When a car accident leaves you with persistent headaches, you need an experienced Chicago headache lawyer who understands the connection between trauma and head pain. At Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C., we help accident victims secure fair compensation for headache injuries that can significantly impact their daily lives.
Consultation is free, and we won’t charge lawyer fees until we secure compensation for you. Call Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C. today at (312) 957-4166.
Understanding Post-Traumatic Headaches After Car Accidents
Headaches after car accidents are more common than many people realize. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately 214,110 TBI-related hospitalizations occurred in 2020, with motor vehicle crashes being a leading cause. These injuries often result in post-traumatic headaches that can persist for weeks, months, or even years.
Post-traumatic headaches occur after trauma to the head or neck, even when you don’t hit your head during the crash. The intense impact forces during a crash can make your brain shift within your skull, resulting in different kinds of headache conditions.
Common Types of Headaches After Auto Accidents
- Tension headaches: These develop from muscle strain in the neck and shoulders. The sudden impact of a collision creates tension that radiates upward, causing band-like pain around the forehead or back of the head.
- Migraine headaches: Post-traumatic migraines can be severe and debilitating. The American Headache Society reports that 95% of concussion patients face a higher risk of headache development. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, and heightened sensitivity to light and sound.
- Cervicogenic headaches: Also called whiplash headaches, these originate from neck injuries. The sudden jerking motion in car accidents can damage soft tissues and nerves, causing pain that travels from the neck to the head.
- Cluster headaches: While less common, these intense headaches can develop after head trauma and may occur in patterns or clusters.
Understanding the Severity of Crash-Related Head Trauma
CDC data shows that automotive collisions cause approximately 232,240 of the TBI-related emergency visits annually. This makes car accidents a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries.
Numerous headache patients remain unaware that their symptoms may signal more severe conditions such as:
- Concussion or mild brain trauma
- Whiplash injuries affecting nerve function
- Brain bleeding (subdural hematoma)
- Fractured skull bones
- Compressed nerves in the neck area.
Recurring headaches commonly occur following traumatic brain injuries, often starting within seven days of the trauma and potentially lasting for months.
Why Immediate Medical Attention Matters
Even if you feel fine immediately after an accident, headaches can develop hours or days later. Delayed-onset post-traumatic headaches are not uncommon, with some patients presenting with uncomplicated symptoms initially that progress to include focal neurological deficits.
Seeking prompt medical care serves two critical purposes:
- Protecting your health by identifying potentially serious conditions early
- Strengthening your legal claim by establishing a clear connection between the accident and your injuries.
Illinois Law and Headache Injury Claims
In Illinois, you have specific rights when it comes to headache injuries from car accidents. Illinois personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the injury date, making prompt action essential.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Our Chicago headache injury attorneys help clients recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses including emergency room visits, neurological evaluations, imaging studies, and ongoing treatment
- Lost wages from missed work due to debilitating headaches
- Pain and suffering for the physical discomfort and reduced quality of life
- Future medical costs for ongoing treatment and rehabilitation
- Loss of earning capacity if headaches affect your ability to work.
The Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C. Advantage: Former Insurance Industry Experience
What sets our Chicago headache lawyers apart is our unique background. Matthew Willens previously served as an insurance company executive, and his partner David Baez worked extensively as a defense lawyer for insurance companies. This background knowledge allows us to predict insurance company strategies and develop more effective cases for our clients.
Our track record speaks for itself:
- Nearly 30 years of personal injury experience
- Numerous million-dollar-plus recoveries
- One verdict recognized as Top 100 Verdicts nationally
- Another verdict that set a state record
- Consistently voted “Best of the Best” Personal Injury Legal Advisors in Illinois.
Common Causes of Headache-Inducing Car Accidents
Motor vehicle crashes were the second most common cause of traumatic brain injury hospitalizations in 2014, accounting for 20.4% of all TBI-related hospitalizations. The types of accidents most likely to cause headache injuries include:
- Rear-end collisions: These account for many whiplash-related headaches. The sudden forward and backward motion strains neck muscles and can cause brain injury even without direct head impact.
- T-bone accidents: Side-impact crashes often result in heads striking windows or being violently jerked, leading to both direct trauma and motion-related injuries.
- Head-on collisions: The severe forces involved in frontal crashes frequently cause traumatic brain injuries and subsequent headaches.
- Rollover accidents: These complex crashes expose occupants to multiple impact points and can cause severe head trauma.
When to Contact a Chicago Headache Lawyer
Don’t wait to seek legal help if you’re experiencing headaches after a car accident. While headache disorders affect approximately 40% of people globally, persistent headaches that begin immediately after or following a car accident strongly suggest accident-related injuries.
Contact us immediately if you experience:
- Headaches that worsen over time
- Headaches accompanied by nausea, dizziness, or vision problems
- New or different headache patterns after your accident
- Headaches that interfere with work or daily activities
- Any head pain that develops within days or weeks of a collision.
Why Choose Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C.
Our Chicago headache attorneys understand that insurance companies often downplay or deny headache injury claims. They may argue that headaches are minor, pre-existing, or unrelated to the accident. We use our extensive experience and medical expert network to build compelling cases that demonstrate the true impact of your injuries.
- Top-rated results: Our firm has secured substantial settlements and verdicts for clients with headache and brain injuries, including a $15.8 million verdict for a traumatic brain injury case and multiple seven-figure settlements for accident victims.
- Comprehensive investigation: We work with neurologists, pain management specialists, and other medical experts to document your headache injuries and their connection to your accident.
- Zero initial fees: Our contingency fee structure ensures you pay nothing until we secure a successful outcome.
- Available 24/7: Our team is ready to help when you need us most. Unable to visit our office? We’ll meet you at your location for a complimentary consultation.
The Hidden Costs of Headache Injuries
Many people underestimate the long-term impact of post-traumatic headaches. More than 214,000 Americans need hospital treatment for TBIs annually, with car accidents accounting for a significant portion of these admissions. The costs extend far beyond immediate medical bills:
- Chronic pain management
- Lost productivity at work
- Relationship strain from mood changes
- Reduced participation in activities
- Ongoing neurological monitoring
- Potential need for long-term disability accommodations.
Building Your Headache Injury Case
Our experienced attorneys know that successful headache injury cases require thorough documentation and expert testimony. We help clients by:
- Gathering medical evidence: Working with your doctors to document the severity and duration of your headaches, including any necessary imaging studies or neurological testing
- Tracking symptoms: Helping you maintain detailed records of your headache patterns, triggers, and how they affect your daily life
- Consulting experts: Connecting with neurologists, pain specialists, and vocational rehabilitation experts who can testify about your injuries and their impact.
- Investigating the accident: Reconstructing the crash to demonstrate how the forces involved could have caused your headache injuries.
Take Action Today: Contact Our Chicago Headache Lawyers
Don’t let insurance companies minimize your headache injuries. The seasoned Chicago injury lawyers at Willens & Baez Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C. have secured millions in compensation for clients suffering from head and brain trauma. We understand the medical complexities of post-traumatic headaches and know how to present compelling cases that secure fair compensation.
Contact us today at (312) 957-4166 for your complimentary case evaluation. Our award-winning legal team is standing by to evaluate your case and explain your rights. With our proven track record of million-dollar recoveries and recognition as top-rated Chicago personal injury lawyers, we have the experience and resources to fight for the compensation you deserve.
