Car accidents can be a traumatic experience, often resulting in injuries that require prompt and effective treatment. Understanding the steps to take after a car accident and recognizing the signs that indicate the need for treatment are crucial. Read on for our guide!
What to do After a Car Accident
A few simple steps after an auto crash can safeguard your health (and your wallet!)
1. Call the paramedics if there are injuries
After a car accident, prioritizing your health is paramount. If you have sustained a serious injury, you should call 911 and go to the closest hospital via ambulance.
2. Call the police
In Maryland, you are not always required to report a car accident to the police. However, if someone is injured, you must call the police. Even if you don’t think you or the other driver is injured, it’s still a good idea to get a police report in case of an insurance claim or lawsuit.
3. Make your own report
Be sure to record the details of the other car and driver, take photos and write down any witnesses’ contact info.
4. Contact your insurance company
Call your insurance provider as soon as possible to report the accident. Provide them with accurate details and follow their instructions for filing a claim. Insurance coverage plays a crucial role in covering the costs associated with medical treatment.
5. See a doctor
Even if you think your pain is “normal” or don’t believe you have been injured at all, symptoms can have a delayed onset. Pain may be masked by all the adrenaline and endorphins created by the experience of the accident, and injuries can take days or even weeks to manifest.
Also remember that even if your car has little to no damage, you may still have some underlying injuries. Believe it or not, fender benders and low-speed impacts can damage your nerve fibers, muscles, tendons, bones and ligaments as well as cause misalignment issues.
Regardless if you have visible injuries, it is always a good idea to get checked out by a doctor to document potential injuries for your health as well as insurance purposes. Seeking care and getting evaluated by a competent licensed professional like Dr. Levi within 72 hours of your injuries can address and underlying issues before they become worse and cause more damage. We specialize in treating musculoskeletal injuries, offering a non-invasive and holistic approach to recovery.
Signs You Need Treatment for Your Car Accident Injuries
After an auto accident there are certain obvious signs that may indicate the need for immediate medical attention and treatment:
- Pain and discomfort: Persistent pain or discomfort, especially in the neck, back or shoulders, should not be ignored.
- Headaches and dizziness: If you experience headaches, nausea, blurred/double vision, ringing in the ears, jaw pain and dizziness after the accident, are signs and symptoms of injury.
- Limited range of motion: Difficulty moving certain body parts indicate musculoskeletal injuries that require intervention.
- Numbness or tingling: Any sensations of numbness, tingling, cramping and giving out may be indicative of nerve issues which require prompt attention.
Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Car Accident Injuries
Chiropractic care has been proven to be extremely helpful to people recovering from car accident injuries.
- Non-invasive treatment: Treatments administered in Dr. Levi’s office does not involve medications, injections and surgery. We use manual methods of treatments and physiotherapy to reduce pain, reduce muscular guarding-spasm, reduce swelling, increase healing-enhancing body’s own natural ability, increasing range of motion, flexibility and strengthening injured damaged tissues.
- Pain relief: As pain relief and anti-inflammatory medications mask the pain and reduce inflammation temporarily, the treatment course at Dr. Levi’s Chiropractic office targets the root cause of Musculoskeletal pain, coupled with aligning and mobilizing the restricted joints (spinal and extremities).
- Restoration of mobility: Through adjustments and therapeutic exercises, we work towards restoring your range of motion, flexibility and strengthen the injured tissues/fibers to reduce the chance and or prevent flare ups, exacerbations and reinjury.
- Holistic approach: Chiropractic care considers the overall well-being of each person, addressing not only physical but also mental and emotional aspects of recovery.
After a traumatic injury i.e. car accident, seeking prompt medical attention, understanding the signs that necessitate treatment and exploring care, treatment options and solutions like those provided by Dr Levi can significantly contribute to your recovery. Levi Chiropractic can help you prioritize your health and well-being with a comprehensive and effective treatment plan.
We provide these excellent services in two locations:
- Takoma-Langley Park/Silver Spring location
- Gaithersburg-Rockville Location