Imagine this:
You’re in your car listening to music while on your way to work. Out of nowhere, a vehicle runs a red light and slams into your vehicle. You are in shock, your heart is racing, and time slows for a second.
Many of us have been in this situation. Even if it was just a fender bender. A myriad of emotions start to appear, but physical pain oftentimes does not surface until many days or weeks later. Unfortunately, pain and soreness following an accident tend to have a delayed response.
What should you do to get help with this pain? We’ll get to that shortly.
First, Here are the steps you should take immediately after getting into an accident:
Before anything else, try to relax enough so that you can think clearly and logically. Take long deep breaths, and focus on the situation at hand.
Next, call the police and notify them of the accident. Then, make sure to calmly talk to the individual that hit you and ask for their insurance information. This is incredibly important. Later you will need to call their insurance and start a claim.
When the police arrive, you and the other individual involved will give your reports of the accident. After giving the police report, make sure you call your own auto insurance company. We will explain the reasons for doing this later.
What kind of care is covered following an Auto Accident in Colorado?
In 2003, Colorado changed from a “no fault” state to an “at fault” state. This means you are able to file a claim against the “at fault” party’s insurance without having to reach a certain threshold of injuries first. If you were not at fault in the accident, all of your rehab care will be taken care of at no cost to you.
How can you ensure that you were not at fault?
There are a few steps you can take to prove to insurance companies that you were not at fault.
The first step is to call the police immediately following an accident to request a police report with statements from both parties and any witnesses.
The second step is to take pictures of the damage to both vehicles. These pictures will work in collaboration with individual statements to prove the fault.
Also, try to remember everything that happened prior to the accident such as what lane you were in, driving conditions, your speed and the location of your vehicle prior to being hit.
Whether or not you’re in immediate pain, Seek auto accident care.
It is highly recommended that you seek Chiropractic or Physical Therapy care on the day of the accident or at least in the few days following.
If your injuries are significant and pain is immediate, seek medical care at a hospital promptly. Whiplash and neck pain, for example, are very common following an auto accident. It is wise to address both conditions immediately to diminish the recovery time for pain and soreness.
Keep in mind: Neck braces are often recommended by many medical professionals, but they do not necessarily help with recovery time. In contrast, they can make the surrounding muscles weaken, resulting in a longer healing time.
What is MedPay and why should you have it?
MedPay is an additive coverage to your personal auto insurance plan that allows you a predetermined amount of health insurance coverage no matter if you were at fault or not in an accident.
Typically, the amount allowed is between $5000-10,000 worth of coverage and it is of no cost to add MedPay to your auto insurance plan. In addition, if the person that hit you was uninsured or underinsured, MedPay will ensure any post-accident rehab will be taken care of. Adding Medpay to your auto insurance plan is highly recommended.
Should you get a Personal Injury Attorney involved?
Yes! A Personal Injury Attorney’s job is to protect your rights and fight for you against any insurance companies that may try to deny you care.
Personal Injury Attorneys ensure you receive all of the health care you need post-accident. They also recoup any lost wages from missed work due to injuries, help prove that you were not at fault, and may be able to fight for pain and suffering reimbursement for you.
Elevation Chiropractic & Wellness works with a great group of Personal Injury Attorneys. Please reach out if you need any recommendations.
Where to go for recovery?
At Elevation Chiropractic & Wellness we offer Chiropractic, Massage Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Trigger Point injections to help your muscles relax post-accident and to help diminish the inflammation caused by whiplash. After an examination and treatment, we will recommend you ice that same night to quicken the decrease the inflammation.
Our team of providers and staff will do everything we can to make sure you recover fully from any injuries sustained from an auto accident. Our team of Chiropractors, Physical Therapists, Acupuncturists, and Nurse Practitioners will help you get back to living your life to the fullest in no time.