3 Things To Do After A Car Accident To Reduce Stress

2 MINUTE READ

Accidents happen, even to those who are careful while driving. After you have been in a car accident, you may be stunned with shock, feeling dizzy, you might experience an adrenaline rush or feel rage towards the person who was responsible for the accident. This is why you have auto insurance, to protect both yourself and others, financially speaking.

What is the first thing you need to do after an accident?

I will have to say, take a deep breath. That breath can help you shift from trauma to realizing what just happened and what you need to do next.

The process that follows after the accident is straightforward, but it does not have to be easy. This is why I have prepared these steps, so that you can prepare yourself and be able to handle the stressful aftermath of being in a car accident. Above everything else, be proactive about your health! Do not let an unfortunate accident “scar your life” for the rest of your life!

1)Assess the Situation

After the accident, you need to immediately determine if anyone has been injured. If someone is, call 911 to get the police and the ambulance on the scene. But, even if no one has been injured, you need to call the police if some significant damage has been made or someone is acting confrontationally. Do not be afraid to call the police even if the accident was not too serious and everyone is cooperating, because this way, you will have an official report, which you can give to your insurance company.

2.Seek Medical Attention

In fender benders and other minor accidents, it’s normal not to feel any pain immediately afterward. You might not even know you’ve been injured. One reason for this is the heavy release of adrenaline and endorphins that mask the pain in the hours following the accident. Another reason is that, just like when you complete a high-intensity workout, your strained muscles don’t feel pain until the following day.

Regardless of whether your symptoms appear a few minutes, hours or days after the accident, don’t ignore them. Symptoms of a car accident injury include:

• Muscle pain or stiffness, especially in the neck or back (signs of whiplash or spinal injury)
• Ringing in the ears, jaw pain or visual disturbances (other signs of whiplash)
• Bruising, swelling or numbness of the injured area (signs of blunt force trauma)
• Headache, dizziness, slow reaction times or difficulty concentrating (signs of a concussion)

If you notice these or other signs of discomfort after being in a car accident, do the safe thing and stop by LifeGiving Chiropractic for a physical assessment. We’ll perform a basic physical exam, take x-rays, measure your vital signs, and test your spine and neck for areas of tenderness or limited range of motion. Our assessment determines which treatments we suggest, which may include heat and ice therapy, chiropractic care, and  massage therapy.

3. Follow the Suggested Treatment

The records of your visits to LifeGiving Chiropractic provide the best proof of the nature and extent of your injuries if you decide to file a car accident injury claim. If the other driver is found to be at fault for the accident, his insurance company may cover all of your medical expenses – but only if you seek treatment without delay and follow your doctor’s suggested treatment.

Of course, following your doctor’s orders and continuing to visit LifeGiving Chiropractic for your recommended treatment also helps to speed up the recovery process. We take special measures to ensure your spinal injury heals correctly, which helps you avoid pain and discomfort for years to come.

We have met plenty of patients in our office that never got care after their car accidents, and come into our office years after with severe aches and pains often due to that accident.

Don’t be like most people, be proactive about your health and get things assessed and corrected ASAP! Call us today at (770) 943-1425 if you live near Austell, GA or (407) 340-5055 if you live near Campbell, CA. We are here to help!

As a chiropractor in Austell, our whole mission is to give you the tools to become a better version of yourself. If any pains or aches are bothering you, please make sure you reach out to us!

#BeLifeGiving