QuestionI was leaving my house on my way to work almost 2 months ago. I was completely stopped at the stop sign waiting to go out into traffic when all the sudden I was rear ended and knocked into the middle of the road. The guy who rear ended me got out and said the sun was in his eyes and he didn't see me. The speed limit in the neighborhood is 30 and I think he had to be going at least 25-30 when he hit me. He didn't want to call the police for a report because it just cracked the bumper a little. I work in the insurance industry so I called the police anyhow. The police officer arrived and didn't want to do a report either but did because I insisted. I have seen way too many cases where there was more damage than originally thought. The police officer asked if I felt alright and I said I felt fine but it did knock my heat rest completely back and opened the sun roof cover on impact.
The police report deems the guy at fault but the guy would not file a claim to his company because his rates were going to go up. He wanted to pay out of pocket for the damages. I got estimtes and called him with them. He waiting 3 more days to file and finally I just contacted my company. My company, in turn, called him and he finally filed a claim because I think they told him about me seeking medical attention.
We left the scene and I got to work to start my normal day. After about an hour, I had a massive headache and could barely sit at my desk due to it feeling like someone had hit me in the back. I called to make an appointment with a Primary Care Doctor because mine retired and it was a weeks wait. I decided to go to a chiropractor because a friend of mine went for her migraines and I didn't want a doctor just prescribing me a pain med that I could only take at night when I got home. He did a thermal scan of my spine and discovered many places that were transmitting heat and essentially meant pain. The next morning when I woke up I could barely move and the chiropractor did not do anything to me that day. I had a sharp pain behind my ear and a burning sensation in my neck and back. My neck was also spasming.
I have been going to him for about 2 months now three to four times a week for this accident. I do not enjoy going and it takes lots of time out of my schedule. Before the accident and the chiropractor, I was an avid runner and was preparing for a half marathon. I would run up to 20 miles a week. The doc told me not to run until I was better because I could force more damage. I respected his opinion.
In the meantime, the guys insurance has paid for my car to be repaired and the adjuster said to call him when I am released from care.
He is releasing me in the next 2 weeks and told me that I would need to come back every month because damages to my soft tissue will probably bother me for a long while and especially because of the type of work I do...I am at a desk and riding in a car a lot because I am actually an insurance agent.
After all the background info, my question is, will it hurt me that I went straight to a chiropractor? After reading some of the other responses I feel like I may not have any ground to stand on but I want to be compensated for my pain because it has been insane and altered my ability to continue with working out and sleeping.
AnswerHi Brandi,
I want you to know I am not an expert in this subject, however I have been through the same gambit personally. So anything I tell you is from my life experience.
Also, keep in mind, I am not giving legal advice. I am not an attorney. Be very careful what you sign. If the check from the insurance company is just the release for the vehicle fine, but other wise, get an attorney!!
In 1997 I was rear-ended by a school bus at about 60 mph. I was transported via rescue squad to the hospital. The only broken bone was my collar bone from the seat belt. Shortly after I went to chiros and medial doctors for neck pain and severe back pain as well as my knees which hit the dash.
It was found I had 9 herniated discs in my spine and both knees were damaged from the crash. My neck was so bad with the disc pressing against the spinal chord, the doctors would not operate and in reality, the chiro could have paralyzed me as well if he would have adjusted without ordering MRIs. He too, would not touch my neck. All this from a rear end collision.
We filed suit and after dragging on five years, we finally settled and I lost one of my businesses because I could no longer do the physical mechanical work. The settlement money was a joke, but my expert chiro was going to prison for tax evasion.
That was 1997 and I have never recovered from it. Fortunately, I had enough knowledge in my field to become a consultant.
What I am getting at is, you need to find a personal injury attorney. You will need to see doctors (specialists) whether you want to or not, just to see how badly you are injured. Don't try to be the brave one and shrug it off. If you are still hurting, there is probably something that has not been considered yet in your diagnoses.
Soft tissue injury is serious and can have a long term effect. I can guaranty that from personal experience.
When my ex fell at work, she went to the "independent" medical doctor (Nothing independent about any of these guys whether they review people or cars-they still say what their client needs to here to either deny or minimize the claim). She was told she had a sprain in her neck. It was later found she had a herniated disc. Years later and two surgeries, she is considered fixed as best she will ever be. She is on very heavy pain killers like percocet, kadian (morphine) and oxycotin everyday and considered an expected average recovery.
I recommend that you get an attorney and not play around with this.
Good luck,
Rob
