Why you should seek care following a motor vehicle accident
Say you’re stopped at a traffic light and the driver behind you doesn’t slow down in time. They end up running into you at a low speed, say 10mph. You’re startled and annoyed, but when you exit your car and look at your bumper you see just a small scratch and you’re relieved. You exchange information with the other driver and carry on with your day. However, later that day you strangely start to feel tightness and pain in your neck and mid back. A dull headache sets-in as well. This is commonly how many people begin to realize that they have suffered a condition called “whiplash”. This often accompanies low back pain or pain of the extremities, as well.
Commonly, people feel fine at the scene, but in hours or days afterwards, inflammation and stiffness set-in. This is when many people begin to experience pain and reduced physical function, ranging from headaches, to low back stiffness, to even numbness, tingling, and other neurologic deficits. The sooner after an accident you seek care, the better your prognosis is for a fast, full recovery. Those who wait weeks to get treated often have a much longer road to restoring full function and getting out of pain (but, yes, you should still seek care if this is you). Remember, chiropractic care, including spinal and extremity adjustments, Active Release Technique® soft tissue therapy, and Graston Technique, are extremely effective in relieving pain and restoring function caused by most motor vehicle accident-related injuries.
Including getting medical attention, there are several other important steps you can take at the scene of an accident and shortly thereafter.
- Safety: Make sure other occupants of the vehicle are safe and make sure the scene is safe. Stop as closely and as safely as you can to the site of the collision and be sure to turn off your vehicle. Call 911, except in the most-minor of accidents. Also, do not remove any injured people from the vehicle. Wait until medical personnel arrive.
1a. Work with the Police: make sure everyone remains at the scene until the police arrive. Answer the officers’ questions and cooperate with them.
- Record Information: Be sure to obtain the following items from involved parties:
- Name, address, and phone number (also, name of registered owner of the vehicle if different than the driver)
- Make, model, and year of his/her car
- Insurance Company name, agent name, and policy number
- Employer and work phone
- Driver’s injuries or pain complaints, if any
- Any statements made at the scene, such as “I didn’t see you” or any apologies made
- Seek Medical Attention: Remember to seek medical care soon after an accident (chiropractic is highly recommended for these types of injuries). It is also worth noting that insurance adjustors are trained to deny claims and one common denial argument is that a person waited a long time (maybe weeks) after a crash to seek care. And as discussed above, you will be physically better off if you seek treatment sooner rather than later.
- Keep a Diary: First make notes about the collision as soon as you leave the scene and reach your destination. Even low speed collisions can leave you mentally or emotionally shaken, so be sure to record as many details as you can remember about the accident. In the next several days and even weeks, keep a diary about how you are affected due to pain or what physical limitations have arisen after the crash. Also, be sure to discuss these with your chiropractor or another trusted medical practitioner.
- Consider speaking with a personal injury attorney: Years ago, when I was new to chiropractic practice, I never recommended this. However, having worked with numerous people following motor vehicle accidents, I now generally recommend at least a consultation with an attorney, which is always free to you. I do not force anyone to do this, but those who do are generally thankful they took my advice. Personal injury attorneys are on your side. They will make sure insurance companies do what you are paying them to do (pay for medical care and fix your car) and they can also maximize the value of your claim. Working with an attorney does not mean you are suing the other driver (in fact, that is unusual), but it does mean that you have an advocate to guide you through the insurance and payment process.
As the weather turns colder and rainier in the fall and winter, please drive carefully whether you are on a side street or on the freeway. If at any point you are in a motor vehicle accident, please follow the steps above and make an appointment at Barlas Chiropractic for an examination and treatment. Regardless of whether you are at fault for the incident, seeking care is important. Plus, your own auto-insurance will likely pay for medical care, regardless of fault. When making the appointment, please inform our office that you have been in an auto accident so that we can streamline the process and allot enough time.
To schedule an appointment or with further questions, call Barlas Chiropractic at 206-954-7479, email us at drjafferbarlas@gmail.com, or message us through our website contact page.
Drive safely out there!
Yours in health,
Seattle Chiropractor
(206) 954-7479