What Do I Do If I am Involved In An… Auto Accident? Brought to You By: Tulare Chiropractic Clinic / Accident & Injury Center

Being in an auto accident can be scary. It happens extremely fast, and at times can cause serious injury. Being prepared and having an understanding of the process can help alleviate a lot of stress from an already stressful situation.

Most Common injury from auto accidents:Whiplash The term whiplash comes from the fact that the head and neck move quickly, as a whip would. This quick movement can cause injury to the neck. It is also common to have similar injuries to other areas of the body.

Bone Ligaments Muscle Tendons Nerves Blood Vessels Cervical whiplash may include injuries to:

Other kinds of injuries or complaints common to auto accidents include: Low back pain Headaches Memory problems Tingling/numbness to the arms or legs Tingling or numbness to the face Pain to arms or legs Shoulder pain Ringing in the ears Knee pain Broken or strained ribs Cuts/bruises

Treatment for injuries: Treatment for injuries in our office will vary depending on the injury. Most commonly, we will find spinal bones which have been misaligned by the accident. We implement gentle techniques in order to re-align the vertebra, and therefore remove pressure from the surrounding nerves. We also employ therapies which soothe the sore muscles and encourage proper healing. These include heat, ice, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, massage, and stretching. Rehabilitation is also very important. Therefore, we utilize rehabilitation exercise programs as soon as possible to restore as full function as possible.

X-rays are commonly used following an auto injury. We have modern x-ray equipment here at Tulare Accident & Injury, which can often reveal damage caused by the impact.

Does My Insurance cover the cost? If you, the car you were in, or someone else in the car has an auto insurance policy that has Medpay, then your medical expenses are likely to be covered, but only by a provider who accepts Medpay insurance. Determining insurance coverage can be confusing. Our office employs experts who can help you. We offer a no-cost consultation so we can gather information and help you figure out your coverage without any obligation.

Do I need an Attorney? We can help you determine if you need an attorney or not. Usually, if your insurance company provides coverage and they are meeting your needs, then no attorney is needed. However, in the case where an attorney is needed, we have a list of local, proven attorneys who can help you with your situation. In the right cases, our office will work with an attorney on a lien basis, so the patient can get the care they need.

How Do I Get Started? A great way to start is simply call our office. We can ask some questions right over the phone, and possibly set up a time for a consultation to determine your needs