Motor Vehicle Accident

February 5, 2012

I was riding my bike home the other day when I passed a small auto accident pulled to the edge of the road. As I sped away I realized that when my business was new I was always handing cards to people. I never hesitated when I passed someone limping or complaining in a grocery store. I'd simply walk up hand over a card and say " you should try acupuncture". Today, I'm less forthright. But when I passed the accident I thought to myself about why it is so important that people get treatment after motor vehicle accidents.

Many of the people who visit our clinic complain of chronic pain, 50% of those chronic pain sufferers have some sort of past injury that was the cause of their current problems. Often they received little or no treatment at the time of the injury. Pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs aren't corrective. They are used simply to mask symptoms. Acupuncture treatment soon after injuries can help the body heal more completely, with less scar tissue formation and in less time then injuries left untreated. If people actually heal correctly they will experience less residual or chronic pain symptoms in the future.

Here in Oregon, we all carry personal injury protection. After an accident we have $15,000 of coverage to insure that we are undamaged by the accident. It doesn't matter if your at fault or not. This money can pay for hospitals, ambulances, medical doctors, chiropractors, and of course acupuncturists. Any care that helps you return to pre-accident condition is covered by this money.

It is important for people to take advantage of this opportunity right away. Insurance companies will attempt to close claims or claim that the pain a victim is experiencing is unrelated to the incident if they wait to long to seek treatment.

I rode my bike back to the accident, handed over my cards and the people involved in the accident yelled insults at me. They called me an ambulance chaser and other less pleasant things. The point is, if you or someone you know was in a recent auto accident tell them to seek qualified care while their claim is open because, if your shoulder bothers you in another five years due to post accident scar tissue you'll have to pay for that treatment yourself.