Auto Accidents... When Should I Start Treatment?

When injured in an auto accident another common question I receive from patients is "When Should I Start Treatment?" 

The answer I provide them is very simple... As soon as possible. That way I can get objective measurements as close to the onset of injury as possible. This means I can measure range of motion, do all the muscle testing, and feel for joint injury when you are more than likely in the worst possible shape. It is easy to track improvement when I see patients immediately following an injury. When taking weeks (or longer) to seek treatment, your auto insurance may question the injury and sets off red flags even before your claim is open (see previous posts about opening your PIP claim).

Bottom line is this: when in an auto accident try to get care ASAP. This helps out the treating provider, the insurance adjuster, and most importantly... YOU!