Car accident injuries happen after nearly every collision – it’s a matter of where the injury occurs on the body and how severe it is. Some of the most common issues we see as car accident injury lawyers are neck and back injuries.
Pain from these injuries can last for months – and some are permanent. Visiting a chiropractor after a car accident may help to alleviate nagging pain. In this article, we discuss your options after a car accident – both from a medical and legal standpoint.
Let’s get going.
Doctor or Chiropractor After Car Accident?
Fortunately, you don’t have to choose between seeing a doctor or a chiropractor after a car accident. Before going to a chiropractor, we recommend visiting your primary care doctor for an assessment. In a car accident injury case, your doctor’s examination will be very important in how you build your claim. Visiting their office should be one of your first moves following the accident.
If your doctor approves, you can visit a chiropractor for any issues with your neck and back.
Your doctor may or may not recommend seeing a chiropractor after a car accident. Unfortunately, some doctors and chiropractors have not always seen eye-to-eye, for a variety of reasons.
One of the main reasons to see a chiropractor after a car accident is pain. You could be dealing with soft tissue damage, which is creating stiffness in your back/neck. Chiropractors are trained in spinal manipulation and may be able to provide fast relief for this problem. On the other hand, a medical doctor will likely prescribe pain medication.
The decision to visit a chiropractor is your personal choice. However, you should always start by setting an appointment with your primary care doctor.
How Soon After a Car Accident Should I See a Chiropractor?
You may try to find a chiropractor after a car accident immediately – especially if you are experiencing nagging neck and back pain. However, it’s strongly recommended to wait until after you’ve had your primary doctor perform an assessment to determine if chiropractic is a good solution.
The symptoms of a spinal injury can take time to show. You may be suffering from a more serious accident. Immediately seeing a chiropractor after a car accident could aggravate your injury – or create a new one.
Your primary care doctor may advise you to get x-rays and other scans to determine the full extent of the neck and back injury. Once you have the result of this assessment, you and your doctor can determine if chiropractic is the right move.
For instance, you may have experienced whiplash during the collision. This is a soft tissue injury in the neck – and an adjustment from a chiropractor can be very effective in your recovery. In this situation (with your doctor’s approval), you would want to see a chiropractor immediately.
Note: Be sure to keep all records and documentation of your visit, both to your medical doctor and chiropractor. Both will be very important in building your car accident injury claim.
Cost of a Chiropractor After a Car Accident?
The cost of seeing a chiropractor after a car accident is a big concern for victims. Unfortunately, many general health care insurance plans do not cover chiropractic. The average cost of a chiropractor after a car accident is around $63 per visit. However, this number can be much more depending on the circumstances.
The good news is the cost of chiropractic treatment – like other physical therapy – will likely be covered by the at-fault party’s insurance company if you and your car accident injury lawyer can prove the treatment is necessary for the injuries suffered from the accident.
You will need:
- The initial report of the symptoms (both by your medical doctor and chiropractor)
- Records of all treatments rendered
- Documentation of all costs incurred from chiropractic treatment – in an itemized bill
Keep in mind, you may require chiropractic treatment after the settlement is reached. Frankly, some victims will need ongoing treatment for the rest of their lives after a spinal injury.
Your medical doctor and chiropractor will need to advise on a continued care plan for future treatment, and the estimated costs. This amount will be factored into your personal injury claim as an economic damage. Speak to a car accident injury attorney to learn more about this.
How Long Does Treatment Last with a Chiropractor After a Car Accident?
There is no definitive answer to this. Every car accident injury is different – and recovery is not always clear-cut. With a neck and back injury, victims do not typically get better overnight. The recovery process from these types of injuries tends to require prolonged treatment.
Going to the chiropractor after a car accident can help to shorten the recovery process. This may be in conjunction with other medical treatments recommended by your doctor.
The bottom line is the human body heals in different ways. Some victims may find the relief they need after only a few chiropractic treatments. Others may benefit from a chiropractor after a car accident for the rest of their lives.
When you speak with your primary care doctor and chiropractor, be open about how the treatment is affecting your injury. Both will advise you on the proper steps to take.
Seeking Justice for a Car Accident Injury
If you were injured in a car accident caused by another party, your recovery is the highest priority. Moreover, you deserve to be compensated for every expense incurred from the accident. This includes (but is not limited to):
- All medical/hospital bills
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced quality of life
The steps you take after a car accident are important to building a strong injury claim. Start by getting in touch with a car accident injury lawyer to understand your options. They will advise you to collect the preliminary information, which will likely include:
- The police report
- Insurance information (yours and the at-fault party’s)
- Any photos of the accident
- Witness contact information
- Assessment from the medical staff at the scene of the accident
- Your primary care doctor’s assessment
If you are seeking treatment from a chiropractor after a car accident, these costs would be factored into the claim. Keep in mind, talking to a personal injury attorney is very important in seeking justice after an accident.
You’re likely facing a car accident injury for the first time. These experts are trained to examine your situation from all angles to make sure you’re not leaving any recoupable expenses on the table.
The Bottom Line
Seeing a chiropractor after a car accident can be very helpful in alleviating pain and hastening your recovery. However, it’s important that you don’t rush into the treatment – no matter how painful your neck/back injury is.
You should always speak to your primary care doctor before getting any specialized treatment. Their professional recommendation will be crucial in your personal injury claim – as well as your recovery.
For any questions about car accident injury claims or seeking medical treatment, Midwest Injury Lawyers is here to point you in the right direction. We represent victims of car accidents in Illinois and Indiana.
Call our office at 312-786-5881, send an email to info@midwestinjurylawyers.com, or book a consultation online.