Loss of Taste or Smell After a Car Accident: What to Do

A new change in taste or smell after a car accident deserves medical attention, especially after a blow or jolt to the head. Smell and taste work closely together, so what feels like lost taste may actually be reduced smell. Tell a clinician exactly when the change began, what you can and cannot detect, and whether you have headache, dizziness, confusion, vomiting, weakness, or other symptoms. Do not wait for a legal consultation before getting appropriate medical care.

Why can taste or smell change after a car accident?

A collision can move the head and brain even when the head does not strike the steering wheel, window, or another object. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that a mild traumatic brain injury or concussion can result from a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or from a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth.

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders identifies head injury as one possible cause of a smell disorder. It also explains that smell and taste are closely connected. When food seems flavorless after a collision, the problem may involve smell, taste, or both.

Other possibilities include nasal or facial injury, dental trauma, an infection, medication effects, or an unrelated health condition. That is why the timing alone does not establish the diagnosis. A clinician needs the history, examination, and, when appropriate, testing.

When should you get emergency help?

Call 911 or seek emergency care if a person has a danger sign after a blow or jolt to the head. The CDC’s adult concussion guidance lists danger signs that include:

• a headache that worsens and does not go away;
• repeated vomiting;
• weakness, numbness, decreased coordination, convulsions, or seizures;
• slurred speech, unusual behavior, increasing confusion, restlessness, or agitation;
• one pupil larger than the other;
• loss of consciousness, extreme drowsiness, or inability to wake; or
• inability to recognize people or places.

A person can have a concussion without losing consciousness. Some symptoms appear right away, while others may appear hours or days later. If you are unsure whether the symptoms require emergency attention, contact a qualified medical professional rather than relying on an online checklist.

What should you tell your medical provider?

Give the provider a concrete timeline. Explain the crash mechanism, whether your head struck anything, whether you lost consciousness or memory, and when the sensory change began. Describe the change instead of simply saying that food tastes different. Useful details include:

• whether the problem involves all foods or only certain flavors;
• whether you can smell coffee, soap, smoke, or other familiar odors;
• whether odors or foods seem distorted or unpleasant;
• whether the symptom is constant or intermittent;
• associated headache, dizziness, balance trouble, fatigue, nausea, ringing in the ears, memory problems, or mood changes;
• nasal, facial, dental, or mouth injuries;
• new medicines or dosage changes; and
• any cold, flu, or other illness near the same time.

The NIDCD explains that evaluation may include a health history, physical examination, and smell or taste testing. An ear, nose, and throat specialist may be involved. The proper path depends on the patient’s symptoms and the treating clinician’s judgment.

Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own because you suspect it affects taste or smell. Discuss that concern with the prescribing professional.

Practical safety steps while smell is reduced

Reduced smell is not merely an inconvenience. It can make it harder to notice smoke, a gas leak, spoiled food, or a burning pan. Until a medical professional says otherwise, sensible precautions may include:

• confirming that smoke and gas alarms work;
• checking expiration dates and using labels instead of smell to judge food;
• leaving the area immediately if you suspect a gas leak and calling 911 from a safe location, without trying to locate the leak;
• following nutrition and hydration advice if eating becomes difficult; and
• avoiding excessive salt or sugar added only to compensate for lost flavor.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration explains how to respond to a suspected gas leak. Do not rely on reduced smell or ask someone else to investigate a suspected leak.

How should you document taste or smell changes?

Good documentation helps the medical team understand the condition and creates a reliable record if an insurance claim later develops. Focus on accuracy, not advocacy.

1. Report the symptom promptly. Make sure the treating provider hears about it and that it appears in the medical chart.
2. Keep a brief symptom log. Note the date, what changed, associated symptoms, medical visits, and practical effects. Avoid exaggeration and do not copy the same entry each day.
3. Follow referrals and treatment instructions. If a provider recommends an ENT, neurologist, testing, or follow-up appointment, keep the appointment or document why you could not.
4. Preserve crash information. Keep photographs, the incident number, insurance correspondence, bills, receipts, and wage-loss records.
5. Be careful on social media. A short photograph or post rarely shows the full medical picture, but an insurer may still take it out of context.

Medical records matter because a lawyer cannot diagnose the condition. Our guide on why medical records matter in a personal injury case explains how contemporaneous documentation can help separate a supported claim from guesswork.

Louisiana claim considerations

A taste or smell problem is not automatically worth a fixed amount, and the symptom does not by itself prove who caused the crash. A Louisiana injury claim generally requires evidence of fault, causation, and damages. Relevant damages may include reasonable medical expenses, lost earnings, physical or emotional effects, and loss of enjoyment of life when supported by the facts and law.

For many Louisiana injury claims, Civil Code article 3493.1 provides a two-year prescriptive period beginning on the day injury or damage is sustained. The change took effect July 1, 2024. Older incidents and special claim types may be governed by different deadlines, so do not calculate a filing date from a general blog post.

For accidents on or after January 1, 2026, the current version of Civil Code article 2323 generally bars recovery when an injured person is 51 percent or more at fault. If the person’s fault is less than 51 percent, damages are reduced by that percentage. Different rules may apply based on the date of the accident. Evidence, not assumptions, determines how fault is allocated.

A lawyer reviewing a possible head-injury claim may investigate the collision, request preservation of video or vehicle data, obtain complete medical records, and work with appropriate medical or vocational professionals. Our Louisiana traumatic brain injury claim guide explains the broader medical and evidence issues. When another driver caused the collision, a Baton Rouge car accident lawyer can also review fault, insurance coverage, and preservation needs.

Legal disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not medical advice or legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and cannot determine the deadline or value of a particular claim.

Sources

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, About Mild TBI and Concussion.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Signs and Symptoms of Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury.
• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Taste Disorders.
• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Smell Disorders.
• Louisiana Civil Code article 3493.1.
• Louisiana Civil Code article 2323.

Editorial & Legal Accuracy Notice (Louisiana)

This article provides general health and Louisiana legal information. A change in taste or smell after a crash can have several causes, and a webpage cannot diagnose a concussion, nerve injury, medication effect, or other condition. Seek prompt medical care for new symptoms. Call 911 or go to an emergency department for the danger signs discussed above.

Sources checked: September 28, 2026.