Car Accident Injuries

When the body is suddenly thrown in any direction beyond its normal limits, the muscles, tendons and ligaments supporting the spine and head can be over-stretched and torn causing pain and irritation to your muscles and nerves. Sometimes the pain is immediate or it may take weeks to months to develop.

Treatment

The chiropractors at Align ChiroMedical who specialize in car accident injuries will examine you to find the source of your pain. X-rays may be taken to further diagnose your condition. Based on the exam findings, we will use the following to help your condition:

Know your rights!

In the state of Minnesota, owners of motor vehicles are required to carry auto insurance which includes No-Fault coverage, also known as Personal Injury Protection (PIP). PIP pays the driver for their own medical and other expenses if they are hurt in a car accident, no matter who’s at fault. By Minnesota Law, if you are injured from an car accident you are entitled to see a chiropractor of YOUR choice!

What insurance benefits are available to me?

NO FAULT BENEFITS. The Minnesota No-Fault Act became law on January 1, 1975 and provides that all owners of vehicles in Minnesota are required to purchase no-fault insurance. To obtain no-fault benefits, a no-fault insurance contract must be in existence and the injury must have arisen out of the maintenance or use of a motor vehicle.

Minnesota No-Fault law provides that the minimum basic economic loss benefits must include payment of up to $20,000.00 for reasonable costs and necessary medical and chiropractic care, as well as $20,000.00 for income loss, replacement services, funeral expense loss ($2,000.00 maximum) and survivor’s losses.

The $20,000.00 minimum coverage under no-fault for medical and chiropractic benefits includes payments for QRC services and reasonable mileage. Mileage reimbursement for doctors’ appointments range from 35 to 40 cents per round trip mile. There is no fee limit for health care providers under Minnesota No-fault. However, if the charges are in excess of what is usual and customary for the service in the health care provider community, the No-fault insurer may contend that the bill for services rendered was not reasonable. Often they will do this by obtaining an adverse opinion from a health care provider consultant.

No-fault wage loss benefits are determined by paying 85% of the actual wage loss or $250.00 per week, whichever is less. Most no-fault insurers will require written proof of income prior to the car accident and written proof of the subsequent loss of income. Usually, a no-fault insurer will obtain an authorization from their insured to obtain information from the insured’s employer. In addition, the no-fault carrier will require from the treating doctor authorizations for either being off work or restrictions while working which have resulted in wage loss. Upon receipt of this information, the no-fault insurer is required to make payment for the wage loss benefits within 30 days.

The no-fault insurer must also pay for replacement services. Replacement services include those expenses incurred to obtain usual and necessary substitute services for those activities that the insured person would have otherwise performed by him or herself for the household. For example, if a person who is injured in a car accident is restricted by his health care provider from doing the duties he did prior to the car accident, such as house cleaning and shoveling sidewalks, that individual may hire others to perform those duties and receive reimbursement from the no-fault insurer. These benefits are subject to a maximum of $200.00 a week and begin only after the first seven days following the  car accident. Reimbursement for replacement services is contingent upon the patient submitting a prescription from their chiropractor, as well as signed and dated receipts from the person performing the services.

A person injured in a car accident should be thoroughly examined by a chiropractor, since seemingly minor injuries often develop into major health problems. Even if you do not have obvious injuries – broken bones, cuts, lacerations or bruises – you may have sustained a connective-tissue or brain injury which, if left untreated, could cause major health problems in the long term.

The at-fault party’s insurance company is responsible for paying for all of your damages that were a result of the accident.

The doctors at Align ChiroMedical are trained and experienced in the evaluation and treatment of car accident injuries. Our chiropractors take the time to answer your questions, explain what we’ve found and offer choices. If you think we could be of any help, even fielding some questions on the telephone, please give us a call. We offer same day appointments!