Most Auto Accident Injuries: 100% Covered, $0 Out-of-Pocket Cost*
Auto Accident FAQ
Answers to Common Questions About Chiropractic Care After a Car Accident
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
GETTING EVALUATED
The sooner, the better. Assuming you don’t require emergency medical attention, it’s important to be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider as soon as possible. Early evaluation allows your injuries to be properly diagnosed, documented, and treated before they have the opportunity to worsen.
At Northland Spine and Rehabilitation, we specialize in the evaluation and treatment of auto accident injuries. Dr. Blake Overly has completed postgraduate certification in Whiplash and Brain Injury Traumatology through the Spine Research Institute of San Diego, allowing our office to provide thorough examinations and evidence-based recommendations for patients injured in motor vehicle collisions.
The majority of injuries sustained in motor vehicle collisions involve the body’s soft tissues rather than broken bones. While some accidents can result in fractures, lacerations, or other serious injuries requiring emergency care, many patients experience injuries involving the muscles, ligaments, tendons, discs, and joints.
Common complaints include:
- Neck pain and whiplash
- Low back pain
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Shoulder pain
- Hip or knee pain
- Numbness or tingling into the arms or legs
Because these injuries are not always visible on the surface, a thorough examination is important to determine the extent of the damage and whether additional imaging is needed.
Delayed pain is extremely common after a motor vehicle collision.
Immediately following an accident, your body activates its natural “fight-or-flight” response, releasing adrenaline and other endorphins that temporarily mask pain. As those chemicals wear off over the next several hours or days, symptoms often begin to appear.
Additionally, injuries involving muscles, ligaments, discs, and other soft tissues frequently become more painful as inflammation develops. What initially feels like mild stiffness can progress into significant discomfort over the following days.
This is one of the main reasons we encourage patients to be evaluated promptly—even if they feel relatively well immediately after the accident.
Whiplash describes the rapid back-and-forth movement of the neck that commonly occurs during a motor vehicle collision. It’s actually a mechanism of injury rather than a specific diagnosis.
Common symptoms include:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Headaches
- Muscle soreness
- Reduced range of motion
- Pain radiating into the shoulders or arms
- Numbness or tingling
- Dizziness
- Tenderness around the neck and upper back
These symptoms often result from injury to the muscles, ligaments, discs, and joints of the cervical spine.
IMAGING AND TREATMENT
Possibly. Our philosophy is to order the right imaging at the right time based on your examination findings.
We have digital X-rays available in our office when they are clinically indicated. X-rays are excellent for evaluating fractures, alignment, and other bony abnormalities.
However, because most auto accident injuries involve soft tissues—including discs, muscles, ligaments, and nerves—an MRI is often the best imaging study when a more detailed evaluation is needed.
If advanced imaging is appropriate, we work with a trusted network of imaging centers to ensure you receive timely care and an accurate diagnosis.
Every injury—and every patient—is different.
Some patients begin feeling noticeably better within just a few visits, while others with more significant injuries require a longer course of treatment or additional medical care.
At Northland Spine and Rehabilitation, our philosophy is simple: provide no more treatment than necessary and no less than your injury requires.
If your recovery isn’t progressing as expected, we’ll discuss additional treatment options and, when appropriate, coordinate care with trusted medical specialists to ensure you receive the care that’s right for you.
Absolutely.
Your health always comes first. If your condition requires services beyond chiropractic care, we’ll help coordinate the next steps.
Over the years, we’ve developed a strong referral network that includes:
- Advanced imaging centers
- Pain management physicians
- Orthopedic specialists
- Neurologists
- Concussion and headache specialists
- Other healthcare providers when appropriate
Our goal is to ensure every patient receives the right care at the right time.
INSURANCE AND ATTORNEYS
There are several ways treatment may be covered after a motor vehicle accident, and the process can feel overwhelming if you’ve never been through it before. Our team is happy to explain your available options, review applicable insurance coverage, and help you understand the process from the very beginning.
Depending on the circumstances of your accident, medical expenses may be covered through the at-fault driver’s insurance, your own auto policy, or other available benefits. In many cases, we are also able to treat patients under a medical lien. This allows you to receive the care you need now while payment is deferred until your case has been resolved.
Our goal is to make the financial side of your recovery as straightforward and stress-free as possible.
Yes. We regularly work with personal injury attorneys and are happy to coordinate your care with your legal team if you choose to have representation.
That said, you do not need an attorney to receive treatment in our office.
Every accident is different, and the decision to hire an attorney is a personal one. Our role is to provide quality healthcare, answer your questions, and help you understand the treatment process so you can focus on your recovery.
TREATMENT AT OUR OFFICE
At Northland Spine and Rehabilitation, our goal is simple: provide personalized, honest care while helping you recover as quickly and safely as possible.
Dr. Blake Overly has focused on treating auto accident injuries for more than a decade. While we have extensive experience managing these cases, we aren’t an “auto injury mill.” We care for patients with a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions, which means every treatment plan is individualized—not built around a one-size-fits-all protocol.
You’ll never feel like just another appointment on the schedule. We take the time to explain your diagnosis, answer your questions, discuss your treatment options, and make sure you understand every recommendation before moving forward.
Being injured in a car accident is stressful enough. Our goal is to make the recovery process as clear, comfortable, and straightforward as possible so you can focus on getting back to your life.
If you have any information related to the accident, such as an insurance claim number, police report, or copy of your insurance card, please bring it with you to your first visit.
It is completely okay if you do not have everything available right away. Being involved in an accident can be stressful, and there is often a lot to keep track of in the first few days. We can help you understand what information may be needed and how soon we need to receive it.
Absolutely! That is part of the purpose of a first visit—to ask questions, discuss what you are experiencing, and determine whether treatment is appropriate.
In some cases, it may make sense to begin care right away. In others, we may recommend monitoring your symptoms, obtaining additional imaging, or returning later if pain persists or changes.
The goal of the first visit is not to assume that everyone needs treatment. It is to evaluate your situation and help you decide on the most appropriate next step.