Would it surprise you to find out that every day over 6,400 Americans are injured in auto accidents? About 30% of these injuries are severe, resulting in some type of long term or permanent disability.  Many people do not even realize that they have been injured initially but later develop problems such as pain, headaches, or even difficulty concentrating.  The consequences of auto accidents can impact your quality of life for years to come even if the collision was low speed, happened in a parking lot, didn't involve any damage to vehicles, or didn't require an ambulance. Fortunately, if you have been injured in an auto accident it is easy to get effective help that will allow you to make a full recovery if possible.

If you have to have an auto injury, Oregon is a good place to have one.  Oregon auto insurance help protect drivers and passengers who have been hurt in a crash.  State law requires auto insurance for all drivers and vehicles.  This means that your likelihood of being involved in an accident with an uninsured driver is very low here.  There is a minimum of $25,000 of coverage that each driver must carry.  A portion of that coverage, referred to as Personal Injury Protection (PIP), is meant specifically to cover medical costs from injuries sustained in a crash.  The minimum PIP coverage in Oregon is $10,000. Oregon is a "No-Fault" state. This means that if you have been injured in a car accident then your insurance company will pay for your medical treatment regardless of who was at fault for the collision. 

Based on these facts there is no reason that you should not be checked for injuries following an accident. Emergency Room doctors are only concerned with treating injuries that may be life threatening and not with long term rehabilitation after an injury.  If you go to an ER doctor they may send you home with a prescription and tell you to get some rest.  If you do have an auto injury, extensive research has shown that pain killers and rest are not effective for long term recovery.  A Chiropractor on the other hand is an excellent choice for your post-accident evaluation and treatment.  Chiropractors are experts in Neuromusculoskeletal (that's nerves, muscles, and joints) injuries and rehabilitation.  You never need a referral to see a chiropractor after a car accident.  Regardless of whether the injury is minor or major a chiropractor can help you to make the fullest possible recovery. 

It is not uncommon for people to suffer from chronic pain and disability from car accidents that they forgot they even had.   Don't be one of these people.  If you or somebody you know has an auto injury seek the help of a chiropractor right away.

Dr. Jason Young is the chiropractor and owner of Body of Health Chiropractic & Wellness Center at 985 NW 23rd St. in Corvallis.  Dr. Young and his trained staff of Licensed Massage Therapists are experts in treating Neuromusculoskeletal injuries and have helped dozens of people after auto injuries.  Dr. Young is currently accepting new patients.  Call (541) 753-1287 for an appointment.  For more articles by Dr.Young read our blog at: Blog.yourbodyofhealth.com

**This is a copy of an article written by Dr. Young for the High Points Section of the Newspaper: Best of Times