According to the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2015, there was a total of 2,443,000 injury accidents. In
the same year, 35,092 lives were lost in car crashes nationwide, a 7.2%
increase over 2014. Considering the fact that millions of injury accidents
occur each year, it would not be surprising if you were in at least one
car accident within your lifetime.
When it comes to
car crashes, a lot of people don’t know whether they should see a chiropractor
or not, especially if it’s their first accident or if they’ve
never received chiropractic care before. Because some people are confused
about chiropractic care after a car crash, we decided to dedicate a post to it.
What if I’m Not Sure I’m Hurt?
Some accidents involve serious bodily injuries; for example, the driver
isn’t wearing a seatbelt and they slam their head against the windshield
or the driver is ejected from the vehicle. Other examples include amputation
injuries, broken bones, and large, open wounds. In these cases, it’s
clear: the injured party must be transported to the nearest hospital via
ambulance right away.
Where people run into trouble is when they don’t feel any pain or
when they don’t think they’re hurt. Their first reaction may
be to declare, “It’s okay, I’m not hurt” but this
type of declaration at the scene of an accident can be a big mistake for
more reasons than one, including collecting damages for medical care later on.
Auto accidents can be scary, especially when they involve high-speeds.
When people are involved in car accidents, their bodies are usually flooded
with adrenaline, otherwise known as epinephrine, the hormone responsible
for the body’s “fight or flight response.”
After a crash, the adrenaline can fool the person into believing that they
are not injured. Just because the driver can walk away from the accident,
it does not mean he or she is uninjured. More often than not, it means
their adrenaline is still masking any sensation of pain. So, while the
driver may not have any visible broken bones, it does not mean injuries
are not present.
Seeing a Chiropractor After a Car Accident
If a driver or passenger has an obvious injury, such as a broken bone,
an open wound, or an airbag burn, he or she should definitely see a medical
doctor immediately. If no injuries are visible, they should see a chiropractor
as soon as possible, within 72 hours at the most, but it’s better
to see one within 24 hours. Most car accidents result in some type of
whiplash or soft tissue injuries, but they can involve more serious injuries,
such as herniated discs, spinal cord injuries, or concussions –
these cannot be ignored.
If you are in a car accident and you experience any of the following, get
in to see a licensed chiropractor in your area asap:
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Neck or back pain
- Neck stiffness
- Numbness in the extremities (fingers or toes)
- Pins and needles feeling in the extremities
- Trouble bending down or turning to the side from the waist
In many car accident cases, we advise clients to
see a medical doctor
and a chiropractor. Chiropractic care is critical for soft tissue injuries
and irregularities of the spinal column caused by car or truck accidents.
When you see a chiropractor after a car accident, it can speed healing,
decrease discomfort and improve recovery time – all bonuses.
Need a Suffolk County car accident attorney?
Contact Laurence A. Silverman, Esq. today for a free case evaluation!