We can help you recover.
Although it’s very unfortunate that you were in a car accident, at least you’re in good hands now. Car accidents injuries are 90% of all our chiropractors see. Because of our modern world, car accidents are very common, and there is no need for you to worry. On this page, we will discuss what symptoms you will feel over time, what your treatment will look like, and answer any questions you might have.
First Couple Days: Developing Symptoms
Most people walk away from their car accident/collision feeling entirely unharmed. Maybe this is just a mental fog or perhaps our minds become filled with other concerns, but symptoms develop over the following few days. Here are a few common symptoms that you may experience suggesting you have injuries that you can’t see with your eyes:
- Headaches
- Sore or aching muscles
- Joint pain
- Reduced range of motion
- Dizziness/unable to concentrate
- Back pain
- Neck pain
Whiplash Treatment
One of the most common car accident injuries is a whiplash neck injury resulting from forceful and rapid back and forth neck movement, like the cracking of a whip. Whiplash injury is produced most often during a rear-end car collision but can happen during impact sports and other trauma. If within 1-3 days of a car collision you experience worsening neck pain and stiffness, loss of movement in the neck, headaches, pain or tingling in the upper arms and shoulders, dizziness, and fatigue, you may have suffered a whiplash injury. Click here to learn more about whiplash injuries specifically.
First Couple Weeks: Auto Injury Treatment
It’s always a good idea to see your medical doctor after a car accident. They can help rule out any red flags with your condition.
About 2 days after your car accident, it is the ideal time to also see your chiropractor. This gives enough time for some symptoms to set in and leaves us enough time to manage your inflammation process.
We will start with a thorough evaluation of the details of the accident, followed by a detailed physical examination. Depending on your level of injuries we may obtain an X-ray, CT, or MRI of the affected areas. All of our technology is available on site, it’s safe, calibrated, and ready to use. With pinpoint accuracy, we can diagnose your condition.
Next, the chiropractor specializing in car accident injuries will make sure that you understand our findings, and prescribe a treatment plan for you. This injury treatment plan may include any combination of chiropractic, physical therapy, or massage, and any techniques that each specialty may perform.
First Couple Months: Recover From Injuries
Treatment will provide temporary relief, and guide the healing process of your body. As you continue your treatment you will notice how that temporary relief lasts longer each time. That is your body healing! At some point, you no longer need any more of our help, and that is our goal. Our goal is to get you back to your healthy self so that you can return to your normal life!
How long does it take to recover from car accident injuries?
The biggest factor in the duration of your recovery depends on the injuries sustained during your car accident. We facilitate the body’s healing to make sure you are not left with any pain in the long term, but if you heal faster than most others then it is likely to be true here too. Some patients don’t need more than just a single visit, whereas other more serious cases can take months of reconditioning and ironing out muscular spasms.
Your Medical Bills
We have a billing department dedicated to making this process as simple as possible for you. We will take on the headache of dealing with your insurance, and you won’t have to worry about a thing. This is a brief overview of things you should know, but if you have any questions, we are happy to answer them in person or over the phone.
Insurance Coverage Options
To make sure that you don’t have to pay out of pocket, make sure you file a claim with your insurance company. Find out if you have personal injury protection (PIP). If you don’t, then there are still ways to get reimbursed for your treatment.
If you were injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you may be covered under third-party insurance. If it was determined that you weren’t at fault, then your car and medical expenses should be covered. However, the insurance company will work hard to make sure that their client isn’t held liable, either.
Insurance can be a long, drawn-out process that can cause some victims to just give up. An attorney could help make sure your health is taken care of. If injuries – no matter how slight you think they are – are left unattended, it could lead to even greater pain down the road. Read more about third-party insurance here, including what can happen in a multi-car accident.
Next Steps
- Don’t wait to get treatment.
- File a claim with your insurance company.
- Consider getting an attorney.
- Every situation is different, so make sure to use your best judgment based on your situation.
