Car Accident Injury Treatment – Frequently Asked Questions

What are common car accident injuries?

Car accidents can affect the muscles, ligaments, joints, discs, and nerves throughout the body. Whiplash is one of the most common car accident injuries and occurs when the head and neck move rapidly back and forth during a collision.

Other common accident-related injuries and conditions include:

• Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar sprains and strains

• Neck and back pain

• Shoulder and rotator cuff injuries

• Headaches

• Muscle spasms and stiffness

• Disc injuries

• Sciatica and radiating pain

• Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs

• Hip, knee, and sacroiliac joint pain

• Reduced range of motion

• Difficulty sitting, standing, walking, or lifting

PrimeCare Chiropractic & Physical Therapy performs a thorough examination to evaluate pain, mobility, neurological symptoms, and functional limitations following a collision. Injuries requiring care outside the scope of chiropractic treatment will be referred for appropriate medical evaluation.

What symptoms can develop after a car accident?

Car accident symptoms vary depending on the force and direction of the collision, the areas affected, and the patient’s overall health.

Common symptoms include:

• Neck pain or stiffness

• Middle or lower back pain

• Headaches

• Shoulder or arm pain

• Muscle tightness or spasms

• Reduced spinal or joint mobility

• Pain with sitting, standing, walking, or lifting

• Numbness, tingling, or radiating pain

• Difficulty sleeping

• Pain during work or everyday activities

• Fatigue or difficulty maintaining posture

Some symptoms begin immediately, while others may develop hours or days after the accident. Schedule an evaluation if you experience pain, stiffness, reduced movement, or neurological symptoms following a collision.

Should I get checked if the accident seemed minor?

Yes. Even a low-speed collision may place significant stress on the neck, back, shoulders, and other joints. The absence of immediate pain does not necessarily mean that no musculoskeletal injury occurred.

An early evaluation can identify areas of pain, restricted movement, muscular guarding, weakness, or nerve irritation. It also helps establish an appropriate treatment plan before symptoms begin interfering with work, sleep, exercise, or routine daily activities.

When should I seek emergency medical care?

Chiropractic care is not a substitute for emergency medical treatment. Call 911 or visit an emergency department immediately if you experience symptoms such as:

• Loss of consciousness

• Confusion or unusual drowsiness

• A severe or worsening headache

• Repeated vomiting

• Seizures

• Chest pain or difficulty breathing

• Severe abdominal pain

• New or progressive weakness

• Loss of coordination or difficulty walking

• Loss of bowel or bladder control

• Significant bleeding

• A suspected fracture or dislocation

Other serious symptoms or medical emergencies may occur after a collision. This list is not exhaustive and is provided for general informational purposes only. If you believe you may be experiencing a medical emergency or are unsure about the severity of your symptoms, call 911 or seek immediate evaluation at the nearest emergency department.

After emergency conditions have been evaluated and stabilized, chiropractic care may be considered for appropriate musculoskeletal injuries.

How can chiropractic care help after a car accident?

Chiropractic care focuses on accident-related musculoskeletal pain, restricted joint mobility, muscular tension, weakness, and functional limitations.

After completing an examination, Jin Jong, DC, develops an individualized treatment plan based on the patient’s injuries, symptoms, activity level, occupational demands, and recovery goals. Treatment may include:

• Chiropractic adjustments when clinically appropriate

• Manual therapy and myofascial techniques

• Trigger point therapy

• Therapeutic exercise

• Neuromuscular rehabilitation

• Postural and movement training

• Electrical muscle stimulation

• Therapeutic ultrasound

• Kinesiology taping

• Cold or heat therapy

The goals of care are to reduce pain, improve mobility, restore strength and function, and help the patient safely return to work and normal daily activities.

What happens during the first car accident evaluation?

Your first visit begins with a detailed discussion of the collision, your symptoms, previous injuries, medical history, work duties, and functional limitations.

The examination may include:

• Spinal and joint range-of-motion testing

• Postural and gait assessment

• Muscle and soft-tissue evaluation

• Orthopedic testing

• Neurological examination

• Strength and sensory testing

• Assessment of your ability to perform daily or occupational movements

Based on the findings, Dr. Jong will determine whether chiropractic treatment is appropriate. Diagnostic imaging or referral to another healthcare provider may be recommended when clinically necessary.

Do you work with personal injury attorneys and accept auto insurance?

Yes. PrimeCare Chiropractic & Physical Therapy works with personal injury attorneys and accepts Letters of Protection (LOPs) for qualifying car accident and personal injury cases, subject to case review.

We also accept eligible Personal Injury Protection (PIP) and Medical Payments (MedPay) benefits available through a patient’s own auto insurance policy. Depending on the policy, these benefits may help pay for accident-related medical treatment whether the collision was caused by the patient or another driver.

Our office welcomes car accident patients in a variety of situations, including:

• Patients represented by a personal injury attorney

• Patients receiving treatment under an approved Letter of Protection

• Patients handling an auto insurance claim without an attorney

• Patients using available PIP benefits

• Patients using available MedPay benefits

Our team can help verify available PIP or MedPay benefits and explain the documentation and billing process. Coverage, benefit limits, exclusions, and payment arrangements vary by insurance policy and individual claim. Verification of benefits does not guarantee payment.

Whether you are working with an attorney, managing your claim independently, or using your own auto insurance benefits, our primary focus is providing appropriate treatment for your injuries and helping you work toward recovery.

Do I need an attorney before scheduling treatment?

No. You do not need to have an attorney before scheduling an evaluation at PrimeCare Chiropractic & Physical Therapy.

If you already have a personal injury attorney, your law firm may contact our office regarding records, billing, treatment updates, and possible LOP arrangements. If you do not have an attorney, you may still schedule an evaluation and use available auto insurance benefits or discuss other payment arrangements with our office.

PrimeCare Chiropractic & Physical Therapy does not determine legal fault or provide legal advice.

What should I bring to my first appointment?

Please bring any information available regarding your accident and insurance claim, including:

• A photo ID

• Auto insurance information

• Claim number

• Adjuster’s name and contact information

• Accident or police report, if available

• Attorney information, if represented

• Letter of Protection, if applicable

• Emergency room or urgent care records

• Imaging reports or other relevant medical records

• A list of current medications

Do not delay scheduling solely because one or more of these documents are unavailable. Our office can explain which information is needed for your particular case.

How long will car accident treatment take?

The length and frequency of treatment vary depending on the nature and severity of the injuries, examination findings, neurological symptoms, response to care, occupational demands, and pre-existing health conditions.

Some patients improve within several weeks, while others with more significant injuries may require a longer treatment and rehabilitation period. Progress is monitored through periodic re-evaluations, and the treatment plan may be adjusted as the patient improves.

If symptoms fail to improve as expected or neurological findings worsen, diagnostic imaging or referral for pain management, physical therapy, orthopedic evaluation, or another appropriate medical service may be recommended.

What are the risks of ignoring car accident symptoms?

Not every car accident injury becomes chronic, but unresolved pain, stiffness, weakness, or restricted movement may interfere with work, sleep, exercise, and daily activities.

Patients may also begin compensating for painful movements or avoiding use of an injured area. These changes can contribute to muscular imbalance, reduced mobility, weakness, and persistent functional limitations.

An appropriate evaluation can identify musculoskeletal injuries, determine whether chiropractic treatment is suitable, and recognize symptoms requiring medical referral.

Why choose PrimeCare Chiropractic & Physical Therapy?

PrimeCare Chiropractic & Physical Therapy provides individualized car accident and persona