If you are in an accident—even if it’s a minor fender bender and you don’t seem to have any injuries—schedule a chiropractic visit as soon as possible. Just because you can’t see any cuts or bruises, you may have an internal injury. Internal injuries can creep up on you when you least expect it. For your sake, and the sake of those you care about, seek immediate care after an accident.
Many people do not experience pain right after an accident. The body and mind are both in a state of shock. After a day or so, you may start to feel pain in your neck, shoulders, or back. You may also feel dizzy and have an overall feeling of discomfort. Soft tissue injuries, associated with whiplash, can take weeks to cause pain. When the pain suddenly appears, you will have to pay for treatment yourself even though the accident caused your injuries.
Legal Consequences of Walking Away
If you disregard your health after an accident, you miss the opportunity to have the treatment you need when symptoms finally arrive. For example, you can’t file a lawsuit if you don’t have a record of having seen a doctor or chiropractor after the accident.
Why Choose a Chiropractor?
Whiplash is a common injury after an accident, but it is not the only one. Accident victims may also suffer from limited mobility, a stiff neck, and swelling. Not only is it essential to get immediate help but to choose the right chiropractor to provide the care you need. Chiropractors are trained to handle the legal paperwork associated with auto accidents. A good chiropractor will make sure that medical records and other documents are submitted promptly so that you don’t have to worry about how to cover your medical costs.
Keep in mind that injuries you suffer in an auto accident can cause chronic pain as time goes on. For example, the neck pain associated with a whiplash injury may continue to bother you years after the accident and, if not addressed, may mean the need for increasingly expensive medical treatment, including neck surgery. You don’t want to be burdened by future medical
Other reasons to choose a chiropractor include:
You get non-invasive treatment.
Chiropractors are trained to work with the body in a natural, non-intrusive way–their goal is to allow the body to heal itself. Rather than dealing with painkillers that mask symptoms, chiropractic adjustments go straight to the source of the problem. By seeing a chiropractor as soon as possible after an accident, you may prevent the need for surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation down the road.
Chiropractic care reduces inflammation.
Chiropractic care is holistic. The term, “holistic,” means that your whole body undergoes treatment when you get chiropractic adjustments. Not only do you hurt less, but you also start to feel better overall. Less inflammation means that you can move more easily and your mood improves.
You don’t have to worry about the “legal” stuff.
After an accident, one of the biggest worries most of us have is how to get the insurance company to cover our medical costs. If you take action by seeing a chiropractor immediately, your accident attorney is more likely to help you make a claim. Your chiropractor and attorney will work cooperatively to ensure that you receive reimbursement for any medical costs. If, however, you are not proactive about your treatment, you may end up with a claim denial.
Directly after an accident, the immediate response if you are not thinking about injuries, is to worry about the damage to your car. Don’t overlook the damage to your body. See a chiropractor and get back on the road to a healthy body and a worry-free mind.