Most of the car accident patients we see in Vancouver don’t come in the day of the crash. They felt fine at the scene. They told the officer they were okay. Then two mornings later they woke up and couldn’t turn their head far enough to check a blind spot.
That happens a lot, and it’s one reason we wrote this. The other reason is insurance. Almost every new accident patient asks some version of “who’s paying for this?” In Washington, the answer is often your own auto policy, through something called PIP.
Why you can feel fine and still be hurt
Adrenaline after a crash is a pretty good painkiller. It wears off over the next day or two, and that’s when neck stiffness, headaches or low back pain tend to show up. Whiplash is the classic example. Your head snaps forward and back faster than your muscles can brace, and the soft tissue in your neck takes the strain.
It doesn’t take a big wreck. We regularly see patients from low-speed rear-end collisions where the bumper barely had a scratch on it.
One important note: if you have numbness, weakness in an arm or leg, a headache that keeps getting worse, or you lost consciousness at any point, go to urgent care or the ER first. Chiropractic care comes after the serious stuff has been ruled out.
What to do in the first few days
- Get checked out, even if the pain seems minor. A record from soon after the accident helps your recovery and your claim.
- Report the accident to your insurance company and write down the claim number.
- Ask your insurer whether your policy has PIP and what the medical limit is.
- Keep a few notes on what hurts and when it started. It feels tedious, but it helps later.
- Be careful about agreeing to a quick settlement before you know how badly you’re hurt. If you have questions about that part, talk to an attorney.
What PIP is and how it works in Washington
PIP stands for Personal Injury Protection. It’s part of your own auto insurance, and it pays for your medical care after an accident no matter who caused it. You don’t have to wait for the insurance companies to sort out fault before you get treated.
Washington doesn’t require drivers to carry PIP, but insurance companies have to offer it, and you can only turn it down in writing. That’s why a lot of people have it without realizing it. When a policy includes PIP, the state minimum is $10,000 for medical and hospital bills from the accident (used within three years), plus some coverage for lost wages. Plenty of people carry more than the minimum.
PIP usually covers you, the people in your household and the passengers in your car. Your policy spells out the details, and our billing team can help you read it.
Does PIP cover chiropractic care?
Yes. Chiropractic care for accident injuries is one of the most common things PIP pays for.
We bill PIP directly here. Our billing team verifies your coverage, sets up the claim with your adjuster and handles the paperwork, so you aren’t stuck chasing reimbursements. If you don’t have PIP, or your benefits run out, we’ll talk through your other options with you. You can read more about how we handle insurance, or see our page on car accident chiropractor care in Vancouver, WA.
What to bring to your first visit
- Your auto insurance claim number
- Your adjuster’s name and phone number, if you have them
- Your health insurance card and a photo ID
- The police report number, if there is one
- Any paperwork from urgent care or the ER
If you don’t have all of it yet, come in anyway. We can track most of it down.
What treatment usually looks like
On your first visit we’ll ask how the accident happened, what hurts, and what you can’t do now that you could do before. Then we do a hands-on exam that checks your range of motion, muscle strength and reflexes. We don’t take x-rays in our office. If we think you need imaging, we’ll refer you out for it.
Most people start the same day. Treatment is usually gentle adjustments and soft tissue work, plus a few exercises to do at home. Accident patients tend to come in more often at first and then taper off as things improve. We keep detailed notes the whole way through, because your insurance company will want to see them.
Common questions
Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor after a car accident?
In most cases, no. You can call us directly, and we’ll check your PIP coverage before your first visit.
What if I didn’t feel hurt until a few days later?
That’s normal, and it’s still worth getting looked at. Come in as soon as you notice symptoms so there’s a clear record of when they started.
What if the other driver was at fault?
Your PIP still pays first. Your insurance company may go after the other driver’s insurance for reimbursement later, but that happens between the insurers and doesn’t hold up your care.
How long will treatment take?
It depends on the injury. A mild neck strain might settle down in a few weeks, while other injuries take longer. We’ll give you a realistic estimate after your exam and adjust it as we go.
Get checked out
If you’ve been in an accident in Vancouver, Camas or the Portland area, call us at 360-573-5500 or request an appointment. We’ll check your PIP coverage before you come in so you know where you stand. More on our auto accident care.