Vertigo
Vertigo is a sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving when no actual movement is occurring, and it commonly follows head and neck injuries sustained in personal injury accidents. Trauma can damage the vestibular system of the inner ear, dislodge the tiny calcium crystals that control balance (causing benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), injure the vestibular nerve, or result from a concussion affecting the brain's balance-processing centers. Post-traumatic vertigo can be severe and persistent, producing dizziness, nausea, imbalance, and a heightened risk of falls. Because vertigo impairs balance and concentration, it frequently prevents driving, working at heights or with machinery, and performing routine daily tasks, and it often coexists with tinnitus, hearing changes, and post-concussion symptoms. As a subjective symptom, vertigo can be challenged by insurers, but it is objectively evaluable through vestibular testing, balance assessments, and specialist examination. In personal injury claims, well-documented post-traumatic vertigo — supported by a clear traumatic mechanism such as a head impact or whiplash — is a compensable condition, with damages reflecting the cost of vestibular rehabilitation and the significant disruption to work, safety, and daily functioning that chronic dizziness causes.
For informational purposes only. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney.
Symptoms
The following symptoms are commonly reported by accident victims diagnosed with Vertigo. Symptoms should be reported to your treating physician at every appointment to ensure they are documented in your medical record.
- 1A spinning sensation, especially with head movement or position change
- 2Loss of balance and unsteadiness
- 3Nausea and vomiting during episodes
- 4Dizziness and lightheadedness
- 5Difficulty focusing the eyes or visual disturbance during attacks
- 6Increased risk of falling
Treatment & Recovery
Typical Treatment
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy, canalith repositioning maneuvers (Epley) for positional vertigo, medications to control acute dizziness and nausea, and treatment of underlying concussion or inner-ear injury.
Recovery Timeframe
Positional vertigo often resolves within weeks with repositioning therapy; vertigo from inner-ear or brain injury may persist for months or become chronic.
Seek evaluation by a specialist who can perform vestibular and balance testing to objectively document the disorder and identify its cause, linking it to the accident's head or neck trauma. Record the frequency and severity of episodes and any falls or near-falls, since the safety risk and functional impairment are central to the claim. Because vertigo can prevent driving and many forms of work, document its effect on your ability to perform your job and daily activities, as these limitations support both medical and non-economic damages.
For informational purposes only. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney.
Estimated Medical Cost Range
Cost estimates reflect typical treatment pathways in the United States and vary significantly based on injury severity, geographic location, insurance coverage, and whether surgical intervention is required. These figures are general ranges only and are not a guarantee of costs in any individual case.