What should I do first after a car accident?
Get medically evaluated, especially if anything hurts. Fractures and other serious injuries have to be ruled out before any spinal treatment.
- See an urgent care, ER or your doctor if you have pain, and call 911 for the warning signs above.
- Write down what hurts, when it started and how it changes over the next few days.
- Keep copies of any imaging, visit notes and your claim number.
- Tell every provider you see that the pain followed an accident.
Why does pain sometimes show up a day or two later?
Sprains and strains often stiffen and hurt more over the following day or two.
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons notes that neck sprain and strain symptoms may not appear until the day after the injury, and that rear-end collisions are a common cause. Back sprains, injuries to the ligaments that hold the vertebrae together, are also common after crashes (NIAMS). Late-appearing numbness, tingling or weakness is different. It may mean a nerve is involved and should be checked promptly.
What kinds of back injuries happen in car accidents?
Most are soft-tissue sprains and strains. Less often, a disc herniates or a bone fractures.
| Injury | Typical signs | Usual first step |
|---|---|---|
| Sprain or strain (including whiplash) | Stiffness, aching, muscle spasm | Medical check, gentle activity, time |
| Disc herniation | Pain into a leg or arm, numbness, tingling | Medical evaluation; imaging if warranted |
| Fracture | Severe, focused pain; pain from a hard impact | Emergency care and imaging |
How does Utah PIP insurance work?
Utah auto policies must include personal injury protection that pays at least $3,000 per person for reasonable, necessary medical expenses.
That minimum comes from Utah Code § 31A-22-307. Many policies carry more. Coverage details, deductibles and limits vary, so call your insurer or agent and ask what your policy pays and how claims are submitted. This page isn't legal or insurance advice.
When might spinal decompression come into the picture?
Later, if at all: after serious injuries are ruled out and disc-related back, leg or neck pain persists.
Decompression is a slow, controlled stretch of the spine on a motorized table. It's not used for fresh injuries. A recent fracture, instability or other injury rules it out. For pain that lingers weeks after a crash and is linked to a bulging or herniated disc, Dr. Gordon Stapel, DC can review your records and imaging, examine you, and explain whether it's reasonable. Research on decompression is limited and results vary.
Call (801) 491-8688 to ask how the office handles auto-accident care, and have your claim information ready.
Car accident FAQs
Should I see a doctor after a car accident even if I feel OK?
Why does my back hurt more days after the accident?
Does Utah car insurance pay for treatment after an accident?
Is spinal decompression used right after an accident?
Do you work with auto insurance claims?
Ask about pain after an accident
Prefer to talk now? Call (801) 491-8688. Or send this short form and the office will call you back during business hours, usually within 2 business days.
Sources
This website is operated for Stapel Family Chiropractic (Springville Disc Center) in Springville, Utah. Care is provided by Dr. Gordon Stapel, DC, a licensed chiropractic physician. About this site.