Seeking medical treatment following an auto accident is one of the first things most accident victims should do. Many accident victims are taken to the emergency room where they are assessed for auto accident injuries and are informed of the appropriate treatment plan to help them recover. Even if you don’t believe you’ve been injured or you believe that your injuries don’t warrant medical attention, you should still seek medical help as soon as possible after an accident as many injuries can take hours or even days to make themselves known.
While you may eventually need care from a car accident chiropractor, it’s important to first see a primary care physician or other general doctor who can perform a complete bodily assessment. This doctor can inform you of whether a chiropractor is the best option for you and may even recommend a chiropractor who specializes in auto accident injuries.
In most cases, it’s recommended to see a chiropractor within 72 hours of the accident. This will help support your insurance claim when seeking compensation for your injuries and medical bills and will also ensure your injuries do not get worse. If you’re unsure whether chiropractic care is the best option for you, hiring an auto injury lawyer can help you decide whether medical care is necessary in your particular situation.
Injuries That May Require Chiropractic Care
Car crashes can result in a variety of injuries that may require chiropractic care. Even minor accidents such as fender benders can cause injuries that can lead to chronic pain if not treated. Examples of the types of injuries that may require medical treatment from a chiropractor include:
- Whiplash
- Soft tissue injuries
- Injuries to ligaments
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Spine injuries
- Chronic soreness
Whiplash injuries are one of the most common injuries that individuals seek chiropractic care for. Whiplash symptoms can take up to 48 hours to be felt, so even if you don’t feel injured, having a doctor assess you can be very beneficial. Symptoms of whiplash may include neck pain, headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, tingling or burning sensations, and shoulder and back pain.
Paying for Chiropractor Bills After a Car Accident
If a driver is found at fault for a car accident, their insurance company is typically responsible for covering the medical expenses of the injured party, including chiropractic bills. This responsibility is a part of the state’s personal injury protection (PIP) and bodily injury liability (BIL) coverage mandates.
Personal Injury Protection (PIP)
Florida is a no-fault state, which means that regardless of who caused the accident, each driver’s own PIP insurance covers their initial medical expenses. PIP covers up to $10,000 in medical bills, which can include chiropractic care, for injuries resulting from the accident. However, if the medical expenses exceed this amount or if the injuries are severe, the at-fault driver’s insurance may need to cover additional costs.
Bodily Injury Liability (BIL)
When injuries are serious or exceed the PIP coverage limits, the at-fault driver’s BIL insurance comes into play. BIL insurance covers medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages for the injured party. This can include extensive chiropractic treatments, rehabilitation, and other necessary medical services to recover from accident-related injuries.
What Type Of Chiropractor Should I See?
There are two different types of chiropractors that can help provide pain relief for your injuries. The type of chiropractor you see will largely depend on your specific injuries and symptoms. The two types of chiropractors include:
Musculo-skeletal chiropractor: A musculo-skeletal chiropractor is typically the most common chiropractic doctor seen by accident victims. These medical professionals are primarily focused on helping patients find symptom relief and pain management. Symptoms these doctors treat include back pain, spinal cord injuries, neck pain, headaches, and joint pain. Musculo-skeletal chiropractors provide treatments that may include spinal manipulations, physical therapy, tens units, adjustments, and laser acupuncture.
Wellness chiropractor: Wellness chiropractors are primarily concerned with correcting nerve interference that may be affecting the spinal vertebrae and body functions. Treatment typically offered by these medical professionals include spinal adjustments, physical therapy, and exercises to improve range of motion.
Our Featured Case Results
Types Of Chiropractic Treatment
There are a number of different types of chiropractic treatment that may be use during your healing process. The type of treatment you receive will be based on your injuries and unique needs. Common therapies used in a chiropractic setting include:
- Chiropractic adjustments
- Stretching
- Spinal traction
- Transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS)
- Soft tissue therapy
- Muscle stimulation
- Ultrasounds
- Heat therapy
- Ice therapy
- Lifestyle modification counseling
- Posture correction
- Flexion distraction
- Spinal manipulation
- Spinal mobilization
Your chiropractor will likely create a unique treatment plan after performing diagnostic tests like x-rays during your first visit. It’s important to follow through on all of your appointments to ensure your healing process is supported and you get the best chance possible to recover from your accident injuries.
Will My Insurance Company Cover Chiropractic Treatment?
If you were at fault for the accident and you have personal injury insurance as part of your auto accident coverage, your insurance company will likely cover chiropractic care that is deemed medically necessary following a car crash. If another driver was at-fault for the auto collision, you will need to file a personal injury claim with their insurance provider so that your medical bills can be covered under the other motorist’s liability insurance.
Unfortunately, some insurance companies will work hard to dispute chiropractic treatment by claiming that it is not medically necessary. This can leave accident victims with little or no coverage for chiropractic care and result in thousands of dollars in medical bills to get the treatment they need and deserve.
We Are Nationally Awarded Lawyers
Contact Florin|Roebig Car Accident Lawyers
If chiropractic care has been deemed medically necessary for your auto accident injuries and your or the at-fault driver’s insurance company is refusing to pay for your medical treatment, consider hiring a personal injury lawyer who can fight on your behalf. The attorneys at Florin|Roebig are highly experienced in these types of cases and will work to ensure your rights are upheld and you get the compensation you need and deserve following your accident. Give us a call today for a confidential and free consultation.