Spine and neck injuries are the most common types of injuries sustained during car collisions. These injuries can have long-term consequences on your health and could even lead to permanent impairment if left untreated.
Light to moderate cases, like joint adjustments, realignment, and manipulation, can usually be treated by a chiropractor. If you have been in a car accident and want to get yourself checked by a chiropractor, you might be wondering who pays for your chiropractic treatment.
Just like with any personal injury claims, the party who is at fault and proven to have committed road negligence will be the one shouldering monetary reparation for damages. Tapping the help of personal injury lawyers will allow you to understand and navigate the legalities involving your situation fully.
You must look for an attorney to help you settle the case and ensure you get the proper compensation for the damages you sustained during the accident. This will also ensure that the settlement will cover losses and medical expenses, such as multiple chiropractic treatments.
Do Car Accident Settlements Cover Chiropractic Treatment?
Suppose it is proven you are not at fault or have any involvement in the accident. In that case, your settlement will most likely cover your chiropractic treatments, but that’s now always guaranteed due to certain circumstances. Unfortunately, chiropractic treatments are viewed as non-medical and non-medical treatments. The party who is at fault may most likely exploit this to reduce their liability in a car accident settlement claim and lower the amount they will have to pay you.
However, California considers expenses incurred from necessary medical treatments caused by a personal injury as a form of economic damage. Car accident settlements also have a higher likelihood of covering chiropractic treatment if it is necessary to treat injuries like whiplash, back strains, and spinal misalignments.
How Will California Law Affect My Car Accident Settlement?
California is a pure comparative negligence state. This factors in on the amount of compensation you will be receiving in a car accident settlement. You may encounter cases where the responsible party alleges you of being involved or partially involved in the accident. The law states that if you are partially involved, your compensation will be reduced according to the percentage of your involvement or fault in the accident.
If the jury’s verdict says you are 10% at fault, you will only receive 90% of the settlement. The 10% could be the settlement used for your chiropractic treatment, which you will no longer be able to avail yourself of due to the verdict.
How Long Should I Wait Before Seeing A Chiropractor?
After the accident, you should immediately seek medical assistance to assess the severity of your injuries.
If you’re experiencing back or neck pains post-accident, it is best to see a chiropractor who has experience treating neck and back injuries. This will help you immediately relieve the pain you might be feeling and avoid any long-term damage caused by the accident.
Your prompt visit to a chiropractor will also strengthen your personal injury claim since medical records will show proof of the injuries you sustained during the accident. You can continue to visit a chiropractor to either relieve any pain you’re feeling or/and strengthen your claim.
You can claim compensation for your chiropractic treatment from the party proven to be at fault. Under the California statute of limitations for car accidents, you must take action and file your claim within two years of the accident to receive due compensation for damages you have sustained after the incident.
If symptoms or signs of injury appear later on after the statutory limitation period, California law gives you a one-year grace period to file your personal injury claim.
How Many Times Should I Visit A Chiropractor?
Regardless of the severity and cause, injuries take time to heal. Even if you think the injuries you have sustained during a car accident are not that severe, it is best to get constant care and make sure you get consistent medical attention. This is to guarantee your injuries don’t persist and become a liability to you in the long run.
More serious injuries will need more extensive treatment and will take much longer to heal. Making a few trips back to your chiropractor is suggested to ensure you recover much faster and avoid any long-term injuries.
It is best to see a chiropractor multiple times and do consistent follow-up visits after the accident to make sure the extent of your injury and pace of recovery is tracked and monitored by a medical professional. Apart from guaranteeing you heal from your injuries optimally, this will also keep medical records that will be beneficial to your case and strengthen your claim.
How A Personal Injury Lawyer Can Help You
Situations involving legal processes can be stressful, especially if you are just recovering from an injury. The party at fault will also be pulling strings to minimize their financial liability in the case and the monetary compensation incurred to pay you. This adds another layer of stress that could hamper and prolong your healing process.
Hiring a personal injury lawyer will help you navigate your situation much more smoothly and ensure you will be represented well in court. This increases your chances of receiving the full settlement and compensation you are entitled to.
The personal injury lawyer will also help you understand the law involved and guide you through the legal system. They can help you navigate the complicated nature of your situation and take care of the car accident settlements.
