If you were in a crash and your body still feels off days later, you may be asking yourself, should I be going to a chiropractor after a car accident? Many drivers assume the pain will go away on its own or that only a medical doctor can help. In reality, chiropractic care can play an important role in your recovery. It also helps with your legal claim. Recognizing when chiropractic treatment makes sense and documenting everything early may protect both your health and your rights.
Table of Contents
- Quick Facts About Post-Accident Chiropractic Care:
- When Does Going to a Chiropractor After a Car Accident Make Sense?
- Step-by-Step Checklist After a Car Accident
- What Types of Injuries Do Chiropractors Treat After a Car Accident?
- Insurance Side of Going to a Chiropractor After a Car Accident
- Law & Deadlines in California
- Damages You Can Recover
- FAQs for Going to a Chiropractor After a Car Accident
- Call Deldar
Quick Facts About Post-Accident Chiropractic Care:
- Chiropractic care can help with musculoskeletal injuries common in auto collisions.
- Coverage and claim strategies differ when going to a chiropractor after a car accident is involved.
- California deadlines apply to personal injury claims so prompt medical care and legal review matter.
- Deldar Legal will help schedule your appointments and provide transportation if you need it.
When Does Going to a Chiropractor After a Car Accident Make Sense?
Chiropractors specialize in diagnosing and treating spine, joint and soft tissue injuries. After a crash you may experience neck stiffness, back pain or nerve-type symptoms that respond well to adjustments, manual therapy and rehabilitation.
If your primary medical provider recommends chiropractic care or if your symptoms match those common after a crash, then seeking a chiropractor is prudent. However, you should always coordinate your care with a physician and inform your attorney, so your claim remains consistent.
Signs for Going to a Chiropractor After a Car Accident:
- Persistent neck or back pain after impact
- Reduced range of motion or stiffness
- Numbness or tingling in limbs suggesting nerve irritation
- Your medical doctor refers you for chiropractic or manual therapy
Getting treatment soon can reduce recovery time and help you avoid chronic problems. Delays in care may make your injury harder to treat and your claim harder to support.
Step-by-Step Checklist After a Car Accident
- Seek medical evaluation immediately regardless of how you feel.
- If you decide on chiropractic treatment inform both your medical doctor and attorney.
- Document every visit, test and treatment including what the chiropractor recommends.
- Notify your insurance company but avoid recorded statements without legal advice.
- Track all expenses, missed wages, and lifestyle changes due to your injuries.
- Before you settle your claim ensure your chiropractor has completed necessary treatment and your attorney reviews future care needs.
What Types of Injuries Do Chiropractors Treat After a Car Accident?
Chiropractors commonly treat injuries that result from sudden impact or jolt during collisions. These include whiplash, spinal misalignment, soft tissue sprains, and disc irritation. For many crash victims these conditions are the reason they feel pain days after the accident. Chiropractic care may offer non-surgical options for pain relief, improved motion and support for recovery.
Typical treatment areas:
- Whiplash and cervical spine strain
- Lumbar back pain and disc irritation
- Shoulder or hip joint misalignment
- Trigger points and muscle spasms
While chiropractic care can help, it is not a substitute for full medical evaluation especially if you show signs of head trauma, internal injury or other red flags.
Insurance Side of Going to a Chiropractor After a Car Accident
When you go to a chiropractor after a car accident your documentation becomes part of the claim. Insurers will review chiropractic visits, treatment notes and bills to decide whether care was reasonable, necessary and caused by the crash. To ensure your claim remains strong you must link the crash, your symptoms and the chiropractor’s findings in your records. Early treatment helps create that link. Failure to treat promptly or gaps in documentation may weaken your case.
Documentation to keep:
- Initial crash report and police/CHP records
- Medical doctor referral and chiropractor intake records
- Visits, notes, tests, invoices and rehabilitation records
- Employer records showing missed work or decreased function
Your attorney can help you determine how much chiropractic care to pursue before settlement and whether a chiropractor’s testimony may enhance your case.
Law & Deadlines in California
California law sets strict filing deadlines for injury and property damage claims. Missing these can end your case before it starts.
- Personal injury lawsuits – 2 years from the date of the accident
- Property damage lawsuits – 3 years from the date of the accident
- Government Claims Act – 6 months from the date of the accident to file a claim against a government party
Even if you’re still in talks with the insurance company, you must meet these legal deadlines to preserve your right to sue. Waiting too long could forfeit your right to compensation entirely.
Damages You Can Recover
Car accident victims in California may recover both financial and personal losses through a legal claim. Even if your accident seemed minor or you only needed chiropractic treatment, you may still be entitled to compensation. Many chiropractic patients underestimate how valuable their medical records and treatment notes can be in proving pain, duration, and impact. Damages related to chiropractic care fall into three main categories: economic damages, non-economic damages, and future care costs.
1.) Economic Damages
Economic damages cover the measurable financial losses you experience. When going to a chiropractor after a car accident, your medical treatment is part of those costs:
- Chiropractor visits, adjustments, and rehabilitation therapy
- Diagnostic imaging and follow-up medical evaluations
- Future chiropractic or physical therapy sessions
- Lost wages or reduced earning capacity due to treatment or pain
- Transportation to and from appointments
2.) Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages focus on the emotional and physical suffering caused by the accident. Even if you only sought chiropractic care, the pain and stress from your injuries still matter. These damages can include:
- Ongoing pain, soreness, or stiffness
- Anxiety, depression, or trauma related to the collision
- Reduced mobility or quality of life
- Loss of enjoyment in hobbies or physical activities
- Discomfort that affects sleep or daily routines
3.) Future Care
Some car accident injuries require continued chiropractic care or long-term rehabilitation. If your treatment plan includes ongoing adjustments, therapy, or supportive equipment, those projected costs can be included in your settlement.
Your attorney can work with both medical doctors and chiropractors to estimate how much future care you will need. This ensures that your compensation covers not just current expenses, but also the care you’ll require months or years down the line.
FAQs for Going to a Chiropractor After a Car Accident
Yes. When you choose a licensed chiropractor and follow recommended treatment. As with any medical care, you should discuss your full medical history, and your provider should evaluate whether chiropractic care suits your injury.
If you delay treatment, injuries may progress into chronic conditions, scar tissue may develop, mobility may decline, and your recovery may take longer or incur higher cost.
Duration depends on your injuries. Your chiropractor will create a treatment plan based on the severity of your condition, your rate of healing, and any underlying issues. You might begin with frequent visits, then taper as you improve.
Yes. Chiropractic care uses non-invasive, drug-free methods to treat musculoskeletal injuries, which can help avoid or delay surgery and reduce reliance on medications.
Yes. You can add chiropractic care alongside other medical treatments, provided your doctors coordinate your overall care plan. Ensuring all providers communicate helps avoid overlapping or conflicting treatments.
Call Deldar
At Deldar Legal, we’re more than just attorneys, we’re your partners in recovery. If you’ve suffered an injury due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve a top-rated car accident lawyer in California who will fight for your rights and help you rebuild your life. From the moment you contact us, we handle everything, from medical appointments and transportation to insurance negotiations and legal paperwork, so you can focus on healing.
Our experienced team represents clients across a wide range of personal injury cases, including:
- Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents
- Uber and Lyft rideshare accidents
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
- Slip-and-fall and premises liability claims
- Dog bites and animal attacks
- Traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and other catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death of a loved one
Deldar Legal is here to help. We offer free consultations and work on a no win, no fee basis, so there’s no risk in reaching out.
Call us today at (844) 335-3271 or contact us to speak with an experienced California injury lawyer. Let Deldar Legal fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.
Key Takeaways
- Chiropractic care plays a vital role in recovery after a car accident and supports legal claims.
- Signs you may need chiropractic treatment include persistent pain, reduced mobility, or referrals from healthcare providers.
- Document all treatments and communications with your attorney to strengthen your insurance claim.
- California has strict deadlines for filing injury claims, so prompt action is crucial after an accident.
- Deldar Legal can assist with scheduling appointments and navigating your recovery process.