A big mistake people make after a vehicle related injury, is in having what is called a delay in treatment. A delay in treatment is failing to see a physician as soon as possible. There are two reasons why this is a big mistake.

The most important reason is because you are putting your health at risk. The research shows that a 150 lb human being has no chance against a 4,000 lb car hitting their vehicle. The damage even in a very low speed accident (accidents at under 10 m.p.h.) can be severe for the neck and head.

The second reason this is a mistake is that you are reducing the amount of money that the insurance company is going to owe you as compensation. The insurance companies use a software program to evaluate claims and they offer the smaller amount possible. One of the ways the program determines how much to offer is how long the patient delayed treatments. Within 72 hours, the program justifies a larger settlement, after 72 hours, it begins reducing the offers. This is why certain accident victims will be offered a greatly reduced settlement.

The doctor you see must only be a doctor, an M.D, Osteopath, or Chiropractor, the insurance companies do not differentiate for the 72 hours limit. Any of these may conduct an intake for history, examination and diagnosis to satisfy the requirement.

If you do not have a family doctor, you can walk into an Urgent Care facility, call a chiropractor’s office (D.C.) and inquire if they take car accident insurance, or an Osteopathic doctor’s office (D.O.) and again inquire if they bill motor vehicle insurance. The only disadvantage to Urgent care is that they tend to only provide examinations and medications.

Some people might be reluctant to see a chiropractor because they think the chiropractor must “crack their spine” or perform adjustments only. In fact, many chiropractors won’t do spinal adjustments on the patient’s first visit. What they do perform is the history, physical exam and possibly taking x-rays, which is all you need at this point. Chiropractors are trained to perform the same physical examination as an M.D. The chiropractor just cannot prescribe prescription medications. If you cannot be seen by an M.D. or chiropractor, you can also go to a local hospital emergency room. In most areas there are hospitals which are designated as trauma centers.

They have to see you as a patient, even if you do not have health insurance or money to pay for treatment. For all of the above reasons, it is important you be seen by a physician soon after a vehicle accident. You are entitled to be examined, even if you are not feeling pain or discomfort and your insurance will pay their share of the cost. Physicians are trained to spot motor vehicle accident problems that you and I might not recognize.