Auto Accident Chiropractic in Jacksonville
When you are involved in a car crash, your body undergoes a tremendous amount of trauma, regardless of the amount of visible damage to the car. The force of the impact is absorbed by the weakest link inside the vehicle, typically your neck and spine. Your head and body can be thrown violently back and then forward, resulting in significant soft tissue damage. Airbags can save your life, but they can also add to the trauma your body sustains.
Often, a person doesn’t feel much pain after an accident, even when their injuries are extensive. Symptoms like pain or stiffness can take days, weeks or even months to show up. But during that time, scar tissue is building up.
If your injuries aren’t addressed as soon as possible, scar tissue can lead to long-term issues like
arthritis, chronic pain, premature degeneration, stiffness, inflexibility, radiating pain into the arms/legs, loss of mobility, and more.
Don’t Wait! Get Seen Right Away
Our Duval Spine & Rehab chiropractor has been helping auto accident patients get the care they need to heal for over 20 years. He’ll refer you out for X-rays and, if necessary, MRIs. Then, he’ll tailor care to your specific situation, including chiropractic adjustments and other therapeutic modalities such as flexion distraction for disc injuries, intersegmental traction, shockwave therapy and more.
To qualify for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits in Florida, you must receive initial care from an authorized healthcare provider within 14 days of your accident
Experience Caring for Personal Injury Patients
For Dr. Phil Scheets, caring for people injured in auto accidents is a particular area of interest. He has worked with personal injury patients for 27 years and understands that injuries such as whiplash, soft tissue damage and herniated discs may require careful evaluation, appropriate care and thorough documentation.
Dr. Phil takes a gentle approach with patients who are sore or sensitive after an accident, tailoring his techniques to their examination findings and comfort level. When further evaluation is warranted, he can refer patients for diagnostic imaging or medical management.
His experience also extends to the legal side of personal injury cases. Over the course of his career, Dr. Phil has served as an expert witness in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Florida. He works with personal injury attorneys when appropriate to provide clear documentation related to a patient’s injuries and care.
Medical Services
Our Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Elizabeth, is available to augment your healing process. Offering platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and trigger point injections to stimulate the body’s healing capabilities, we strive to get you out of pain and moving optimally as quickly and effectively as possible. In addition, Elizabeth is authorized to provide an Emergency Medical Certification, which increases your allowable PIP care from $2,500 to $10,000. She can also write prescriptions as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
I feel fine after my accident. Do I still need to come in?
It may still be worth scheduling an evaluation. Some symptoms associated with whiplash and soft tissue injuries may not be noticeable immediately after a car accident. Pain, stiffness, headaches, or changes in mobility can sometimes develop over the hours or days that follow. An evaluation can help identify any concerns and determine whether care may be appropriate.
How soon after an accident should I be seen?
If you’re experiencing pain, stiffness, headaches, or other symptoms after an accident, consider scheduling an evaluation as soon as you can. Florida’s PIP law generally requires initial medical services to be received within 14 days of a motor vehicle accident to qualify for PIP medical benefits. Getting evaluated early also gives your provider an opportunity to document your condition and recommend appropriate next steps.
What is the Florida 14-day rule?
Under Florida’s Personal Injury Protection (PIP) law, an injured person generally must receive initial medical services within 14 days of a motor vehicle accident to qualify for PIP medical benefits. Coverage and benefit amounts can vary depending on the circumstances, so patients should check their individual policy or speak with their insurer or attorney if they have questions. Our nurse practitioner, Elizabeth Bagan, can provide appropriate clinical documentation beginning with your first visit.
Will my car insurance cover chiropractic care?
Chiropractic care may be covered under Florida PIP benefits following a motor vehicle accident, depending on your individual circumstances and coverage. Florida’s no-fault system generally provides PIP benefits regardless of who caused the accident. Our team can work with your insurance company and, when applicable, your attorney to help provide documentation related to your care. We also recommend confirming your specific benefits with your insurer.
What does a first visit look like for an accident patient?
We start with a thorough examination to learn more about the accident, your symptoms, and any areas that may have been affected. Dr. Phil takes a measured approach with patients who are experiencing acute discomfort following an accident. Based on the examination findings, he’ll explain what he found and discuss any recommendations or appropriate next steps.
What techniques do you use for accident injuries?
For patients experiencing acute discomfort after an accident, Dr. Phil may use low-force, instrument-assisted approaches such as ArthroStim® and Activator Methods®. If examination findings suggest possible disc involvement, flexion-distraction may also be considered as care progresses. The techniques used will depend on your individual findings, symptoms, and response to care rather than following the same protocol for every patient.
My accident was several months ago and I never got treated. Is it too late?
No. You can still schedule an evaluation if you’re experiencing symptoms from an accident that happened weeks or months ago. Ongoing pain, stiffness, or reduced range of motion can have many contributing factors, and an examination can help Dr. Phil better understand your current condition. From there, he can discuss whether chiropractic care may be appropriate and what other options or referrals may be considered.
Do I need imaging before coming in?
No. A clinical examination is the starting point at Duval Spine & Rehab, so you don’t need to arrive with an X-ray or MRI. Some soft tissue injuries and other sources of post-accident discomfort may not be clearly identified through imaging alone. Dr. Phil will assess your symptoms and examination findings first and can recommend or refer you for imaging when clinically indicated.
Get Started Today
We work directly with auto insurance companies and attorneys and will guide you through this complicated process with any necessary referrals. We’ll document your care thoroughly to ensure you get all the care you deserve. Contact us today to schedule.
CONTACT US
Auto Accident Chiropractic Jacksonville FL | (904) 490-7445
