Auto Accident Info

The mistake many people make on the day they are involved in a car accident is not realizing that they are actually hurt. Powerful emotions such as anxiety, nerves, frustration, or anger can take over during the intense adrenaline surge from the accident. It may be difficult to focus on the physical aches and pains of the moment, as you try to deal with the legalities of being in a car accident, including dealing with the other driver, the police, and sorting out insurance matters. On the day of the accident, most people have one thing on their mind: their automobile! Common questions include:

"Who is going to fix my car?"

"What will I drive in the mean time?"

"Will my insurance rates go up?"

"Who is going to pay for it?"

And the last thing on their mind is: "Am I Really O.K.?"

Not only are auto accidents an inconvenience and a hassle, a common redundant complaint of auto accident victims is that they don't feel like their normal selves. You may be experiencing obvious pains and symptoms such as muscle stiffness or spasm, neck pain, headaches, numbness and tingling, back pain, difficulty sleeping, irritability, memory loss, fatigue, difficulty concentrating and many other difficulties.

Or worse than that, you may be injured and feel nothing at all. Often, if symptoms are not felt on the first day, they are very noticeable by the following morning. At this point, you must make the important decision whether you will seek treatment or not. It has been our experience that if the injury is left unattended, significant negative physical consequences can develop later on, such as chronic pain and stiffness in the injured areas. This can take place when the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints of the body do not heal appropriately and form excessive scar tissue at the injured site.

Even more, did you know that auto accidents can cause post-traumatic osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis can ruin your posture (giving you a slumped or hump back appearance). Osteoarthritis can cause the discs in your spine to degenerate and create prominent bone spurs.

Treatment in our office for these auto-related injuries is typically covered at 100% by your auto insurance company. If not, we can refer you to a personal injury attorney who specializes in this area and will not charge unless an award is recovered.

Did you know that one of the most stressful aspects of living in modern life is dealing with the problems that arise after an auto accident? In addition to the physical consequences to your body that can take place when an injury is not taken care of properly, additional problems can ensue when the accident victim settles their case with the insurance company before obtaining a proper evaluation by a Doctor trained in soft-tissue injuries.

Why? Because once you settle your case, you lose the right to have your insurance company pay for treatment if you need it. Before you settle with the insurance company, thoroughly consider how you will afford medical coverage in the event that you do not get better. It is extremely important that you be informed of your rights prior to making a decision. It is our recommendation that following an accident, you receive prompt evaluation and treatment of your injury. The ultimate goal is to allow you to return back to the way you felt and functioned prior to the accident.

Even if you are experiencing only mild soreness, you should be evaluated in order to ensure that your current symptoms will not develop into more serious problems later on down the road, including osteoarthritis. Remember, nothing is more important than your health, especially when you start to lose it.

If you have been in an auto accident, you need a doctor who is trained in the biomechanics of the human body; someone who treats these injuries every day. Chiropractors are specialists in treating the most commonly injured part of the body in auto accidents, the spine. In addition, x-rays can be taken to find out if there has been any structural damage. In our office, we thoroughly evaluate auto accident victims and make appropriate referrals to other health care providers, as needed.

Our primary responsibility is giving you the care you need to restore health. We will also submit the required medical reports to the insurance company so your rights are protected.

And remember, if we can't help you, we will refer you to a doctor or facility that can, and is familiar with treating auto injuries. You should be aware that not every doctor treats auto accident victims, including most primary care physicians; therefore, it is important to find one that has experience handling these types of cases.

If you have been in an auto accident recently, there are some important decisions you have to make, and if I were you, I'd make these decisions very carefully.