One crash, four people. A parent driving, a partner in the front seat, two kids in the back. At the scene one adult does all the talking: to the other driver, to the police, to the kids, to whoever answers the phone at home. That same adult usually drives the family home, puts everyone to bed, and never once asks whether their own neck hurts.

This report is about the car as a whole. Everyone who was in it went through the same crash, and none of them went through it the same way. Here is how to think about getting each of them looked at, and how to book it without turning one call into five.

Same crash, different histories

A body's crash depends on where it was sitting and what it was doing at the moment of impact. The driver had hands on the wheel and a foot on the brake. The front passenger may have been turned toward the driver, looking at a phone, or reaching into the glove box. A child in the back may have been asleep with their head against the window. Each of those positions loads the neck and back differently, which is why one person can feel fine and another can wake up stiff two days later.

That also means each person needs their own history at the exam. "We were all in the same car" is where the story starts, not where it ends.

Kids do not report the way adults do

Younger children often do not say "my neck hurts" or "I feel foggy." They may not have the words, or they may not connect how they feel to the crash. Parents more often notice a change in behavior:

  • Holding the head stiffly, or not wanting to look over a shoulder
  • Complaining of a headache, or a stomach ache that does not fit
  • More tired, more clingy, or more irritable than usual
  • Changes in sleep, or not wanting to play the way they normally do
  • Trouble paying attention, or losing interest in a favorite game or show

Write down what you notice and when. It helps whoever examines the child.

For a child, the pediatrician is a good first call, and they may want to see the child themselves. If you are thinking of booking a child at an injury clinic, ask on the phone whether they see children of that age for the concern you have, and let them tell you yes or no before you drive.

The CDC's HEADS UP program covers concussion signs in children and teens. The danger signs it lists belong in an emergency room today, not in a planned visit: one pupil larger than the other, drowsiness or not being able to wake up, a headache that gets worse and does not go away, repeated vomiting, slurred speech, weakness or numbness, a seizure, unusual behavior, or passing out. For a baby or toddler, add crying that cannot be consoled and refusing to nurse or eat.

The adults in the car

The driver is the one most likely to skip their own exam because they are handling everything else. If that is you, put your name on the list first.

The front passenger is often the one whose head was turned, toward the driver, the back seat or the side window. A neck that was rotated at impact takes the load unevenly, which is a common reason for one-sided stiffness and headaches later. Our 72-hour lag page covers why that can take days to show up.

An older passenger who takes blood thinners and hit their head at all should be checked at an emergency room first, even if they feel fine. That is a same-day question.

Booking more than one person

You do not need a separate call for each person. Missouri Injury Clinic publishes that it reserves same-day appointment times daily for car accident injuries. Before you call, write down one line for each person:

  • Name and age
  • Where they sat
  • What they were doing at impact: braking, head turned, asleep against the window
  • What hurts now, and since when

Then make one call. Say it was a car crash and give the date. Say how many people were in the car, their ages, and who is hurting where. Ask for back-to-back times so one trip covers everyone. Ask what each person should bring. A minor will need a parent or guardian with them.

The Tesson Ferry, Hazelwood and O'Fallon offices all close from 12 to 2 daily, so call in the morning or after 2. Our offices page lists all three with their hours.

The car seats

A child's car seat that was in a crash may need to be replaced, even if it looks fine. Do not guess. Check the seat's manual or the label on the seat, or contact the manufacturer, about what they call for after a crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's car seat pages cover choosing and installing seats and what to do after a crash. Until you know, do not assume the seat is ready for the next ride.

At the visit

Each person gets examined on their own and gets their own record. Let each adult tell their own story, even if you were sitting right there. A seven-year-old's version of what hurts may be vague, so add what you have noticed at home, but let them talk first. The first dated exam is the starting point for anyone who sees that person later. Our dated record page explains why.

If you are the one making all the calls, say your own name on the phone before you hang up.

One crash, one call. Get the whole car seen this week at Missouri Injury Clinic. Tesson Ferry is (314) 530-5480, Hazelwood is (314) 627-1411, and O'Fallon is (636) 280-0990.