Been in an Accident?
The State of Kansas reports nearly 60,000 motor vehicle accidents every year. These range from simple fender benders to tragic accidents, with the highest percentage coming from distracted drivers. Regardless of the cause, people often report neck pain or back pain after the accidents.
It only takes a few miles per hour to cause whiplash, as simple as a fender bender. While some people experience pain immediately or over the next days, research shows that neck pain and back pain can develop over the course of a year from the car accident. The stretch on the tendons and ligaments may not immediately be painful, but as the body repairs the hidden damage it may manifest as pain down the line.
Early intervention is important. By the time pain develops, the condition has already been present for weeks or months and much more difficult to manage.
In the state of Kansas, every auto insurance policy carries coverages for chiropractic care. Whether you hit a deer or someone hits you, chiropractic care is available as part of your policy. There are a few things to keep in mind after you’ve been in an accident.
- Did you file a police report? Having a police report gives your insurance leverage against the other person’s insurance. This also removes issues from “he said, she said” in case the accident is complicated.
- Seek a consultation with a chiropractor. Chiropractors are experts when it comes to motor vehicle accident cases. A chiropractor will perform a free consultation, and if needed a full evaluation. Pain isn’t the only factor in care. The true goal is to make sure chronic issues don’t develop years down the line from the accident–we care about full stability, not a quick fix.
- Do you need an attorney? If you are the victim in the accident, an attorney can make sure you are wholly compensated. Yes, you want to have your vehicle fix and your medical bills covered, but there are also other unforeseen costs that are left on the table without an attorney. Insurance companies will do everything they can to pay as little as they can, even if it means not making sure you are “whole”.
We work with numerous personal injury attorneys in the Overland Park area, and have great working relationships. Our documentation and notes help the attorney get the best settlement for your case, and we do our work of getting you back to 100%. It’s important to have a chiropractor and attorney who work together to make your case successful on all fronts.
Don’t just take what the insurance offers on the first call! Talk with the experts and see your options, first. It’s not how your body feels right now, but how it will perform for you a few years down the line.
