Car accidents; it is not a matter of if, but when.

Car accidents; it is not a matter of if, but when.

According to national statistics, in any given five year period there is a one in four chance (25%) of becoming a victim of a car accident. Fortunately, due to the advanced safety features found in newer cars, the fatality rate continues to decrease. But with more and more cars on the road the occurrence of accidents is increasing. There will most likely be a time that you will need a car accident chiropractor!

As a car accident chiropractor practicing in Mesa, AZ the number of car accidents I see annually is quite high. Since chiropractors are considered experts in neck and back injuries, seeing a chiropractor after having a car accident make good sense. I previously wrote about this in my blog.

If you have a chiropractor already, be sure to see him or her as soon as possible after the accident. Even if you are not hurting much, the possibility of sustaining injury to the muscles, ligaments and joints of the spine is significant. If you fail to properly care for your spine following a car accident of any accident/ injury, you may be setting yourself up for premature degeneration, or arthritis, in the spine.

In my Mesa, AZ chiropractic clinic I have equipment designed to assist me in the treatment of very sore and swollen muscles and ligaments that one feels when in a car accident. It is my practice to send the patient to a medical radiology lab to obtain quality, digital X-rays’ and to have them professionally viewed by board certified radiologists. Why do I do this? I want my patient to know that everything needed to get back “on the road” to a full recovery is my primary goal. Now of course I cannot guarantee full recovery but I am sure you would want a car accident chiropractor who cares enough to provide the best possible treatment, right?

So what do you do if you find yourself injured in a car accident? I found a very good list created by Edmund’s at Edmonds.com. You can read the full article there.

“Action Plan to Deal with Accidents:

1. Keep an Emergency Kit in Your Glove Compartment. Drivers should carry a cell phone, as well as pen and paper for taking notes, a disposable camera to take photos of the vehicles at the scene, and a card with information about medical allergies or conditions that may require special attention if there are serious injuries. Also, keep a list of contact numbers for law enforcement agencies handy…

2. Keep Safety First. Drivers involved in minor accidents with no serious injuries should move cars to the side of the road and out of the way of oncoming traffic. Leaving cars parked in the middle of the road or busy intersection can result in additional accidents and injuries. If a car cannot be moved, drivers and passengers should remain in the cars with seatbelts fastened for everyone’s safety until help arrives. Make sure to turn on hazard lights and set out cones, flares or warning triangles if possible.

3. Exchange Information. After the accident, exchange the following information: name, address, phone number, insurance company, policy number, driver license number and license plate number for the driver and the owner of each vehicle. If the driver’s name is different from the name of the insured, establish what the relationship is and take down the name and address for each individual. Also make a written description of each car, including year, make, model and color — and the exact location of the collision and how it happened. Finally, be polite but don’t tell the other drivers or the police that the accident was your fault, even if you think it was.

4. Photograph and Document the Accident. Use your camera to document the damage to all the vehicles. Keep in mind that you want your photos to show the overall context of the accident so that you can make your case to a claims adjuster. If there were witnesses, try to get their contact information; they may be able to help you if the other drivers dispute your version of what happened.

5. File An Accident Report. Although law enforcement officers in many locations may not respond to accidents unless there are injuries, drivers should file a state vehicle accident report, which is available at police stations and often on the Department of Motor Vehicles Web site as a downloadable file. A police report often helps insurance companies speed up the claims process.

6. Know What Your Insurance Covers. The whole insurance process will be easier following your accident if you know the details of your coverage. For example, don’t wait until after an accident to find out that your policy doesn’t automatically cover costs for towing or a replacement rental car. Generally, for only a dollar or two extra each month, you can add coverage for rental car reimbursement, which provides a rental car for little or no money while your car is in the repair shop or if it is stolen. Check your policy for specifics.”

Many years ago, I attended a series of seminar classes to become certified as a car accident chiropractor. I have used these skills many times in my Mesa AZ chiropractic office. In addition, I have continued to research the latest information regarding car accidents and ways to treat car accident patients. I do not take spinal injury lightly and I trust you do not either. Do not put off getting help from a  good chiropractor.

It is not a matter of if, but when!