Headaches Days After a Car Accident: A Guide for Lakeland and Winter Haven Providers
Neck pain and headache travel together after a crash, which makes a concussion easy to miss. What the research says about post-traumatic headache and a few questions that help sort it out.
Consider a hypothetical patient. He is 29, a delivery driver out of Winter Haven, and he was hit from behind at a light on US-27 near Haines City. He comes in on day three for neck pain. When asked, he says he also has "a headache that won't quit." It started the morning after the crash, gets worse in the afternoon, and is worse in bright sun.
It is easy to file that headache under the neck. Often it does belong there. Sometimes it is the most visible sign of a concussion. This guide looks at what the research says and offers a few questions that help tell the difference. It is educational and does not replace clinical judgment.
Key takeaways
- Headache is the most common symptom after a mild TBI. In one prospective study, 91% reported new or worse headaches during the first year.
- ICHD-3 counts a headache that begins within seven days of a head injury as possibly attributable to it.
- Headache plus light or noise sensitivity, dizziness, fogginess, sleep or mood changes points toward a concussion more than headache alone.
- Persistent headache at one year was linked to a 5.4-fold higher risk of depression.
Headache is the most common symptom after a mild TBI
In a prospective study of 212 adults with mild TBI at a U.S. Level I trauma center, most of them hurt in vehicle crashes, 54% reported new or worse headaches right after injury. That rose to 62% at three months and 69% at six months. Over the first year, the cumulative incidence was 91% (Lucas et al., Cephalalgia, 2014).
The same research group found that most people with headache after a mild TBI treated it with over-the-counter pain relievers, and that those medications gave complete relief to only a minority (DiTommaso et al., Headache, 2014). A patient who says "it's just a headache, I'm taking Advil" may still need a closer look.
Timing matters
The International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) defines acute headache attributed to traumatic injury to the head as a headache that develops within seven days of the injury, or within seven days of regaining consciousness or being able to report pain. ICHD-3 also has a separate category for headache attributed to whiplash.
In practice, both can be present. A headache that starts on day two or three still fits within that window, so "it didn't hurt at the scene" is not a reason to rule out a concussion.
"It didn't hurt at the scene" is not a reason to rule out a concussion.
Questions that help sort it out
A few extra questions at intake or on the first follow-up can make a big difference:
- When did the headache start, and is it new or different from any headaches before the crash?
- Did the head hit anything, such as the headrest, window, steering wheel or an airbag? Did the patient feel dazed or lose any time?
- Is the headache paired with sensitivity to light or noise, dizziness, nausea, trouble concentrating or feeling foggy?
- Is the patient sleeping differently, or more irritable or down than usual?
- Does screen time, reading or a loud workplace make it worse?
Headache plus thinking, mood or sleep changes points toward a concussion more than headache alone.
Why the follow-up matters
Headache after a mild TBI is not just a nuisance. In a one-year follow-up, people who still had headaches were 5.4 times as likely to screen positive for depression as those without headaches (Lucas et al., Headache, 2016). Asking about mood when headaches persist is part of good care.
Polk County context
Florida's 2024 Traffic Crash Facts report counts 12,755 crashes and 10,104 injuries in Polk County. Many of those patients first land in a chiropractic, urgent care or primary care office in Lakeland, Winter Haven, Bartow, Auburndale or Davenport, not a neurology clinic. That makes the first treating provider an important checkpoint.
Where Braintree fits
When you decide concussion testing makes sense, Braintree's mobile team brings it to your office anywhere in Polk County. Scheduling is coordinated with your staff. You receive physician-reviewed diagnostic reports to use alongside your own exam and plan of care.
See how concussion and TBI testing works, learn about mobile testing in Polk County, check the Polk County Crash Map, or send a referral. Patients can find more on our For Patients page.
Frequently asked questions
Is it normal to get a headache days after a car accident?
It is common, and it should be checked. International headache criteria count a headache that starts within seven days of a head injury as possibly related to that injury.
How common are headaches after a concussion?
Very common. In one prospective study of adults with mild TBI, 91% reported new or worse headaches at some point during the first year.
How can I tell a whiplash headache from a concussion headache?
Both can occur together. Headache paired with light or noise sensitivity, dizziness, trouble concentrating, sleep changes or mood changes points more toward a concussion.
Do over-the-counter pain relievers fix post-traumatic headaches?
Not reliably. In one study, most people with headache after mild TBI used them, but only a minority reported complete relief.
Can Braintree test my patients at my office in Lakeland or Winter Haven?
Yes. When you decide testing makes sense, Braintree's mobile team tests at your office and returns physician-reviewed diagnostic reports. Scheduling is coordinated with your office.
Sources
- Lucas S et al. A prospective study of prevalence and characterization of headache following mild traumatic brain injury. Cephalalgia. 2014;34(2):93-102
- DiTommaso C et al. Medication usage patterns for headache treatment after mild traumatic brain injury. Headache. 2014;54(3):511-519
- Lucas S et al. Comorbidity of headache and depression after mild traumatic brain injury. Headache. 2016;56(2):323-330
- International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3): 5.1 Acute headache attributed to traumatic injury to the head
- CDC: Symptoms of mild TBI and concussion (including danger signs)
- CDC: About mild TBI and concussion
- NIH, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Traumatic brain injury
- FLHSMV: Florida Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report 2024
- Florida Department of Health: Florida trauma centers (updated July 23, 2026)
- Lakeland Regional Health, Lakeland
Photo credits: Skyline of Lakeland from Lake Morton by Trad361991, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Downtown Winter Haven by Ultrahip, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
This article is educational and is not medical or legal advice. If this is a medical emergency, call 911.
