Can a Car Accident Trigger Recurring Vertigo Attacks?

Have you ever been in a car accident—big or small—and walked away thinking you were fine, only to feel strange symptoms days or even weeks later? Maybe you’ve noticed dizziness, nausea, or a sensation that the room is spinning when you move your head.

These could be signs of vertigo, and for some people in Jacksonville and Mandarin, the problem can be traced back to injuries sustained during a car accident.

How a Car Accident Can Lead to Vertigo

A collision creates sudden, forceful movements that can injure both the head and neck. These injuries can affect the delicate structures that control your sense of balance, leading to recurring vertigo episodes.

There are two primary ways an accident can trigger vertigo:

1. Head Injury - A head impact can damage the inner ear or dislodge tiny crystals that help regulate balance (a condition known as BPPV). This can lead to vertigo, dizziness, ringing in the ears, and even hearing changes.

2. Neck Injury - Whiplash and other neck injuries can harm the muscles, ligaments, and bones in the neck. This may put pressure on nerves that communicate with the balance centers in your brain.

Both types of injury can also cause upper cervical misalignments—shifts in the position of the top two bones in your neck—that may make vertigo symptoms worse over time.

Why Vertigo After an Accident Shouldn’t Be Ignored

Vertigo after a car accident can last for weeks, months, or even years if the root cause isn’t addressed. Misalignments in the upper cervical spine don’t typically correct themselves, meaning symptoms can persist or become more frequent.

If your vertigo is linked to a head injury, your first step should be ruling out serious issues like fractures or bleeding. If it’s related to a neck injury or misalignment, more targeted care—like Upper Cervical Chiropractic—may help.

How Upper Cervical Care May Provide Relief

Upper Cervical Care is a gentle, precise form of chiropractic that focuses on the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) vertebrae in the top of your neck. These bones:

• Support the weight of your head

• Help keep your head balanced and upright

• Protect the brainstem, which plays a key role in balance and coordination

A car accident can knock these vertebrae out of alignment, irritating nearby nerves and disrupting communication between your brain and body. This interference can contribute to vertigo, headaches, neck pain, and other symptoms.

By realigning the atlas and axis, Upper Cervical Care works to:

• Relieve pressure on nerves

• Restore proper nervous system function

• Improve balance and coordination

• Reduce or even eliminate vertigo episodes

Take the First Step Toward Vertigo Relief in Jacksonville

If you’ve been dealing with dizziness, imbalance, or spinning sensations after a car accident, you don’t have to live with it. Dr. Thuraia Owais at San Jose Chiropractic offers gentle Upper Cervical Care to help patients in Jacksonville, Mandarin, and surrounding areas find lasting relief.

Call 904-683-4476 or request an appointment online today to learn whether an upper cervical misalignment could be the hidden cause of your vertigo.