You walked away from the accident. No broken bones, no visible injuries, no blood. You did not hit your head on the steering wheel or window. You told the other driver you were fine, exchanged insurance information, and drove home.

Then the headache started.

Maybe it came that same evening, a dull, building pressure behind your eyes. Maybe it did not show up until the following morning, or two days later. Now it is constant. It throbs when you turn your neck. Ibuprofen takes the edge off but does not make it go away.

Post-accident headaches are among the most common and most frequently dismissed symptoms following a car crash. Patients assume that because they did not hit their head, their headache could not possibly be accident-related. That assumption leads to delayed treatment and a costly mistake: missing the Florida 14-day PIP window that protects your right to up to $10,000 in medical benefits.

If you are already experiencing symptoms, you can learn more at our car accident injury clinic page or review how urgent care compares to the ER after a crash.

Why Does My Head Hurt After a Car Accident If I Didn't Hit My Head?

This is the question most patients ask when they arrive at our car accident injury clinic. It seems counterintuitive, but you do not need to strike your head to develop a severe, persistent post-accident headache.

Whiplash and the Cervicogenic Headache

Whiplash is the most common injury in rear-end and side-impact collisions. When your vehicle is struck, your head snaps sharply forward and then backward. Your neck muscles and upper cervical vertebrae absorb enormous force, sending referred pain upward—a phenomenon called a cervicogenic headache. You can read more on our whiplash care page.

Muscle Tension and the Crash Response

During impact, your neck and shoulder muscles contract forcefully to stabilize your spine. This causes muscle spasms and inflammation in the trapezius and suboccipital muscles, resulting in a tension-type headache that may build over 24 to 72 hours.

Adrenaline Masking the Injury

In the immediate aftermath of a car crash, adrenaline suppresses pain. As it clears, the pain emerges. This delayed headache after a car accident is not a sign that the injury is minor; it means the injury was simply masked at the scene.

The 4 Most Common Types of Headaches After a Car Accident

Cervicogenic Headache: Originates from cervical spine injury or neck muscle strain. It is the most common headache for car accident victims. Visit our back and neck pain page for more.
Tension-Type Headache: Caused by muscle spasms in the neck and shoulders following the impact.
Post-Traumatic and Post-Concussion Headache: Occurs when the brain sustains a concussive force. According to CDC guidance on traumatic brain injury, a concussion can happen even without a direct blow to the head.
Post-Traumatic Migraine: Often one-sided and throbbing, triggered by the physical stress of the auto accident.

Symptoms That Mean Your Post-Accident Headache Is Serious

Seek a medical evaluation immediately if your car accident headache is accompanied by:

Dizziness or loss of balance
Nausea or vomiting
Blurred or double vision
Confusion or difficulty concentrating (Signs of a concussion)
Numbness or tingling in arms or hands

For most non-life-threatening injuries, urgent care is the most efficient first step. Review our urgent care vs ER guide if you are unsure.

How Long After a Car Accident Can a Headache Start?

Delayed pain after a car accident is the norm. Research shows that whiplash-related headaches often peak 24 to 72 hours after the crash.

Do not let a delay convince you to wait for treatment. You can learn more on our delayed pain after car accident blog.

Florida's 14-Day PIP Rule — What Every Driver Must Know

If you were in a car accident in Florida, you must follow Florida Statute 627.736.

What the 14-Day Rule Requires: You must receive an initial medical evaluation within 14 days of your accident to be eligible for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. If you wait until day 15, your insurance company will likely deny your claim, leaving you responsible for all medical costs out of pocket.

Our PIP documentation and injury report page explains how we help you secure these benefits.

What to Expect at a Car Accident Headache Evaluation

At PrimaryUC, we provide:

Walk-in availability with no appointment needed.
Cervical spine range of motion testing.
On-site digital X-ray imaging to identify fractures or structural issues. Visit our digital X-ray service page to learn more.
Complete PIP documentation for your insurance adjuster and car accident attorney.

Urgent Care vs. Emergency Room for a Car Accident Headache

Urgent care is the right choice for delayed headaches, neck stiffness, and general soreness. It is faster and specializes in the PIP documentation required for your claim. Read our full comparison on the urgent care vs ER page.

Why Getting Treated Fast Protects Your Health and Your Claim

Prevent Chronic Pain: Untreated cervicogenic headaches can become permanent.
Protect Your Legal Claim: Insurance adjusters use gaps in treatment to argue that your injuries weren't caused by the car crash.

See a Car Accident Doctor Today in Palm Beach County

If you have been in a car accident in Florida and are experiencing a headache, neck pain, or dizziness, PrimaryUC is here to help.

Walk-ins welcome — No appointment required.
On-site digital X-rays at all locations.
PIP insurance accepted.

Walk in to your nearest PrimaryUC location today or call (561) 223-8024 to speak with our team.