So you were recently in a car accident? You may feel fortunate you’re alive and well. However, you still have a great deal to think about. You should know exactly what steps to take to help with healing. Let our chiropractor in Lakeville, MN, educate you on the steps to take.
Assess Yourself for Injuries
After the accident, examine yourself for injuries. If you’re having difficulty moving or are in serious pain, you may need emergency medical attention.
Do you have any cuts or lacerations? What about bruises or sore spots? What’s your pain level? If you visit a practitioner, these are the questions they’re going to ask you at your appointment.
Use Ice on Swollen Parts
If you have any painful, swollen areas, use an ice pack to ease the inflammation and decrease the pain. The cold will constrict the blood vessels near the area.
Make sure you wrap the ice pack in a towel before you apply it to your skin. This will prevent a skin injury from the extreme temperature.
Only use the ice for periods of 10 to 20 minutes at a time for optimal results.
Reach Out to Your Insurance Provider
Once you have your health addressed, it’s vital to contact your insurance provider and the other party’s insurance company. As a general rule, most insurance providers require policyholders to contact them within 24 hours after an accident. They’ll guide you on the process, so you know exactly how to proceed.
Ideally, you should file a claim as soon as possible with the other party’s insurance company. Generally, you need to do so within 30 to 60 days.
Contact a Chiropractor
If you have an injury, you should contact an auto injury chiropractor in Lakeville, MN, to get the treatment you need. First, the practitioner will evaluate your problem and possibly perform diagnostics. Next, you’ll receive treatment geared toward your injuries to help them heal more effectively.
Even if you don’t have noticeable injuries, you should contact a Lakeville chiropractor. It can take up a few days for you to experience symptoms of whiplash — a neck injury commonly caused by a rear-end collision.
Make sure you let the receptionist know you’ve been in an accident and try to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
Keep Medical Expense and Car Repair Documentation
Be sure you keep all your chiropractic and other expense documentation. You’ll need to send copies to either your insurance or the other party’s insurance provider. Which one depends on who was at fault.
Follow Your Chiropractic Care Carefully
Continue to see an auto injury chiropractor in Lakeville, MN, until your practitioner states you’re healed. If you stop your treatment prematurely, you may not heal properly.
Keep in mind that you may need to perform exercises at home throughout your treatment to optimize your results. And your practitioner may have other recommendations, and it’s vital you carefully follow the recommendations.
After a car accident, you have a great deal to worry about, including how to get your vehicle repaired. Your health needs to be the top priority, though. And fortunately, our auto injury chiropractor in Lakeville, MN, at Enlighten Chiropractic can assist.
If you’ve recently been in an accident, reach out to Enlighten Chiropractic at 952-232-1935. We’re also available via our booking tool.