I Feel Fine After a Car Accident — Should I Still Get Checked?

After a car accident, many people say, “I feel fine.” Especially after a low-speed collision, it’s common to assume that no pain means no injury. However, feeling fine immediately after a car accident does not rule out whiplash, soft tissue damage, or delayed symptoms.

Motor vehicle accidents trigger a surge of adrenaline and cortisol. These stress hormones temporarily suppress pain and inflammation, masking injuries in the first 24 to 48 hours. As a result, delayed symptoms after a car accident are extremely common.

Neck pain, stiffness, headaches, dizziness, shoulder tightness, radiating arm pain, and sleep disturbance often appear one to three days later. Even minor collisions at 10 to 20 miles per hour can generate enough force to cause cervical acceleration-deceleration injuries, commonly referred to as whiplash.

The absence of immediate pain does not mean the absence of injury. Early evaluation after a car accident helps identify subtle injuries before they become chronic.

In the video below, Dr. Jonathan Sirota explains why delayed symptoms occur, what warning signs to monitor, and why early post-collision assessment is important.

   

I Feel Fine After a Car Accident — Should I Still Get Checked?

Below is the complete transcript of the video above for those who prefer to read or want more detailed information.

 Full Video Transcript

                          

 Hi, I’m Dr. Jonathan Sirota. I’m a chiropractor with over 36 years of experience treating victims of motor vehicle accidents, sports injuries, and slip-and-fall injuries.

 

Today, I want to address something I hear very often: “I feel fine after the accident.” While it’s good to feel well immediately after a collision, that statement can be misleading and potentially risky.

Why Feeling “Fine” Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story

Many patients involved in low-speed collisions tell me they feel pretty good afterward. They may have minor aches and pains but assume they avoided injury.

Clinically, however, how you feel within the first 24 to 48 hours after an accident has limited diagnostic value.

Immediately after an impact, the body releases adrenaline and cortisol. These stress hormones temporarily suppress pain and inflammation. This protective response keeps you alert and functional in the moment.

Because of this response, symptoms are frequently delayed.

Delayed Symptoms Are Common

After a low-speed car accident — even a 10, 15, or 20 mile-per-hour collision — soft tissue injuries can occur without immediate pain.

Patients often feel relatively well at first, only to develop symptoms hours or days later.

Early evaluation can help prevent minor injuries from developing into chronic problems.

What Happens in a Whiplash Injury?

In many low-speed accidents, we diagnose what is commonly known as whiplash, or medically referred to as a cervical acceleration-deceleration injury.

  • Micro-tearing of ligaments

  • Irritation of the facet joints in the neck

  • Disc bulges or herniations

  • Other forms of disc involvement

  • Concussions or mild traumatic brain injuries

These injuries are not always immediately painful. Many develop symptoms in a delayed fashion.

Symptoms to Watch For After an Accident

If you’ve been in a low-speed collision and feel relatively well, that’s encouraging. However, monitor yourself carefully over the next 24 to 72 hours.

These symptoms may not appear until one to three days after the accident.

The absence of immediate pain does not mean the absence of injury.

Why Early Evaluation Matters

A timely post-collision evaluation can identify injuries before they worsen. Addressing these issues early can reduce the risk of chronic, long-term complications

I’m Dr. Jonathan Sirota, representing Sirota Chiropractic Centers in Wilton, Connecticut and White Plains, New York.

We offer post-collision evaluations at no out-of-pocket cost — your auto insurance typically covers this type of care. It would be my pleasure to help you identify and mitigate injuries before they become chronic problems. Early evaluation is important not only for medical reasons but also because no-fault insurance benefits are designed to allow prompt assessment after an accident.

Early evaluation is important not only medically, but also because no-fault insurance benefits are designed to allow prompt assessment after an accident.