Author: John Mattiacci | Owner Mattiacci Law
Published January 6, 2026
If you’ve been in a car accident and suddenly notice a weird ringing, buzzing, or whooshing sound in your ears, you’re definitely not alone.
A lot of people walk away from a crash thinking, “Well, at least nothing seems broken,” only to discover that their ears won’t stop making noise. It can feel unsettling, especially when it shows up hours or even days later.
The good news is that this is a pretty common issue after a crash.
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) can show up for all kinds of reasons.
In this post, we’ll go over everything you need to know ringing in your ears after car accidents.
Why Do Car Accidents Cause Ringing In The Ears?
A car accident is basically the most chaotic, noisy, high-pressure situation your body can experience in a short burst of time.
There’s the impact, the sudden stop, the airbag explosion, and sometimes even the emotional shock.
All of that can affect the delicate structures in your ears or the nerves connected to them.
Your ears rely on tiny hair cells, nerves, and fluid-filled chambers to process sound. They’re surprisingly fragile. When they get irritated, damaged, or thrown out of balance, your brain starts sending out the “ringing” signal.
Basically, your ears go through a lot more during an accident than most people realize.
Also Read: Can You Sue An At-Fault Driver?
Common Causes Of Tinnitus After An Accident
There isn’t just one reason your ears might be ringing after a car accident.
A crash can set off a bunch of different issues, and sometimes more than one can happen at the same time. Here are the biggest ones:
#1 Whiplash Or Neck Trauma
Whiplash is a lot more than a stiff neck after a crash.
When your head snaps forward and back in a split second, the muscles, tendons, and nerves in your neck get strained in ways you don’t feel right away.
Those same nerves help control your ears and balance system, so when they’re irritated or swollen, your ears can start sending out mixed signals.
That mixed signal often shows up as ringing.
Even if you didn’t hit your head, whiplash alone can create enough tension to throw off how your ear and brain communicate.
#2 Head Injury Or Concussion
Concussions are another reason behind the ringing in ears after a car accident.
A concussion doesn’t always look dramatic. You don’t have to blackout or hit your head on something to get one. The sudden jolt from a crash can make your brain shift inside your skull, which puts pressure on the parts involved in hearing.
That pressure or inflammation can easily trigger tinnitus.
People with concussions often notice extra sensitivity to light and noise, trouble focusing, headaches, or feeling “foggy,” and tinnitus tends to blend into that group of symptoms.
Also Read: What Are Acceleration-Deceleration Injuries?
#3 Ear Barotrauma
A lot of people don’t realize just how intense the pressure wave from an airbag can be.
It’s incredibly fast and incredibly loud. Your eardrum and inner ear aren’t built for that kind of sudden pressure change, so they can get stressed even if they don’t tear or rupture.
Ear barotrauma can make your ear feel clogged or full, create buzzing or popping sounds, and sometimes mess with your balance for a bit.
It’s the same idea as pressure changes on an airplane – just much more intense and way more sudden.
#4 Hearing Damage From Loud Noise
Car crashes are basically a blast of chaotic sound all at once. Metal bending, airbags exploding, glass breaking and your ears get hit hard.
Inside your ear are tiny hair cells that pick up vibrations and translate them into sound.
Loud noise can bend or damage those cells, and when they’re irritated, they can start misfiring. Your brain picks up that misfire as ringing or buzzing.
You might even notice your hearing feels dull or soft afterward, which is another sign your ears took a hit from the noise.
#5 Stress And Anxiety
Even if your body didn’t take a major hit, your mind absolutely did.
Car accidents instantly throw your nervous system into “high alert mode,” which can make every sensation feel stronger than usual.
Stress tightens your muscles, including the ones around your jaw and neck, and that tension can affect the nerves connected to your ears. Anxiety also ramps up the part of your brain that notices internal sounds, so the ringing feels louder and harder to ignore.
Sometimes the stress alone is enough to set everything off.
Also Read: How Much Are Pennsylvania Personal Injury Settlements?
Symptoms To Watch For
Tinnitus is the obvious one, but accidents often cause a mix of symptoms. These can help you get a better idea of what’s going on:
- Ringing, buzzing, clicking, or hissing sounds in one or both ears
- Feeling like your hearing is muffled or not as sharp
- Dizziness or feeling off balance
- Ear fullness or pressure
- Headaches or neck pain that won’t go away
If you notice that the ringing is paired with hearing loss or dizziness, that’s usually a sign you need to get checked out sooner rather than later.
When To Seek Medical Attention
If your ears have been ringing for more than a day or two, it’s smart to get evaluated by a doctor.
Tinnitus after an accident might be temporary, but it can also be a sign of a deeper injury that needs treatment.
Medical help is especially important if you notice things like:
- Sudden or significant hearing loss
- Ringing that keeps getting louder
- Trouble staying balanced
- Ongoing headaches or confusion
A doctor might order hearing tests or scans just to make sure everything looks normal. Early treatment can make a huge difference in how long the tinnitus sticks around.
When To Talk To A Lawyer
Ears ringing after a crash is more than just an annoyance. It can affect sleep, concentration, mood, and even your ability to work, especially if the ringing becomes chronic.
If someone else caused the accident, you may be able to get compensation for medical visits, tests, treatments, and the daily impact of the tinnitus itself.
You don’t have to wait until things get severe.
Talking to a lawyer early can actually protect you because insurance companies love to claim tinnitus “isn’t related” to the crash. Having someone on your side helps make sure your symptoms and medical records are documented properly from the start.
Even a brief consultation can give you a clearer idea of what your options look like.
Bottom Line
Ringing in your ears after a car accident is far more common than most people think.
Your ears, neck, nerves, and brain go through a lot during a crash, and tinnitus is often just your body’s way of responding to the trauma.
That said, do not ignore it. Paying attention to your symptoms, getting checked out early, and talking to the right professionals can make a huge difference in your recovery.
Most people do get better with time, support, and the right treatment plan.
Your ears might be ringing now, but they don’t have to ring forever!