8 Things you need to know if you are in an auto accident:
1- Get checked by chiropractor. The Journal of the Medical Association states the best treatment for whiplash is mobilization and manipulation therapy.
In a study done by Kirkaldy-Willis M.D., he states, “These discussions clearly show that there is a component of motion that cannot be properly addressed by traditional medicine alone and that this component of motion can be properly addressed by osseous joint manipulation. Therefore, traditional chiropractic osseous joint manipulation is the treatment of choice for the remodeling of periarticular soft tissues that have sustained an injury.”
That is a complicated way of saying that going to a chiropractor is the best way to get the care that you should have if you have been in a car accident.
Pain killers and muscles relaxers just cover up symptoms. Even a 5 MPH rear end accident can cause neurological damage. This is considered a low impact accident and there is usually very little damage to the vehicle. We have over 15 years of experience with auto accident cases and have seen thousands of cases and helped them get their life back.
2- Symptoms of whiplash or injury. Here are some of the common symptoms that you could have been injured. Again, even if you don’t have symptoms you should be checked because the symptoms can be delayed. We talk more about that on #4.
– Neck Pain – Swelling
– Neck Stiffness – Blurred Vision
– Stiffness in joints – numbness and tingling
– Headaches – Back Pain – Shoulder Pain
– Limited range of motion – Bruising
– Muscle soreness – Muscle spams
3- No out of pocket expense. You accident coverage will cover 100% if it isn’t your fault. If the accident is your fault, the law states you have a minimum of $3,000 coverage. Depending on your policy you can have up to $10,000 of coverage.
4- Symptoms can be delays by weeks and sometimes months. Sometimes you can have no immediate symptoms after the accident. Sometimes it the adrenaline that can cause you to think your fine and your not. I personally was in an accident and I thought I was totally fine. However, about 1 1/2 months later I started to get neck pain and I now deal with it off and on for the past 23 years.
5- Scar tissue starts building as little as 3 days. Scar tissue is like cement in your tissues and it can start to build up as little as 3 days. You usually have a 14 day window that if you get “proper” treatment you can minimize any permanent damage. You see, scar tissue is very disorganized and your tissues are very organized. This is why people can have permanent problems after an accident. Without proper treatment it can also lead to permanent arthritis called Post Traumatic Arthritis. Don’t think your pain will go away on its own.
6- What if only minor damage to the vehicle? Documented studies done by Charles Carroll, M.D., Paul McAfee, M.D. and Lee Riley, M.D. revealed that:“The amount of damage to the automobile bears little relation to the force applied to the cervical spine (neck) of the occupants.
What this means is your injuries have no relations to amount of damage sustained to the vehicle. In fact, many injuries in accidents have very little or no damage to the vehicle.
7- I only have sore muscles and my doctor said it’s only a sprain and or strain and I’ll be ok?
Ian MacNab, F.R.C.S. (A world renowned research scientist) in a 1982 study reported, “Using anthropomorphic Dummies, he(another researcher) showed that in a 15 mph collision, the head would accelerate with the force of 10 G’s. Victims of rear-end collisions were indeed subjected to severe strains of the neck.”
What this means, it can definitely be a bigger problem than what your symptoms are currently showing. Again, this is what happened to me and all the doctors said I’d be fine, I thought I’d be fine, and clearly 20 plus years later…I’m not fine.
8- Do I need an attorney? No, however we recommend that you seek out a qualified experienced attorney soon after the accident. Many times an insurance company will deny the benefits that should be available to you. Unfortunately, that practice is all to common! Insurance companies are trying to protect their bottom line, and not your rights. The judicial system is just too complicated to fight for your rights by yourself. Because The doctor can assist you in choosing an attorney who fights for you.
To schedule an appointment you can contact us at 801-776-3200, 2297 N Hill Field Rd. Layton, UT 84041.