Why Visit a Chiropractor After Car Accidents Injuries?
At Northern Lakes Chiropractic, car accident patients are one of the most common injuries we see in the practice. With our longest season being winter, abundant wildlife, and tourists that almost double the population during summer and fall months, car accidents are unfortunately very common in the Duluth area. Most people think of a car accident as a big, dramatic collision like something out of a movie, but speeds as low as 2.5 MPH can cause whiplash that takes a real toll on a person’s quality of life. In fact, studies show the most common type of crash is a rear-end collision, which most often happens at relatively low speeds, and because of the rise in distracted driving, these are becoming more common every day.
The most common injuries seen after a car accident are headaches, dizziness, neck pain, shoulder pain, and mid/upper back pain. Other symptoms we commonly see include low back pain, stiffness and loss of motion, muscle aches, and tingling or numbness in the arms or hands, which can indicate nerve involvement and should be evaluated promptly. It is extremely important to get checked out right away, because these can be serious injuries that aren’t felt immediately. When left untreated, symptoms soon follow, and the longer the spine goes untreated, the harder it becomes to correct. We work with a lot of personal injury cases and have a deep understanding of how these cases work in the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin. We make sure to walk every patient through the process in a way that is transparent and as easy to understand as possible.
Working with other professionals in the community is something we have built over years of handling car accident and personal injury cases. Having a wide network of trusted professionals is vital when seeing a large number of car accident patients, because some will have more serious, even life-threatening injuries that we cannot treat ourselves. We pride ourselves on working with the best professionals in the community, so if you have more serious injuries we cannot help with, we can confidently send you in the right direction.
Getting checked as soon as possible cannot be emphasized enough. Even when symptoms feel minimal, they typically continue to get worse over time and get harder to fix as the joints keep adapting in the wrong direction. The risks of not getting checked out include severe headaches and back pain, continued joint damage to the extremities, and even undiagnosed fractures or ligament instability that can cause permanent damage if not addressed correctly. In Minnesota, you generally have six months after an accident to get an assessment to diagnose your care. Under Minnesota auto insurance law, drivers must carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP), whether they have full coverage or liability only. PIP covers up to $20,000 in reasonable medical expenses. In the world of PIP, reasonable medical coverage means treatment that brings your health back to the level it was at before the accident.
$97 New Patient Special
Includes Consultation, Digital AI Range of Motion Analysis, Digital Posture Analysis, Digital X-rays & Report of Findings
How Our Care Plan Works
1. Discover The True Root Cause
We look beyond where you feel symptoms to understand what is actually causing them. Instead of offering a short-term answer, we focus on correcting the problem at its source to create long-term solutions and lasting results.
2. Finally Get Real Solutions
We are not here to simply manage symptoms or provide quick fixes. Our focus is on understanding the true reason behind your condition and correcting it, helping you move beyond the Band-Aid approach and toward lasting, meaningful results for your health.
3. Have The Freedom To Fulfill Your Dreams
Your goals become our goals. We are a goal focused practice helping you achieve the health so many people struggle with today. With better health comes the freedom to go after the dreams you’ve set out to achieve.
How We Treat Auto Injuries In Duluth, MN
Comprehensive Consultation and Exam
At Northern Lakes Chiropractic, we start this process by going over the details of the car accident event. A lot of factors can come into play after a car accident, and severity can vary widely. Understanding what happened determines the type of testing needed and whether X-rays are required. The most common tests we perform after an auto crash are orthopedic testing, digital range-of-motion testing, AI posture analysis, and X-rays. Because severity from a car accident can vary so much, we use these tests to rule out the most serious conditions first and work our way down to the least severe. We perform more testing for personal injury patients, so if this is your first visit after a car accident, expect an additional 15 minutes in the office.
Digital X-rays
X-rays are among the most important tools for understanding your neck pain after a car accident. X-rays give us a detailed picture of the neck, and by seeing exactly what is going on, we get the best idea of how to treat your neck pain. The most obvious features on X-rays are the neck curve, joint spacing, and joint alignment. By gathering this information, we can get a clear picture of your spine. X-rays are a valuable diagnostic tool and are low-risk, thanks to the modern digital X-ray equipment used in this office. To see is to know, and to not see is to guess, and we do not guess when it comes to your health.
Common Causes Of Car Accidents In Duluth, MN
Duluth’s long winter season brings icy roads, heavy snowfall, and reduced visibility, all of which make car accidents more likely between late fall and early spring.
Wildlife is abundant in the Duluth area, and collisions with deer and other animals crossing the road are a common cause of car accidents, especially at dawn and dusk.
Tourist traffic nearly doubles the local population during the summer and fall months, bringing more unfamiliar drivers onto the road and increasing the chance of a car accident.
Distracted driving continues to rise and is a leading cause of car accidents, particularly the low-speed rear-end collisions we see most often in our office.
Rear-end collisions are the most common type of car accident we treat, and they frequently happen at speeds as low as 2.5 MPH, often low enough that drivers assume no one was hurt.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon should I get checked out after a car accident in Minnesota?
You should get checked out as soon as possible after a car accident. Minnesota generally gives you six months after an accident to get an assessment and diagnose your care, but the longer you wait, the harder untreated injuries are to correct.
Can a low-speed car accident still cause whiplash?
Yes. Studies show that speeds as low as 2.5 MPH can cause whiplash, which is why even a minor rear-end collision should be taken seriously.
How can chiropractic care help with whiplash?
Chiropractic care for whiplash focuses on restoring normal motion and alignment in the neck after the rapid back-and-forth movement of a collision. After a thorough exam and X-rays, we create a treatment plan based on the specific injuries found, with the goal of reducing pain and returning your neck to its pre-accident function.
Does insurance cover chiropractic care after a car accident in Minnesota?
In most cases, yes. Minnesota requires drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP), which covers up to $20,000 in reasonable medical expenses to help restore your health to its pre-accident level. Coverage depends on your individual claim and policy, so call our office and we’ll help you understand your benefits.
What happens during a car accident exam at Northern Lakes Chiropractic?
Your exam includes a detailed review of the accident, orthopedic testing, digital range-of-motion testing, AI posture analysis, and X-rays when needed. Personal injury patients should expect about 15 extra minutes for this additional testing.
What are the most common injuries after a car accident?
The most common injuries we see are headaches, dizziness, neck pain, shoulder pain, and mid or upper back pain, many of which aren’t felt until after the initial shock of the accident wears off.
Chiropractic Care You Can Trust: Northern Lakes Chiropractor, Duluth, MN
Chiropractors hope to help people see the necessity of being proactive about their health instead of reactive. Oftentimes, we wait until we are sick to seek out healthcare, when we could be proactive with consistent adjustments, leaving medicine and surgery as a last resort. We provide safe and effective chiropractic care for everyone, from newborns and teenagers to pregnant women and senior citizens.
Northern Lakes Chiropractic works with most major auto insurance carriers for auto accident injury claims, including:
And other policies. Please call for more details. Coverage is based on the individual claim and policy.
$97 New Patient Special
Includes Consultation, Digital AI Range of Motion Analysis, Digital Posture Analysis, Digital X-rays & Report of Findings
