Each year between 20 and 50 million people suffer from non-fatal injuries after being in a car accident, while 1.3 million others result in a fatal outcome. While your location and type of vehicle can impact the severity of accidents, most individuals will need some type of care. Even if you feel like nothing’s happened, it’s important to see your doctor, undergo x-rays, and visit a chiropractor after a car accident. Doing so will help you get the care you need to avoid long-term complications or life-altering situations. If you want to speed up your recovery and protect yourself from chronic pain, consider the following benefits of visiting a chiropractor after a car accident.

  1. Check for Minor Injuries

After being involved in a car accident, your body releases endorphins and adrenaline as a response to the trauma. This can make it difficult to feel the presence of minor injuries or sprains right away. However, just because you’re not in immediate pain does not mean you don’t have any injuries. By getting an x-ray and visiting a chiropractor, you’ll be able to check for any minor injuries, signs of whiplash, and other things that could contribute to long-term complications.

  1. Improve Range of Motion

Even if you’re all clear for minor injuries, the shock and trauma of a car accident on your body can cause a lot of tension throughout your body. This can diminish your range of motion and make it difficult to go through your day. By visiting a chiropractor, you’ll improve the range of motion in your joints while you recover from the accident. This can help you stay healthy long-term while you take the next course of action in your claim.

  1. Reduce Inflammation

Inflammation is another side effect of traumatic car accidents, which can wreak havoc on your spine. Chiropractors know how to target and reduce this type of inflammation through spinal realignments. This will also help you expedite your healing and reduce residual pain you may be feeling in the days following the accident.

  1. Alleviates Pain

Reducing inflammation can help relieve internal pain, while getting a spinal realignment can help with any chronic pain associated with movements or everyday activities. Without undergoing this type of treatment, individuals who are involved in car accidents may end up suffering from chronic pain. Depending on the severity, some people may resort to using pain killers, which can severely diminish the quality of one’s life and become addictive if used improperly. Even if you don’t think you need to see a chiropractor, schedule a consultation. With the help of an experienced personal injury attorney, these types of treatments can be covered in the settlement. This will help you maintain a high quality of life over the coming years.

  1. Address Whiplash

Whiplash is one of the most common injuries following any type of car accident. It can be apparent immediately or develop over the course of a few days. Rather than wait until you begin to feel pain or discomfort, seeing a chiropractor early can address whiplash related injuries and help expedite healing time. This can reduce your risk of future medical problems such as stiff neck, back problems, repeated injury, chronic muscle spasms, degeneration of the spinal cord, and even chronic headaches. Keeping your spinal cord in proper alignment has several benefits and should be a priority if you’re involved in a car accident.

  1. Reduces Scar Tissue

Depending on the severity of the injury, scar tissue formation may occur. This can cause long term problems that become increasingly difficult to alleviate. Luckily, by taking a proactive approach to healing with chiropractic adjustments, you can prevent scar tissue from forming in the first place. This can help improve your pain levels and reduce lingering reminders of your accident.

  1. It’s Non-Invasive

Another benefit of visiting a chiropractor after a car accident is that it’s a non-invasive practice. It involves no administration of drugs or open incisions. However, chiropractic care can address the root of your pain and minimize your need for invasive treatment options in the future. This is good for individuals who would prefer to avoid pharmaceutical options while seeking relief from chronic pain.

  1. Support Injury Claims

Finally, visiting a chiropractor after a car accident will help you support injury claims against the liable party. Regardless of who caused the accident, if negligence was involved you may be eligible for compensation to cover vehicular damage, immediate medical injuries, long-term emotional support, and any loss of income during your treatment. However, to support these claims of injury, you need extensive records of treatment. A chiropractor will help you assess your injuries and identify any issues that may otherwise go unseen, thus providing you with full support for any future claims.

While no one wants to be involved in a car accident, they’re increasing in prevalence across the country. As the number of vehicles on the road continue to rise, the risk for getting injured behind the wheel also increases. In fact, in 2020, one reportable crash occurred every one minute and 7 seconds per day. While staying safe behind the wheel is integral to your health, sometimes situations are out of your hands. If you’re involved in an accident caused by another driver, it’s important that you take the proper precautions to protect yourself and your finances.

The Law Offices of Houston M. Smith, P.C.If you’ve been in a car or truck accident, contact the experienced Terrell, TX personal injury attorney at Houston M. Smith. We’re experts in personal liability law and can help you ensure that your medical bills and chiropractic sessions are covered, giving you the best chance of a complete recovery over time. We understand that getting in a car accident can be an emotional experience that could lead to financial hardships, which is why we’re committed to providing our clients with the utmost guidance, protection, and advocacy. To learn more about our services, or to receive a free case evaluation, contact us today.