When to Go to the ER After a Car AccidentWhen to Go to the ER After a Car Accident

You do not have to name an injury before asking for help. If you think this is an emergency, call 911 or go to an emergency department now. The MedlinePlus emergency guide explains warning signs and when an ambulance is needed. A clinic visit or message should never delay emergency care.

This guide focuses on adults after a crash. These are examples, not a complete checklist or a diagnosis. The absence of a listed sign does not establish that you are safe.

Call 911 for these emergency signs

The MedlinePlus emergency guide lists these warning signs:

• Trouble breathing
• Bleeding that will not stop
• Coughing or vomiting blood
• Severe belly pain or pressure
• Sudden, severe pain anywhere
• Fainting or loss of consciousness

Call 911 for help. Use an ambulance when moving the person could worsen an injury, their condition could become life-threatening during travel, or they need paramedic care. Do not drive yourself in those circumstances.

Head injury danger signs need emergency care now

After a blow or jolt to the head or body, call 911 or have someone take you to an emergency department immediately for any of these CDC adult concussion danger signs:

• A headache that keeps worsening and does not settle
• Weakness, numbness, or trouble coordinating movements
• A seizure
• Repeated vomiting
• Slurred speech or behavior that is unusual for you
• Unequal pupil sizes
• Confusion, failure to recognize familiar people or places, restlessness, or agitation
• Passing out, marked drowsiness, or difficulty waking

Some concussion symptoms begin hours or days after an injury. A new danger sign needs the same immediate response even if you already received care. Do not wait overnight or for a clinic to open.

A suspected spinal injury needs 911

After a crash, new limb weakness, difficulty walking, or loss of bladder or bowel control may signal a spinal injury. Numbness or tingling extending into an arm or leg is another warning sign. Call 911 if you suspect a spinal injury. These signs and this action come from MedlinePlus spinal injury guidance.

If you are helping someone, keep them still. Do not straighten or twist their neck, or have them stand or walk. Move them only when essential for immediate safety, such as escaping a burning vehicle or helping them breathe. Tell the emergency dispatcher what happened.

MedlinePlus's neck-injury overview explains that neck pain can involve muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, or nerves. This page cannot distinguish a strain from another injury. Do not use it to label new neck pain as harmless.

Prompt non-emergency care starts with a clinical conversation

When there are no emergency signs and you do not suspect an emergency, contact a healthcare professional about symptoms that concern you. Describe the crash and what has changed. Ask how soon and where you should be evaluated. This is a route to assessment, not a conclusion that an injury is minor.

If you think you may have a concussion, CDC recommends contacting a healthcare provider as soon as you can. Danger signs still mean immediate emergency care. If you are unsure which kind of care you need, seek emergency care rather than waiting for a routine appointment.

Once a non-emergency visit is appropriate, our first-visit guide explains preparation and the appointment. The guide to the first 72 hours after a crash helps you organize symptoms, questions, and earlier instructions. That time window is not a waiting period.

Earlier care does not replace attention to new symptoms

If you have already been assessed, follow the instructions you were given. After a concussion, CDC advises telling your clinician about worsening symptoms or a lack of improvement. Ask for written instructions about returning to work, driving, and other activities.

New emergency signs take priority over a scheduled follow-up. Call 911 or go to an emergency department as described above. You do not need to finish reading this guide before getting help.