If you are ever in a car accident, it is essential that you set yourself up to get the care you need. You might feel fine after the crash while your adrenaline is still pumping, and you might not think there is anything wrong. But, in the days after you may start feeling sore, and being in a lot of pain. Car accidents are a significant trauma for your body. You don’t want to overlook any symptoms.

Follow these steps after you are in a car accident:

1. Go to Urgent care, your primary doctor, or the ER within a week of your accident. This makes sure you don’t have any life-threatening injuries and also creates a record that you were in an accident and sought medical attention.
2. File a claim with MedPay with Your auto insurance if you have it. There is NO drawback to opening the claim with MedPay. You don’t even have to use it. Filing the claim will NOT raise your rates. The only thing that can be used against you is if you caused the accident. Even though the responsible party has insurance and even if you have an attorney, file a MedPay claim! Always file the MedPay claim! Learn more about why you need MedPay here.
3. Schedule an appointment with a chiropractor that is experienced in handling auto accident injuries. They will do a more comprehensive evaluation geared towards accident injuries than you will receive at urgent care or in the ER.
4. Get your referring physician to write a referral for orthopedic massage therapy. Orthopedic massage therapy is often the best treatment for musculoskeletal damage that results from a car accident. If you want your orthopedic massage therapy to be covered by insurance, it must be prescribed by a doctor.
5. Take your car to an auto body shop with good reviews and a good reputation in your community. We don’t recommend going to the place recommended by your insurance. That shop is likely under contract for lower rates and may not do as thorough of a job inspecting and estimating.
6. Recognize that you may be injured! Whether you feel it right away or not your body has been through trauma. You need to rest! Limit your activities as much as possible for the two weeks after the accident. At that point discuss your activity level with your treatment providers and make sure everything is okay.

What NOT to do right after the accident:

1. Tell an insurance adjuster you aren’t hurt or aren’t hurt that bad.
2. Wait more than two weeks to seek medical help.
3. Perform strenuous activities that could aggravate an injury you may not know you have.
4. Get physical therapy prior to seeing a chiropractor and massage therapist because it is much more effective if you graduate to PT after you begin to heal.
5. Post anything to your social media account that might indicate you are ok. Claim adjustors search those and can use them to deny payment for a treatment you may need.

Every car accident and car accident victim are different. It can be scary and confusing deciding who you need to call, and what to take care of first. That order will be different in each situation. Finding out what is covered by insurance, what you can and can’t do, and how to handle everything complicates an already stressful situation.

We want you to take care of yourself first. You can replace your car, but you can’t replace you! Call us today and ask to speak with our auto accident advocate. We help you deal with the details so you can focus on getting better. 916.488.4223