It was a lovely Fall day on the busy streets of Careful Town. Jacie was on her way to her first day of college at Knowledge University. She was stopped at a light when she reached into the passenger seat to grab her lipstick when all of a sudden the car behind her hit her. The lipstick was thrown out of her hand and she was stunned with disbelief. The driver of the other car was very remorseful and kind. The next morning, Jacie woke up with neck pain. Jacie realizes that, due to this car accident, she needed to receive treatment immediately and called Dr. Ward Wagner at Dixie Chiropractic in St. George, UT. During her visit, she undergoes a focused evaluation and a treatment plan is discussed to address her injuries.
On the other side of the valley, in Ignorantville, Karen was on her way to work. She was stopped at a stop sign when out of nowhere a driver rear-ended her. The driver was very apologetic, and it seemed that there was very little damage to the bumper. However, the next morning, she woke up with neck pain. Karen brushes it off and goes about her busy day, after all, the car crash wasn’t all that bad… was it? The next morning, she wakes up still suffering from neck pain, and additionally she is experiencing shoulder stiffness and a headache. She pops some Tylenol, gets on her computer, and googles some self-help treatment.
Jacie who received treatment is better in two months, whereas Karen who took pain meds and waited to get better suffers from neck pain, headaches, and numbness. She doesn’t seek any treatment, until 5 years later when she is faced with spinal fusion surgery due to spinal disc degeneration.
Both Jacie and Karen have protected with Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance otherwise known as “No-Fault” protection. This means that their treatment would be covered with no out-of-pocket expenses. Not to mention, assistance in documenting and submitting claims by a health care professional.
Are you from Careful Town like Jacie or from Ignorantville like Karen? At Dixie Chiropractic, we are trained to address these types of injuries and will take care of the insurance claims process to get the treatment you need and deserve in a timely manner.
“The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates approximately 1.7 million rear-end collisions in 2010, a number that continues to rise each year. In 2016, the NHTSA reports almost 2.4 million rear-end collisions on the nation’s road, including almost 700,000 crashes resulting in injury and about 2,300 fatal rear-end crashes. Rear-end collisions account for a third of all traffic accidents in the United States, making them the most common type of car accident.”
It’s a mistake to skip medical treatment for a couple of reasons. First, medical documentation of your injuries provides evidence you or your attorney can use later to prove an accident caused your neck and back injuries. Second, many symptoms of neck and back injuries do not show up for days or weeks after an accident. Just because you feel okay, doesn’t mean you weren’t injured.
Below are some symptoms of neck and back injuries that often do not show up immediately after a rear-end collision:
– Headaches
– Neck and shoulder stiffness
– Back pain
– Numbness
The “Tale of Two Car Accidents” may seem silly, but it’s really very common and the outcomes are very different. What outcome would you rather experience? If you have been involved in a personal injury, seeking treatment immediately can help you avoid long-term pain, and countless hours sorting through the insurance claims. Personal Injury Protection Insurance (PIP) is required in the State of Utah and covers medical expenses regardless of who’s at fault, and most people don’t even realize that they have it. Call our office today and we can answer any questions you may have.