What kind of symptoms are you having after your car crash? If you are experiencing any of the following, you should take the steps we’ve laid out here to give yourself the best chance of recovery and claim coverage:

• Headaches: This is highly common after a car accident. Schedule an appointment at Shephard Chiro for assessment.
• Dizziness: If you are suffering from dizziness or vertigo, it’s imperative to seek care; you may have a brain injury.
• Vision problems: Blurred vision or double vision are also an indication that you may have a brain injury.
• Neck Pain: Along with stiffness, this can be a telltale sign of whiplash. This should definitely be treated.
• Back pain: This may be a sign of injury to the spine, the discs (herniation), or the soft tissue around the spine. Check-in with a chiropractor to get realigned and ensure your back is in working order and doesn’t need further treatment.
• Swelling: Icing the area can help bring down any swelling caused by the accident.
• Bruising: Anywhere the body experienced physical trauma, bruising could appear—on the chest from the seat belt, on the forearms from the steering wheel, on the head from the airbag or window. Time should heal these tender areas, but paying close attention to those spots on the body is a good idea when you see your provider.
• Soreness: This can last for up to six weeks after your accident—but you should seek care right away.

Note: This list of car accident symptoms is not exhaustive, by any means. Be aware of your body’s usual rhythms and patterns. If something is off or in pain, reach out to your provider. If you do nothing, there’s no room for improvement.

If you’re experiencing the symptoms above, you’ll need to follow a few steps to ensure you make physical improvements and your insurance is as cooperative as possible.

Step 1 – Open a personal injury claim with your insurance

Because they will be the ones paying for your medical expenses, you’ll need to contact your personal insurance company. Reach out to your representative. Don’t: admit fault, describe your injuries, say anything on the record, or speculate about what happened. Be concise and tell them the facts about the accident and the care you are seeking.

If, at the crash site, you’re advised to immediately seek medical care, do so. Medical personnel have experience with car accidents and are there to help.

Step 2 – Call your medical provider (chiropractor) for an evaluation

As soon as you’re able, contact your medical provider to get a full exam. A chiropractor is best for non-emergent treatment so that you can identify misalignments and any other injuries that will impact your day-to-day life. Give your provider all the details of your accident along with your symptoms, even if they seem minimal at the time. Prevention is always the best mindset to have. If possible, go to a medical provider or chiropractor that you’ve been to before. Having advanced knowledge of your medical history will help provide background and an indication of what may be functioning abnormally.

Step 3 – Seek additional care and counsel

After seeing a medical professional or chiropractic care provider after your car accident, we may determine that you need specialized medical help (broken bones or concussions for instance). We are happy to work with additional specialists and care providers so that you can have the best possible outcome.

Additionally, if you believe you need an attorney for your car accident claim, we are happy to make recommendations from our office for any legal needs in regard to your personal injury case. If, for example, your insurance company is not receptive to your requests and is not addressing your injury in the way you think it should be, hiring a personal injury lawyer could be your next best step.

Step 4 – Act quickly

The sooner you get medical help and attention after your car accident, the sooner you can feel better. Additionally, insurance companies will be looking at the timeline to determine whether you were serious about your injuries—or are trying to “game the system.” Being proactive in this way can help your case in the long run.

In the dramatic (and traumatic) event of a car accident, you may find yourself hesitating and not knowing what to do next. Following the steps outlined above, after paying attention to any symptoms that arise, will be vital to helping you get the care you need when you need it—before things get worse.