CAR ACCIDENTS
On average, each person will experience one to two car accidents in their lifetime. Regardless if they are responsible or not, the likelihood of injury is high. A lot of the time, people will assess the damage of the car and, if there is no damage, they won’t report it or get a check-up at the doctor. The issue with this is, even if the accident seems minor, the velocity of the hit and impact from the car travels through your car – and your body!
THE PHYSICS OF CAR ACCIDENTS
The majority of accidents are rear-enders, but even those that aren’t can have the same injuries. To understand the importance of proper medical attention after an accident, you must first become familiar with the physics. If you are hit by a car going 20 KMH it may seem like the car wasn’t going very fast and there is no real reason to be concerned. But imagine transferring that 20 KMH onto a body – and if you are waiting at a stoplight – the motion can be incredibly traumatic.
Upon impact, you and your car are jerked forward. Your body snaps backwards, just as quickly, and your spine and head hit the seat behind you. Most people aren’t expecting the impact of an accident, so you aren’t prepared and your head snaps forward and back in the same motion. These sudden movements cause a ripple of injuries up and down your spine.
THE INJURIES OF CAR ACCIDENTS
Most of us are very familiar with the term whiplash – this refers to the rapid back and forth movement your neck makes when jarred – but there are many other injuries associated with car accidents. Here are the seven most common injuries caused by even minor accidents:
- Soft Tissue Damage
- Herniated Discs
- Fractured Vertebrae
- Spinal Bruising
- Nerve Damage
- Concussion
- PTSD
HOW WE CAN HELP
At Plaza Physiotherapy, we see many automotive injuries and we cannot stress the importance of visiting our clinic as swiftly as possible after an accident has occurred. Many people wait to seek medical attention, but the quicker you visit a doctor, the swifter you can be working toward undoing the damage the impact caused. Through combination treatments of Physiotherapy, Acupuncture, and Massage – we can treat whiplash, soft tissue damage, spinal concerns, chest and shoulder damage, and even aid in treatment of stress and anxiety with driving.
ICBC CLAIMS
One thing that is very important to known is how we work with ICBC. If you have been injured in an accident and are working with ICBC and a claim, you may have prepaid treatments allotted to you. For Physiotherapy, there is a preapproval of 25 sessions – within 12 weeks of the accident – and comes with no fee to the patient. ICBC also offers pre-authorized treatments of Registered Massage Therapy and Acupuncture – though Acupuncture does have a fee of $24. Still, these pre-authorized treatments make getting help after an accident easier and less expensive.
If you are ever in an accident be sure to seek help for your injuries for even the most minor issues can cause major problems down the line. To book for ICBC head to www.plazaphysio.com.
