Choosing Physical Therapy After a Car Accident Injury
If getting in a car accident isn’t bad enough.
Dealing with the pain that comes afterwards really kicks you when you’re down.
Maybe it’s a stubborn neck ache that just won’t go away. Or lower back pain that appears three days after the collision. Knowing how and when to choose physio after an accident is one of the best decisions you can make after a crash.
Here’s the thing…
Most folks don’t realize just how bad their injuries are right after impact. Delaying medical treatment only harms them — both to their health and their eventual injury claim.
What You’ll Learn:
- Why Physio After An Accident is Important Than You Think
- Common Car Accident Injuries That Require Physical Therapy
- Physiotherapy Appointments Explained
- How Physical Rehabbing Affects Your Injury Claim
- How To Choose the Best Assistance After A Crash
Why Physiotherapy After An Accident is More Important Than You Think
Believe me when I say that these stats are no joke.
2.44 million people were injured during motor vehicle crashes in 2023 — a 2.5% increase over 2022’s already elevated crash totals. That’s 2.44 million people living in pain, coping with decreased mobility, and dealing with a recovery timeline that can last for months (if not years).
The issue is that so many crash victims leave the scene feeling perfectly fine. Only to wake up the next day unable to turn their head without a sharp pain.
That’s why physiotherapy — as soon as possible after an accident — is so crucial. Not only will physical rehabbing help reduce pain and restore mobility. It can prevent short-term problems from developing into chronic conditions down the road.
And here’s the part most people don’t realize…
Every physio appointment you attend creates written medical evidence of your injuries. Evidence that can be used against insurance companies if there’s an injury claim involved down the line.
Working with a qualified richmond personal injury lawyer will ensure that every facet of your physical rehabilitation is considered when calculating a fair injury settlement. From past and current treatment bills to future therapies and expenses related to your recovery. Without legal guidance, it’s easy to accept a payout that falls well short of your real costs.
The Most Common Car Accident Injuries That Need Physical Therapy
Car accident injuries can be tricky. Some injuries are very apparent after a crash. Others not so much.
Whiplash, back injuries and concussions are among the top injuries that need physical therapy after a car accident. That’s because many of these injuries don’t show up until hours — or even days — after the accident occurs.
Here are the most common injuries that require some form of physio after a crash:
- Whiplash – general damage to the neck caused by rapid accelerations/deceleration during a crash
- Back injuries – strains, herniated discs, muscle damage, nerve compression
- Shoulder injuries – rotator cuff tears, bumps and bruises from hitting the airbag/deck
- Knee injuries – impact with dashboard or seat can often cause damage to the knees
- Concussion-related symptoms – vestibular therapy is common after head trauma
Whiplash injuries are by far the most common injury that requires physical therapy after a collision. Not only are nearly every car accident victim going to experience some form of neck pain. More than 50% of whiplash victims experience some form of chronic pain after their injury. 45% of all patients continue to feel symptoms 12 WEEKS after their initial injury occurred.
Those aren’t just some stiff mornings here and there. We’re talking about months of persistent pain that could have been greatly reduced by getting physical therapy earlier.
What to Expect at Your First Physio Appointment
It’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed at the thought of your first appointment. Dealing with insurance companies and hospitals is stressful enough without adding medical appointments to your plate. Let’s take a look at what your first session will be like.
Step 1 – The Initial Evaluation
The therapist will spend most of the session learning about your accident and injury. What areas hurt, what hasn’t healed right, what type of imaging (X-ray, MRI) you’ve already had done.
Step 2 – Creating Your Treatment Program
Using the information from your assessment, your physiotherapist will build a treatment plan around YOUR specific injuries.
Not every treatment program will be the same. But you can expect most to include:
- Hands-on joint and soft tissue work (aka manual therapy)
- Exercises/stretching to restore range of motion and strength
- Posture correction and movement retraining
- Pain relief therapies (ultrasound, TENS, etc.)
Step 3 – Recovery Timeline
After two sessions, your therapist will be able to provide you with a good recovery timeline. Every injury is different based on the severity of damage.
Minor soft tissue injuries can heal within 6-8 weeks with proper care. Damage to the spine, nerves, etc. will take several months of dedicated rehabilitation just to regain normal functionality.
How Physiotherapy Connects to a Personal Injury Claim
Let me clue you in to something that most folks don’t know…
Every physio session you attend after a car accident serves as proof that your injuries were legitimate. Something that needs to be treated by a professional.
Not going to physio, or waiting weeks to go, can severely harm your injury claim.
Insurance companies love to argue that because you waited to seek medical treatment, your injuries couldn’t have been that serious. But that argument no longer applies when you have solid medical records that prove otherwise.
Personal injury lawyers work directly with your medical professionals to ensure your injury claim has the best chance at recovery. They know how to utilize your complete treatment history to negotiate with insurance companies. Covering all medical expenses, loss of wages, pain and suffering.
Medical care and legal care should be going hand in hand after a serious injury. They’re not mutually exclusive.
How To Choose The Right Assistance After A Crash
You always want to make sure you have the right team in your corner. Not only will they help speed up your recovery. They can impact how much you recover from your injury claim down the road.
When it comes to your medical team, look for a chiropractor who:
- Specializes in treating auto accident injuries
- Communicates with your other doctors/medical professionals
- Gives you detailed reports after each session
As for your legal team, make sure you hire a personal injury lawyer who:
- Specializes in motor vehicle accidents
- Understands how treatment can affect your injury settlement
- Offers a free consultation to assess your case
The Bottom Line on Physio After a Car Accident
Choosing whether or not to go to physio after an accident is really one of the best choices you can make for yourself following a crash.
Here’s your game plan moving forward:
- Get checked out by a medical professional ASAP
- Find a good chiropractor and begin treatment as soon as possible
- Don’t miss any appointments and keep records of each session
- Hire a reputable personal injury lawyer to deal with the legal process
Don’t let pain become a long-term problem. And don’t try to handle an injury claim by yourself. The right medical professionals and legal team can make all the difference in your recovery.
