What to Do After a Car Accident in New Jersey

Right after a car accident, even one that seems minor, the first priorities are safety and a medical checkup. Move to a safe spot, call the police if anyone is hurt or the scene needs documenting, exchange insurance and contact information, and take photos of the scene. Above all, plan to be evaluated by a healthcare professional even if you feel fine at first.

Symptoms are often delayed after a crash. Adrenaline can mask discomfort at the scene, while soft-tissue strain and inflammation build over the following hours and days. It is common to feel fine Monday and stiff and sore by Wednesday. Neck stiffness, back pain and headaches frequently show up 24 to 48 hours later.

That is why many experts recommend an evaluation soon after an accident, once any urgent injuries have been checked. Catching restrictions early is often easier than untangling patterns that have had months to settle. Chiropractic care may help some people after an accident by addressing the stiffness and restricted motion that whiplash-type forces can leave behind.

Seek emergency care for severe pain, loss of consciousness, numbness or weakness in the limbs, difficulty breathing, or worsening neurological symptoms. For anything short of that, a timely evaluation is still a reasonable step.

Dr. Greg has evaluated post-accident patients since 1996 at his office in Sparta, New Jersey, always after medical clearance for serious injuries. If you were in a crash recently and are now noticing neck stiffness, back pain or headaches, that is worth having looked at.

Call or text (973) 699-4100 to schedule an evaluation.