Reviewed by Frankl & Kominsky Law Team

Vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of serious injury

Car accidents are the leading cause of significant injuries and deaths worldwide.  About 40,000 people died in car accidents In the United States alone, in 2019. Speeding, bad weather, distracted driving, and drowsy driving were all common causes of the resulting injuries inflicted during these incidents. Worse, these incidents not only result in painful injuries that take time to heal, but that healing time can be compounded into in months, if not years, of physical recuperation as well as financial hardship.  

When involved in a debilitating car accident there are certain minimum steps you should take

First, if you’ve been in an accident that’s left you with life-altering or threatening injuries, your best move is to seek out competent chiropractic therapy, especially if the injuries are in high-risk locations around the spine (e.g. the back and neck areas).

Chiropractors are doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of muscular and spine diseases or injuries. Spinal injuries can often be life-threatening mostly because they can greatly impair extremely vital body processes such as mobility.

While certain forms of paralysis are irreversible, chiropractic therapy administered by a qualified and well-trained chiropractor may prove to be highly beneficial. Especially in situations where the end results from surgery may be questionable, or where the patient expressly refuses to have surgery.

The severity of the damage should be initially and carefully examined by a chiropractor who has been trained and certified in properly reading MRI’s and other scans which can reveal internal issues or damage. This should be done well before an extensive non-surgical treatment plan is devised. Spinal decompression, spinal manipulation, stretches, and exercises are just some of the therapies and options available under the auspices of chiropractors.      

The fact that surgery is not involved in the recovery and healing process does not imply in any way that chiropractic treatment will be inferior or non-beneficial. To the contrary, chiropractic care is an age old natural, gentle and safe method used to alleviate pain and speed up healing process in your body. 

Chiropractors will normally utilize non-invasive therapy to assist sufferers in relieving their pain. This is especially appreciated by the injured who not want to go through the pains or risks that come with even the most benign surgeries. This may also increase the need or requirement for additional pain medicines which often come with side effects.

While healing from a physical injury is half the fight, the other half is often entirely legal. The legal aspect of recovering from your injuries will more than likely stem from negotiating a fair settlement for all of your losses so that you can be fairly paid – not only from property loss, but more importantly loss of health and well-being. 

The legal aspect of recovering from your injuries will more than likely stem from negotiating a fair settlement for all of your losses so that you can be fairly paid – not only from property loss, but more importantly loss of health and well-being. 

If the accident occurred while you were driving in Florida, for example, you would want to call a Fort Lauderdale automobile accident lawyer as soon as possible. The logic behind this is because the accident occurred in Florida – so you would want to seek legal counsel there, even if you later want to seek chiropractic treatment in Vancouver.

As mentioned, your chiropractor and lawyer will be on your team, proving what and why medical treatments are required for you to return to your regular life. Your lawyer will be required to provide proof of the injuries you suffered as a result of the accident, such as a medical evaluation from your chiropractor and the medical expenses you paid.

You must show that you had to undergo all of these medical procedures as a result of the defendant’s negligence. Medical expenditures must be judged reasonable by the court in order for the settlement money to be paid out to you, the plaintiff for those damages and ensuing costs. 

Your accident lawyer will act on your behalf to ensure that you receive the just compensation you are entitled to under the law. Because your ability to get reimbursed for medical expenditures is dependent on a court judgment, you will want to employ the best lawyers available to represent you and your case.

One never wishes to be involved in an accident, so you will always want to drive defensively and safely. But because there are so many careless people everywhere, it’s always a good idea to be mentally prepared for an accident. Always drive with your “head on a swivel”, as trained safety professionals say – meaning be cognizant of what is going on around you at all times!