You Were In A Motor Vehicle Accident… Now What?
Motor vehicle accidents can be incredibly scary, stressful, and confusing to deal with. We’ve put together some tips to help you navigate the post-accident waters and get the chiropractic care you need.
At A Glance - What Should You Do After A Motor Vehicle Accident?
First things first:
Do you or your passengers need emergency medical services? If so, call 911 right away.
Do you need to call for police services?
Next steps:
Were there other people involved? Make sure to exchange insurance information with them.
Did you call the police? Get the name of the officer and the case number.
Take photos of the scene, your vehicle, and any other vehicles involved in the accident.
Starting The Insurance Process
Contact your insurance company and notify them that you were injured in an accident.
Your insurance provider will then start a Personal Injury Protection (PIP) claim for your injuries as well as a claim for the damage to the vehicle. These are different and it is important to open a PIP claim if you are wanting to seek medical care for injuries sustained in the accident.
This claim will get assigned a claim number and an adjuster - make sure to get this information from your insurance provider as it will be the contact person for you and your medical provider.
Scheduling an appointment
When you contact us to book an appointment, we’ll need to know the following things in addition to your basic contact info:
That you were in a motor vehicle accident
The date of the accident
Your claim number
Your insurance provider
Before your appointment
Patients coming to us for injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident will need to do some additional paperwork before their appointment. This will be emailed to you, can all be done online, and will take approximately 30 minutes.
At your appointment
You’ll go through our basic new patient process where we will be asking you detailed questions about the incident and get a detailed report of your injuries.
Some injuries may require imaging or additional testing. We will refer you to the appropriate facility to obtain the needed imaging or tests.
After the appointment
We will take care of billing your insurance, so all you have to do is rest and take care of yourself until the next appointment with us!
Motor Vehicle Accident Frequently Asked Questions
What is PIP?
PIP, or Personal Injury Protection, is the coverage in your car insurance policy covering your medical expenses for injuries sustained in an accident (regardless of fault). In Oregon, drivers must carry a minimum of $15,000 of personal injury protection (PIP).
Oregon is considered a no-fault state, which means that your insurance company is required to cover any medical expenses that you acquire as the result of the car accident. This is true, no matter who is at fault in the accident.
How long do you have to file an injury claim with your insurance due to a car accident?
Even though you have up to a year to claim injury and file a report to your car insurance, you should report right away. After reporting the accident, you’ll get a claim number, which will be used to get your treatment covered by your insurance.
How long do you have to see a doctor after an auto accident?
You can legally wait up to a year to seek treatment for any injuries sustained in an accident. Be aware, though, that the longer you wait, the harder it will be to correlate your symptoms to the accident. It is important to get evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible to ensure you get all of the benefits of the Personal Injury Protection (PIP).
Who pays for my chiropractor after an accident?
The advantage of Oregon being a no-fault state is that you will only have to deal with your insurance company, not the other parties involved. Once you report your injuries to your insurance provider, you will receive a claim number. This claim number will be given to your chiropractor, or other medical providers, for billing purposes.
After your appointments, the chiropractor’s office will submit billing directly to your insurance. You might be responsible for a deductible - this depends on your specific policy. When you request an appointment, we will find out your plan’s specifics and we will communicate that with you.
Should I see a doctor after my car crash?
It is common to experience symptoms such as: headaches, neck pain and/or stiffness, low back pain and/or stiffness, jaw pain and/or stiffness, etc. Some studies indicate neck trauma can occur even with speeds as low as 5 mph. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your insurance company to get a claim started. Once you have a claim number, you can contact our office to schedule an appointment.
What kind of doctor should I see after a car accident?
It is your right to seek treatment from the provider of your choice. However, chiropractors are a great choice because they have extensive training in treating musculoskeletal injuries. The joints of the spine as well as the soft tissue that surrounds the spine (muscles, ligaments, and fascia) are the areas often injured in a motor vehicle accident.
These types of injuries typically respond well to chiropractic treatment. Our goal is to restore joints' proper function and surrounding soft tissue to decrease pain and return patients to pre injury status. Our process integrates massage, chiropractic adjustments, and therapeutic exercises so that your body can heal and return to pre injury status.
What to do after a car accident?
Was anyone seriously injured? Do you need police or medical personnel? Make sure to call 911 before doing anything else. After everyone is safe and tended to, exchange insurance and contact information with the other parties. It would also help if you took pictures of the vehicles and accident site.
Make sure to be safe if you’re on the road with traffic! Once you’re safely home, call your insurance company and start an injury claim - they’ll give you a claim number to use for your medical care. Give us this claim number when booking an appointment. For more info about the appointment process, you can read our new patient process here.
How long should you be sore after a car accident?
The amount of time you’ll experience pain after an accident will depend on the severity of the accident, but it’s not uncommon to be sore even after a minor accident. There is an immense amount of force traveling through the joints during a car crash, so it’s good to see a chiropractor even if you don’t think you were injured. They will be able to diagnose any issues and speed up the rate of recovery.
What to expect physically after a car accident?
After an accident, you might experience soreness, headaches, pain in the shoulder, neck, upper or lower back, knees, or elbows.
How often do auto accident settlements exceed the policy limits?
Chiropractic care is one of the most cost-efficient treatments for recovery after a motor vehicle accident. It’s important to tell your chiropractor about all the care you’ve received after your car accident, including an ambulance ride or emergency room/urgent care visit.
If you are concerned about meeting your policy limits we recommend you contact your adjustor and seek representation from a lawyer to discuss your options.
How are medical bills paid after a car accident?
Your personal injury protection policy will cover your medical bills, even if you’re not at fault. Whoever you choose as your medical provider will directly bill your insurance provider.
Who pays medical bills in a car accident?
If you have a personal injury policy on your insurance, your insurance provider will pay up to your personal injury limit.
What to do after a car accident injury?
If your injury was significant, please make sure to go to the ER. If not, chiropractors are a great option for car accident injuries because they’re a portal of injury.
This means that you don’t need a medical doctor's referral, and the chiropractor can take care of imaging needs and rule out fractures, dislocations, etc. Unlike chiropractors, Physical Therapists do need a medical doctor's referral to examine and treat a patient.
After an accident, how to deal with insurance?
After an accident, call your insurance provider to report the accident and injury. They’ll provide you with a claim number - this is what you’ll report to your chiropractor to get your care covered.
How long should I go to the chiropractor after an accident?
The amount of time you need to see a chiropractor depends on the severity of your injuries. If you suffered a mild strain, treatment might take 6-8 weeks. If the injury was more severe, you might need 3, 4, 6 months or more before reaching pre injury status.
What doctor to see after a car accident?
Chiropractors are among the best doctors to see after a car accident because they specialize in musculoskeletal injuries - the most typical injuries caused by car crashes. As an added bonus, chiropractic care is incredibly cost - effective, meaning you’ll get more care within your policy limits.