Minor crash does not mean minor injury
Whiplash happens at under 15 miles per hour. Bumper damage and neck damage do not track each other, because the bumper is built to absorb the hit and your neck is not. Most of the accident patients Dr. Frank sees describe the crash as "nothing, really."
The symptoms are also late. Adrenaline covers the first day. Stiffness, headaches, and pain between the shoulder blades tend to show up 24 to 72 hours later, which is exactly when most people have decided they are fine.
Go to the ER first if
These need a hospital, not an office. Call 911 or go now.
- You blacked out, even briefly, or you are confused or vomiting.
- Chest pain, trouble breathing, or pain in the abdomen.
- Numbness or weakness in the arms or legs, or loss of bladder or bowel control.
- A severe headache that came on fast, or vision changes.
- Bleeding that will not stop, or an obvious fracture.
When a chiropractor is the right first stop
Neck or back stiffness, headaches, soreness, or a "not right" feeling with none of the signs above. That is the profile of most fender bender injuries, and it is what a chiropractic exam is built for: the neck and back are examined joint by joint, nerve function is checked, and if imaging is needed you are sent for it.
Under Florida Statute 627.736, a licensed chiropractic physician is a qualifying provider for the first visit, so seeing one starts your PIP claim the same as seeing an MD. The visit is usually the same day, not a five-hour wait, and it is documented the way insurers and attorneys require.
The one thing a chiropractor cannot do
Florida caps PIP at $2,500 for non-emergency conditions unless a medical doctor, osteopath, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner determines that you have an emergency medical condition. A chiropractor cannot make that determination. When Dr. Frank's exam suggests your injury is more than minor, he coordinates that evaluation so the full $10,000 stays available. That is part of the job, not a referral out.
What to do today
In order:
- Get the police report number and the other driver's insurance, even for a small crash.
- Tell your own insurer a crash happened. You do not have to give a recorded statement about injuries yet.
- Get examined inside 14 days. Same day is better; the record starts when the exam does.
- Write down what hurts each day for the first week. Delayed symptoms are normal, and a dated note is evidence.