, contact sports, and falls may result in neck injury.”“If severe neck pain occurs after an injury (motor vehicle accident, diving accident, or fall), a trained professional, such as a paramedic, should immobilize the patient to avoid the risk of further injury and possible paralysis.”“It is essential to seek medical care immediately”“You should also seek immediate medical care when an injury causes pain in the neck that radiates down the arms and legs.”“Difficulty with fine motor skills, such as changes in handwriting, trouble buttoning buttons, and dropping keys and cups, may be a subtle sign of serious spine issues.”“A rear-end automobile collision may result in hyperextension, a backward motion of the neck beyond normal limits, or hyperflexion, a forward motion of the neck beyond normal limits.”“The most common neck injuries, sprains and strains, involve the muscles and ligaments.”“or dislocation of the neck may damage the spinal cord and cause paralysis.”“The regular use of safety belts in motor vehicles can help to prevent or minimize neck injury.”“Accompanied by headaches, numbness, tingling, or weakness”“A rear-end automobile collision may result in hyperextension”
- MedlinePlus (NIH/NLM), Back Pain (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“Back pain is one of the most common medical problems, affecting 8 out of 10 people at some point during their lives.”“You should also get medical attention if you have back pain following an injury.”“Acute back pain comes on suddenly and usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Back pain is called chronic if it lasts for more than three months.”“staying in bed for more than 1 or 2 days can make it worse.”“Treatment for back pain depends on what kind of pain you have, and what is causing it.”“If your back pain is severe or doesn't improve after three days, you should call your health care provider.”
- MedlinePlus (NIH/NLM), Back Injuries (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“Common back injuries include”“a sudden jolt such as a car accident”“Back injuries can result from sports injuries, work around the house or in the garden, or a sudden jolt such as a car accident.”
- MedlinePlus (NIH/NLM), Sciatica (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“Sciatica is a symptom of a problem with the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body.”“A ruptured intervertebral disk”“Narrowing of the spinal canal that puts pressure on the nerve, called spinal stenosis”“An injury such as a pelvic fracture.”“In many cases no cause can be found.”“Sometimes sciatica goes away on its own. Treatment, if needed, depends on the cause of the problem.”
- MedlinePlus (NIH/NLM), Spinal injury (Medical Encyclopedia) (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“Call the local emergency number (such as 911) if you think someone has a spinal cord injury.”“Never move anyone who you think may have a spinal injury unless it is absolutely necessary.”“Symptoms of a spinal cord injury may include any of the following:”
- MedlinePlus (NIH/NLM), Head injury - first aid (Medical Encyclopedia) (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“The spinal cord is also likely to be injured from falls from a significant height or ejection from a vehicle.”“Develops a severe headache or stiff neck”“Loses consciousness, even briefly”“You suspect a serious head or neck injury, or the person develops any signs or symptoms of a serious head injury.”
- MedlinePlus (NIH/NLM), Headache (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“Get medical help right away if you have a headache after a blow to your head, or if you have a headache along with a stiff neck, fever, confusion, loss of consciousness, or pain in the eye or ear.”
- CDC, Symptoms of Mild TBI and Concussion (updated Sept. 15, 2025) (checked November 9, 2026)Official source“Have a headache that gets worse and does not go away”“Lose consciousness, look very drowsy or cannot be woken up”“call 9-1-1 or take you to an emergency department right away”
Page last updated November 9, 2026. Attorney review pending. General information, not legal advice. Fees, hours and rules change; confirm on the official page. How we source.
Questions
How is a neck strain treated?
Only a health care provider can say how to treat a particular neck injury. MedlinePlus says "Treatment depends on the cause, but may include applying ice, taking pain relievers, getting physical therapy or wearing a cervical collar." [1] It adds "You rarely need surgery." [1] See a provider, especially if you have any sign listed in the red-flag section of this page.
Why does my neck hurt after I fell and hit my head?
A blow to the head can injure the head and the neck, and a provider has to sort out which. MedlinePlus says to "Get medical help right away if you have a headache after a blow to your head, or if you have a headache along with a stiff neck, fever, confusion, loss of consciousness, or pain in the eye or ear." [9] If you suspect a serious head or neck injury, MedlinePlus says to call 911 right away [8]. See our page on concussion and brain injury for the CDC danger signs.
Can a car accident cause sciatica?
The sources we read list injuries among the causes of sciatica but do not name car accidents. MedlinePlus lists these causes: a ruptured intervertebral disk, spinal stenosis, and "An injury such as a pelvic fracture." [6] It also says "In many cases no cause can be found." [6] MedlinePlus separately lists car accidents as one way back injuries happen [5]. Whether your symptoms are sciatica, and why, is a question for a health care provider.
Can a car accident cause neck and back injuries?
Yes, according to the sources. MedlinePlus says "Falls or accidents, including car accidents, are another common cause of neck pain." [1] For the back, it says "Back injuries can result from sports injuries, work around the house or in the garden, or a sudden jolt such as a car accident." [5] See a health care provider after an injury.
What is whiplash?
MedlinePlus says "Whiplash, a soft tissue injury to the neck, is also called neck sprain or strain." [1] AAOS OrthoInfo says "A rear-end automobile collision may result in hyperextension" [3] or hyperflexion of the neck, which is often called whiplash. We did not find a source in this research that gives a typical length of recovery, so we do not give one. Ask a provider.
CrashFirst is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. This checklist is general information. Every situation is different.
Keep reading
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