A car accident can happen in seconds. One minute you’re driving through Oklahoma City or Yukon and the next you’re trying to figure out what happened, whether everyone is okay, what to do about your vehicle, and whether that stiffness you’re starting to notice is something you should be concerned about.
Once the initial shock wears off, the questions often begin:
Should I go to the emergency room?
What if my neck or back starts hurting tomorrow?
When should I see a chiropractor after a car accident?
If you’ve recently been involved in an auto accident in the Oklahoma City metro, here’s a practical guide to what you should do next.
1. First Things First: Make Sure Everyone Is Safe
Immediately following an accident, check yourself and your passengers for injuries and move to a safe location when it is possible to do so. Call 911 when emergency assistance is needed.
Severe pain, significant bleeding, loss of consciousness, confusion, difficulty breathing, new weakness or numbness, or other serious symptoms require prompt medical attention.
Important Tip: the amount of visible damage to your vehicle doesn’t necessarily tell you how your body responded to the collision.
2. Document What Happened
If you can safely do so, gather information before leaving the accident scene. Take pictures of the location, vehicle damage, and surrounding area. Exchange contact and insurance information with the other driver and obtain witness information when appropriate. If Yukon Police, Mustang Police, or the Oklahoma Highway Patrol responds to the accident, make note of how you can obtain the accident report.
Important Tip: When the other driver is at fault, call their insurance and secure the claim number and confirm that the policy covers medical care. Inquire about any maximums you should be aware of.
3. “I Felt Fine After the Accident.” Keep Paying Attention.
Walking away from an accident feeling relatively normal doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll continue feeling that way. Symptoms associated with injuries such as whiplash can develop in the days following an accident.
You may begin noticing:
- Headaches
- Neck pain or stiffness
- Muscle tightness or spasms
- Upper/mid/low back pain
- Shoulder discomfort
- Reduced range of motion
- Pain while sitting or driving
- Difficulty sleeping comfortably
- Tingling, numbness or radiating discomfort
Important Tip: It’s important to pay attention to changes in how you feel, move, and function in the days after an auto accident. You’re looking for more than just pain as your indicator.
4. More Common Than You Might Think
Traffic accidents aren’t unusual in Oklahoma, especially here along I-40. According to finalized Oklahoma Highway Safety Office crash data from 2021, approximately ONE OKLAHOMAN IS INJURED EVERY 45 MINUTES.
Behind each statistic is someone who suddenly has to figure out what to do next. Auto accident injuries are more common than you might think.
Important Tip: With these odds, being ready in the event you’re in this situation can help with any added stressors.
5. Get Evaluated If Something Doesn’t Feel Right
If you’re experiencing neck pain, back pain, headaches, stiffness, limited movement or other symptoms following an accident, an evaluation can help determine what may have been affected and what type of care is appropriate.
An auto accident examination may include evaluation of:
Range of motion
Can you turn your head, bend and move normally—or has something changed since the accident?
Muscles and joints
Your doctor may evaluate areas of tenderness, muscle guarding, spasms and restricted or painful joint movement.
Neurological function
When appropriate, strength, sensation, reflexes and other neurological findings may be evaluated.
Your ability to function
Can you sleep normally? Work? Exercise? Pick up your children? Sit at your desk? Turn your head to check traffic while driving?
These details can be important when evaluating the effects an accident has had on you. Imaging or referral to another healthcare provider may also be recommended when clinically appropriate.
Important Tip: Knowing what to look for in addition to discomfort can help both you and your provider.
6. When To Seek Chiropractic Care
There isn’t one timeline that’s right for every patient. For non-emergency musculoskeletal symptoms such as neck pain, back pain, stiffness, headaches or difficulty moving normally, an evaluation can help determine what was affected.
You don’t necessarily need to wait until you’re in severe pain. If your body simply doesn’t feel or move the way it did before the accident, that’s worth paying attention to. Chiropractors evaluate and treat conditions involving the spine, joints and surrounding musculoskeletal system — areas that can be affected during a motor-vehicle collision. The question isn’t simply: “Where does it hurt?”
We also want to know: What changed because of the accident?
Has your movement changed?
Can you perform daily tasks like normal? Are certain activities now painful?
Has your sleep changed?
Are muscles guarding an injured area?
Are there neurological symptoms that need additional evaluation?
Are you having trouble performing activities that were completely normal before the collision?
If you’re experiencing neck pain, back pain, headaches, stiffness, limited movement or other symptoms following an accident, an evaluation can help determine what may have been affected and what type of care is appropriate.
7. Keep Track of How the Accident Is Affecting Your Everyday Life
After an accident, don’t only think about your pain on a 1–10 scale. Think about what you can and can’t do normally.
Have you noticed difficulty:
- Sleeping?
- Sitting at your desk?
- Driving?
- Checking your blind spot?
- Bending or lifting?
- Exercising?
- Doing household chores?
- Taking care of your children?
- Performing your normal work duties?
These changes help tell the story of how an injury is actually affecting your life. As you recover, they can also provide meaningful ways of measuring improvement.
Looking for an Auto Accident Chiropractor in the Oklahoma City Metro?
If you’ve recently been involved in a car accident and are experiencing neck pain, back pain, headaches, stiffness or changes in mobility, we’re here to help you determine your next step.
Our office provides chiropractic evaluations and conservative care for patients following auto accidents throughout the Oklahoma City, Yukon, Mustang, Bethany and surrounding OKC metro communities.
We’ll evaluate your symptoms and examination findings, discuss what may have been affected by the collision and determine whether chiropractic treatment is appropriate for your condition.
Click here to submit a request for an appointment.
Been in an accident?
Don’t wait for pain to dictate your routine. Get evaluated, understand what’s going on, and make an informed decision about what comes next. We’d be honored to partner with you through the process.
This article is provided for general educational purposes and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis or emergency care. Seek immediate medical attention for severe or concerning symptoms following an accident.