The United States is one of the busiest places in the world when it comes to road traffic. In many cities, the main way of transportation is by car.
There are over 280 million vehicles in use in the U.S., which means there are 280 million chances for a car accident to occur at any given time.
If you’ve been involved in a minor car accident, you’ll agree that thanks to shock and adrenaline, one can get into a car crash and feel fine immediately after, and then hours later, feel absolutely awful.
Car accidents occur for many reasons: drunk driving, distracted driving, honest mistakes, speeding, bad weather, or road rage. Due to this, there are many types of injuries one can sustain after a car accident, even if it’s something as small as a fender bender.
Even if your car accident is minor, you should take immediate medical action to make sure everything is alright, even if you “feel fine.”
Common Car Accident Injuries
The most common car accident injuries that occur are those that are usually minor and can heal quickly. On the other hand, other injuries can take weeks or even months to heal.
Some common car accident injuries include:
- Whiplash
- Cuts and scrapes
- Broken bones
- Deep bone bruises
- Arm and leg injuries
- Chest injuries
With some of these, you’ll feel pain immediately, while with others, it may take some time for your body to notice discomfort.
Seeking Immediate Medical Attention After a Car Accident
In almost every case of a car accident, medical attention is usually dispatched. No matter how minor your car accident is, you should always seek immediate medical attention. In some cases, it could be the difference between a quick recovery and chronic pain that is with you for years. We’d recommend that you always put your health above all else after a traumatic situation.
You can either get checked out at the accident scene by the medical team or go to a nearby emergency room to get checked out. Once you’ve had an initial exam, they may refer you to your family physician for a follow-up to make sure everything is alright.
If paramedics were not dispatched to your car accident scene and you didn’t visit the emergency room, at least make an appointment with your healthcare professional to get a check-up.
Physical Recovery in the Weeks After a Car Accident
In many cases, you’ll be able to heal from your accident quite quickly. However, in other cases, you may need longer-term care, physical therapy, and other mobility help, even for minor injuries. We’d recommend you get the help, as it will only make you feel better and return to normal activities as soon as your body heals.
This is where chiropractors, such as the professionals at the South Orange Chiropractic Center, come in. The main goal of chiropractic care is to reduce pain, increase strength, mobility, flexibility, and prevent future injury.
All of the injuries listed above are treatable with chiropractic care. For example, in dealing with whiplash, your chiropractor may employ stretching, strength exercises, and muscle relaxation or stimulation to make you feel more comfortable and help you heal.
Similar actions would be taken for the rest of the items on the list. At SOCC, they focus on pain management without the need for medication, giving you the healthiest route to healing.
Not only that, but you should also make sure you’re taking care of your mental health as well. Being in a car accident can be traumatic, so if you need to see a therapist or another medical professional, mention this to your family physician. If you feel afraid to drive in traffic or drive down the same street where the accident occurred, these may be indications you could benefit from some help with mentally recovering from this traumatic incident. Get the help you need.
Reach Out to Us
All of the doctors at South Orange Chiropractic Center are dedicated to helping you get back on your feet in the best way possible. We work with many insurance companies and walk you through each step you need to experience our service.
Reach out today to book your appointment. Let’s get you back to feeling good again.
