Frequently Asked Questions - When To Consider Therapy After A Car Accident?
This is very important and is a time-sensitive matter as all patients should seek medical attention as soon as possible after a car accident. It’s very important not only for the patient’s recovery but also for receiving the maximum amount of compensation for the insurance company. Not seeking medical attention as soon as possible could be a huge mistake for your health and your legal claim. It is strongly recommended that after an accident you get seen by a doctor as injuries sometimes are not obvious and you can start feeling pain a few days after the crash. Few individuals do not feel pain right away as the adrenaline rushes through your body and it causes you not to have a good sense of what might be in pain. The adrenaline that your body releases might try to control your feelings making it even worse later on down the road. Seeking medical attention is imperative to make sure that these symptoms do not become chronic.
Common injuries after a car accident may include the following:
- Neck Pain
- Back Pain
- Headaches
- Shoulder Pain
- Knee Pain
- Whiplash
- Arm Pain
- Leg Pain
Of all these injuries, whiplash is the most reported after a car accident. Whiplash is a neck injury due to forceful, rapid back and forth movement of the neck.
Common symptoms associated with whiplash may include the following:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Weakness
- Stiffness to neck, back, arms and even the face
- Difficulty sleeping
- Concentration difficulties
- Soreness
- Radiating pain and numbness into arms, neck, back and legs
- Anxiety
Although you may not feel immediately pain or symptoms, it is very important to seek medical attention as soon as possible after a car accident collision. Not seeking medical treatment may bring more problems as time goes on.
Why a Chiropractor or Physical Therapy?
A study conducted by the National Institute for Health reveals that spinal manipulation or mobilization is an effective treatment for adults with acute, subacute, chronic low back pain, migraine, cervicogenic headaches and dizziness. A chiropractor or a physical therapist will work with the patient one on one to obtain a comprehensive head to toe analysis. Their goal will be to develop a treatment plan by gathering your medical history, run some test and perform a throughout examination and create a custom treatment plan that is unique to your condition and your needs.
A chiropractor or physical therapist will use a treatment method from stretching and applying pressure to specific joints, which are usually performed by hands with a gentle massage. The purpose of this treatment is to improve joint motion and function. These manipulations are often performed in the spine, but other parts of the body can also be treated. Manipulative treatment can correct an injury effectively and restore the body’s optimal function if combine with other soft tissue techniques and therapeutic exercises.
Throughout your treatment program, your doctor may incorporate techniques such as the following:
- Custom exercise and postural training- they will focus on your neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain, spine, and weakness.
- Manual therapy- this will help to mobilize the joints, promote healing, reduce inflammation, and decrease scar tissues.
Your chiropractor and or physical therapist will work on the areas of your body that are weakened to make sure that your symptoms will not be long-lasting and that you walk away worry-free about re-injuring yourself.
How can you prevent further damage?
After a car accident, it is strongly recommended to seek medical attention to help prevent secondary injuries. Chiropractic care and or physical therapy can help you prevent additional harm that may have resulted from your injuries following a car accident. You can also prevent the need for surgery. There are going to be some situations where surgery might be inevitable, but chiropractic care and or physical therapy treatment can delay or eliminate the need for surgery.
Who is responsible for paying my medical bills in a car accident?
An automobile accident can be costly and can leave you with a lot of expenses. You may have to visit the hospital and you can easily get stuck with an emergency room bill, emergency physician bill, and or radiology bill. Medical bills can add up quickly as you need to seek medical attention due to an accident.
Chiropractic treatment and or physical therapy could be costly but is an integral part to your recovery. You might be asking yourself- Who is responsible for paying my medical bills? You may submit your medical bills under your claim. Those bills fall under the category of medical care and you may also include them in your demand for compensation after the accident. The State of Florida is a No-Fault State and your own insurance will cover your medical expenses up to the standard limit, such as $10,000. It doesn’t mean that the at-fault party’s insurance company is not going to pay for your expenses if your medical expenses exceed this limit. The at-fault insurance company will offer you some type of compensation in addition to any additional medical bills that are not covered under your own insurance coverage. Trial Pro, PA can help you determine if what the at-fault party’s insurance company is offering is reasonable and just. Most insurance companies may try to offer you a low-ball settlement amount. Trial Pro, PA recommends that you should never accept a settlement if you don’t speak to a personal injury attorney first. Most of the time the at-fault party’s insurance company will make a settlement offer three times higher than the initial offer, which will be helpful when covering your medical expenses. Hopefully, you will have a personal injury attorney handling all communications for you, so you can focus on your treatment and recovery.
Your legal team’s goal is to provide you with the maximum compensation for your injuries. Your legal team will fight to put you in the same financial position that you were before the accident happened.