Chiropractic for Car Accident Injuries: Why Even a Low-Speed Crash Can Affect Your Spine

“It Was Only a 5-MPH Accident. I Feel Fine.”

We hear this frequently from people who have been involved in automobile accidents.

When there is little visible damage to the vehicles and no immediate pain, it is easy to assume that nothing was injured. But a low-speed collision can still produce significant movement of the head, neck and spine.

In our experience, some patients do not notice significant symptoms until later that day, the following morning, or even after several days.

Our advice is simple: don't wait for the pain to become severe before having yourself evaluated.

What Happens to Your Spine During a Car Accident?

In a rear-end collision, the vehicle moves suddenly while the body and head respond differently to the force of the impact. The torso is restrained while the head and neck move in response. The cervical spine can undergo rapid hyperextension and hyperflexion, commonly referred to as a whiplash-type injury. Research involving human volunteers has demonstrated measurable movement and muscle responses even during relatively low-speed rear impacts.

Why You May Feel Fine at First

The absence of immediate pain does not necessarily mean that the neck or spine was unaffected. Muscle guarding, the stress of the accident and other factors can make symptoms less noticeable initially. In some patients, neck pain, stiffness, headaches or back pain become more apparent over the following days.

A whiplash-type injury can also alter normal cervical mechanics. In some patients, the normal cervical curve may become reduced or straightened following trauma, often accompanied by muscle spasm and restricted motion.

If these changes persist, recovery can become more prolonged. That is one reason we recommend an examination rather than simply waiting to see if symptoms develop.

Don't Wait to Be Evaluated

An early chiropractic examination can establish a baseline and identify:

·         Restricted range of motion

·         Muscle spasm or guarding

·         Tenderness

·         Changes in posture or spinal mechanics

·         Neck or back pain

·         Headaches associated with the neck

·         Shoulder and upper-back symptoms

·         Neurological symptoms that may require additional medical evaluation

The goal is to identify problems early and help restore normal movement and function.

How Chiropractic for Car Accident Injuries Work?

Treatment depends on the patient's examination and individual condition. Depending on the findings, care may include:

·    Chiropractic manipulation or mobilization

·    Soft-tissue treatment

·    Range-of-motion exercises

·    Stretching and strengthening

·    Postural correction

·    Home exercises

·    Education about activity and recovery

Patients are monitored throughout treatment to determine whether they are improving and whether additional medical evaluation is necessary.

Experience With Automobile Accident Injuries

Frank R. Stiso, DC, LLC has been serving patients in the Manasquan area since 1965. We have extensive experience treating patients injured in automobile accidents and dealing with the insurance and documentation requirements that accompany these cases. Our office works with many personal injury attorneys and has experience preparing detailed medical records and narrative reports. Dr. Frank R. Stiso has also testified as an expert.

How Does Insurance Work After a New Jersey Car Accident?

New Jersey is a no-fault automobile insurance state. Generally, medical treatment resulting from an automobile accident is handled through the applicable PIP/auto insurance coverage, regardless of who caused the accident. PIP is designed to pay for medically necessary treatment related to covered automobile injuries, subject to the patient's policy, including applicable deductibles, copayments and coverage choices.

This is important because many people have a high deductible on their regular health insurance. Depending on the patient's automobile policy and coverage choices, accident-related treatment may be handled through automobile PIP rather than requiring the patient to first satisfy a large health-insurance deductible. New Jersey policies can also allow health insurance to be selected as primary for auto-related medical expenses, so the applicable coverage needs to be determined for each accident.

We Help With the Insurance Process

Our staff has extensive experience handling automobile accident claims.

When you come to our office after an accident, we can assist with the process by:

1.      Obtaining your automobile insurance information.

2.      Contacting the appropriate insurance company or claims adjuster.

3.      Assisting with establishing the PIP claim and obtaining the claim number.

4.      Determining the appropriate billing information for your accident.

5.      Obtaining required precertification or submitting the necessary treatment information.

6.      Working with your attorney and insurance company when appropriate.

7.      Handling the necessary documentation and billing related to your treatment.

New Jersey has specific PIP requirements concerning treatment plans, decision-point review and precertification, so experience with these requirements can make the process considerably easier for the patient.

Major Insurance Plans We Participate In

In addition to automobile/PIP insurance, our office participates with many major health insurance plans, including:

Medicare • Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey • Blue Cross Blue Shield • Aetna • Cigna • UnitedHealthcare • Oxford • AmeriHealth • Oscar • Medicaid/NJ FamilyCare • Horizon NJ Health • Aetna Better Health • UnitedHealthcare Community Plan • Wellpoint

As a participating provider with all of the major insurance companies, we are able to submit your claims to your personal insurance which may cover costs such as your auto insurance deductible, co-pays, and co-insurance portion. Potentially saving you a high out of pocket expense.

If you have been involved in an automobile accident, don't wait for your symptoms to become severe. Early evaluation can identify changes in the neck and spine, establish a baseline and allow appropriate treatment to begin. At Stiso Chiropractic, patients receive not only chiropractic care, but decades of experience dealing with automobile injuries, PIP insurance, insurance companies and attorneys.

Serving Manasquan, Wall Township, Sea Girt, Brielle, Point Pleasant, Spring Lake, Belmar and communities throughout Monmouth County, New Jersey.

Insurance coverage and benefits vary by policy. Verification of benefits does not guarantee payment or coverage. Patients should confirm their specific coverage with their automobile and health insurance carriers.