MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT INJURIES
We at Bass River Chiropractic take particular pride in our thorough comprehensive approach to treating injuries suffered in motor vehicle accidents. Since opening BRHCA in 1972, we have treated thousands of patients injuries in automobile accidents, and we have noted that many of these patients comprise the most complicated and difficult cases that we treat. In a few seconds that it takes for an accident to occur, the body is often thrown violently back-and-forth and sometimes striking the steering wheel and the side window of the car or the ceiling of the vehicle or airbags. Many times the accident is a multi-car accident or multi-impact accident. These type of impacts, many times literally cause problems from the head to the toes. It is not uncommon for a patient to have a post concussion syndrome, which includes headaches, dizziness, nausea, forgetfulness, balance problems. And the same patient may have acute neck pain, pain into the arms or hands or numbness or tingling, mid back pain, chest pain from the seat belt, low back pain, sometimes leg pains from the knee striking the dash and a variety of other complaints.
My experience with these types of injuries as if they're not treated thoroughly at the time the injury occurs, the patient often ends up with a lifetime of neck or back problems. With that in mind, we at Bass River Chiropractic do a very thorough case history and examinations which include neurologic evaluation, orthopedic evaluation, muscle and strength testing, range of motion testing and vital sign testing. We then take whatever x-rays are appropriate with our radiology department on-site.
After the history, examinations and appropriate x-rays are taken we try to correlate all of these findings and present a report to the patient.
We have highly trained staff that understands how to help you navigate the insurance world and our staff can help you fill out the right forms to send to your insurance company. For the average auto accident claim we except assignment, which means you do not have to pay any money upfront for your treatment and we will wait for your insurance company to pay us.
We have an excellent relationship with the many insurance companies in Massachusetts that we interact with and our staff and billing company understand how to talk with your insurance company.
We also understand the legal concerns many patients have, and we have an excellent rapport with dozens and dozens of auto injury attorneys. Because we are so thorough providing clear, typed notes and reports, attorneys find us very easy to work with.
We are here for you. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have.
This is a list of commonly asked questions and answers.
Q: Do I need a referral to treat for chiropractic care under my car insurance also called PIP (Personal Injury Protection)?
A: You do not need a referral or authorization for chiropractic. You may come in and start treatment directly.
Q: Do I need a referral for Massage Therapy?
A: Yes, you do need a referral. It can come from your primary care doctor or your chiropractor.
Q: Can I go to any doctor I want or does the car insurance have to approve it?
A: You may treat with any doctor of your preference.
Q: Do I have to pay any money out of pocket or will the car insurance pay for it all?
A: Standard car insurance coverage for medical expenses is $2000.00, then bill to the health insurance for what ever benefit coverage there is, then back to the car insurance for another $6000.00. There are other factors to keep in mind. There may be a deductible on the policy, never a good thing to choose. All lost wages for time out of work will come out of the total $8000.00. And any copays that accumulate with billing the health insurance will be billed back to the car insurance. For this reason purchasing med pay is always a good idea.
Q: Why do you need my car insurance if they hit me, their insurance pays right?
A: Your car insurance covers you in an accident. Your car insurance will pay for your treatment and damages to your car. Your car insurance will then go to the car insurance of the other person in the accident to get reimbursed.
Q: What if I wasn’t the driver?
A: You are covered by the insurance for the car you were in. You may also be covered by your own Auto Policy if you have one.
Q: Why would I need an attorney?
A: Attorneys can help with many things. If you are temporarily disabled (out of work), an attorney can help get lost wages for you from your car insurance company. If the car insurance company is not cooperative or fair with the offer for the damages to your car an attorney can help. If you were hit by another driver that caused the accident and you want to file a lawsuit you will need an attorney. If the car insurance company claims adjustors are rude or unfriendly, once you hire an attorney the car insurance company can’t call you any more. They have to talk only to your attorney.
Q: What is the extra medical coverage or med pay?
A: This is an option you have on your policy to purchase additional coverage for medical expenses. It is highly affordable only a couple dollars more per month and can give you anywhere from $5,000 to $100,000 to pay for medical expenses beyond the regular $8000.00 PIP coverage.
Q: Why do you need my coverage selection page?
A: Your coverage selection page is important because it explains your PIP coverage, any deductibles on your policy, and if you have purchased any extra medical coverage (med pay), option 6 on your policy.
Q: Why do you need my health insurance cards?
A: As explained above at some point bills for your treatment may be sent to your health insurance carrier if there is coverage.
Q: Can I treat for Chiropractic, Physical Therapy and Massage at the same time or do I have to use one course of treatment at a time?
A: You may combine any or all of the above treatments as medically necessary to treat your condition. A combination of spinal alignments and muscular therapies can help the body heal faster.
My experience with these types of injuries as if they're not treated thoroughly at the time the injury occurs, the patient often ends up with a lifetime of neck or back problems. With that in mind, we at Bass River Chiropractic do a very thorough case history and examinations which include neurologic evaluation, orthopedic evaluation, muscle and strength testing, range of motion testing and vital sign testing. We then take whatever x-rays are appropriate with our radiology department on-site.
After the history, examinations and appropriate x-rays are taken we try to correlate all of these findings and present a report to the patient.
We have highly trained staff that understands how to help you navigate the insurance world and our staff can help you fill out the right forms to send to your insurance company. For the average auto accident claim we except assignment, which means you do not have to pay any money upfront for your treatment and we will wait for your insurance company to pay us.
We have an excellent relationship with the many insurance companies in Massachusetts that we interact with and our staff and billing company understand how to talk with your insurance company.
We also understand the legal concerns many patients have, and we have an excellent rapport with dozens and dozens of auto injury attorneys. Because we are so thorough providing clear, typed notes and reports, attorneys find us very easy to work with.
We are here for you. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have.
This is a list of commonly asked questions and answers.
Q: Do I need a referral to treat for chiropractic care under my car insurance also called PIP (Personal Injury Protection)?
A: You do not need a referral or authorization for chiropractic. You may come in and start treatment directly.
Q: Do I need a referral for Massage Therapy?
A: Yes, you do need a referral. It can come from your primary care doctor or your chiropractor.
Q: Can I go to any doctor I want or does the car insurance have to approve it?
A: You may treat with any doctor of your preference.
Q: Do I have to pay any money out of pocket or will the car insurance pay for it all?
A: Standard car insurance coverage for medical expenses is $2000.00, then bill to the health insurance for what ever benefit coverage there is, then back to the car insurance for another $6000.00. There are other factors to keep in mind. There may be a deductible on the policy, never a good thing to choose. All lost wages for time out of work will come out of the total $8000.00. And any copays that accumulate with billing the health insurance will be billed back to the car insurance. For this reason purchasing med pay is always a good idea.
Q: Why do you need my car insurance if they hit me, their insurance pays right?
A: Your car insurance covers you in an accident. Your car insurance will pay for your treatment and damages to your car. Your car insurance will then go to the car insurance of the other person in the accident to get reimbursed.
Q: What if I wasn’t the driver?
A: You are covered by the insurance for the car you were in. You may also be covered by your own Auto Policy if you have one.
Q: Why would I need an attorney?
A: Attorneys can help with many things. If you are temporarily disabled (out of work), an attorney can help get lost wages for you from your car insurance company. If the car insurance company is not cooperative or fair with the offer for the damages to your car an attorney can help. If you were hit by another driver that caused the accident and you want to file a lawsuit you will need an attorney. If the car insurance company claims adjustors are rude or unfriendly, once you hire an attorney the car insurance company can’t call you any more. They have to talk only to your attorney.
Q: What is the extra medical coverage or med pay?
A: This is an option you have on your policy to purchase additional coverage for medical expenses. It is highly affordable only a couple dollars more per month and can give you anywhere from $5,000 to $100,000 to pay for medical expenses beyond the regular $8000.00 PIP coverage.
Q: Why do you need my coverage selection page?
A: Your coverage selection page is important because it explains your PIP coverage, any deductibles on your policy, and if you have purchased any extra medical coverage (med pay), option 6 on your policy.
Q: Why do you need my health insurance cards?
A: As explained above at some point bills for your treatment may be sent to your health insurance carrier if there is coverage.
Q: Can I treat for Chiropractic, Physical Therapy and Massage at the same time or do I have to use one course of treatment at a time?
A: You may combine any or all of the above treatments as medically necessary to treat your condition. A combination of spinal alignments and muscular therapies can help the body heal faster.