Have you been injured in a bike or car accident?
At the North Portland Wellness Center we specialize in bike and auto injury evaluations, treatment and rehabilitation with years of experience working with patients through the complexities of auto/travelers insurance and personal injury (PIP) coverage.
How does it work?
If you were involved in a motor vehicle accident in Oregon, you may be entitled to acupuncture treatment, chiropractic treatment, massage therapy and physiotherapy through your auto/travelers insurance. By law, Personal Injury Protection (PIP) must be included in all Oregon auto insurance and in most cases you are entitled to PIP benefits no matter who was at fault. PIP may cover at least $15,000 of all expenses that your practitioner reports are related to your accident. Washington has similar laws to protect you.
Regular health insurance cannot be billed for treatment of injury due to an auto accident.
Do I Qualify?
If you were driving or riding in your own car at the time of the accident, then usually your auto/travelers insurance company will cover your PIP benefits. You will need to call your personal auto/travelers insurance and open a Medical Claim regardless of who was at fault. If you were in another person’s vehicle as a passenger, then your injury treatment will usually be covered by their insurance. You are likely also covered if you were involved in an auto accident as a pedestrian or a bicyclist. You should also be aware that motorcycle insurance policies are not required to carry PIP coverage.
The first step after an accident is to contact your auto/travelers insurance carrier and open a medical claim. You will need you adjuster's name, adjuster's phone number, and a medical claim number before starting treatment.
After a car accident, any type of body ache or pain is an indication that an area has suffered damage.
Common symptoms after an auto or bicycle accident include:
- Neck / Shoulder pain and stiffness
- Headaches
- Low back pain
- Sensations such as burning or “pins and needles”
- Irritability
- Poor sleep
- Fatigue
- Difficulty with concentration or memory
- Depression
- Dizziness / Light-headedness
- Pain or numbness in the arm and/or hand
- Ringing in the ears
- Blurred vision
The most common observation among auto injury cases is that many did not seek immediate clinical attention only to see the condition get worse. It is a misconception that only high speed accidents cause damage. Low speed accidents also cause damage to the body that can result in lifelong problems if not corrected. Consider that many injuries take days, weeks, or even months to appear.
In addition to the physical trauma to the body, auto and bike accidents often have an emotional impact as well. Holistic medicine supports the nervous system as well as the musculo-skeletal system, helping the patient heal from both the physical and the emotional trauma from the accident. Experience and expertise are essential in helping people recover from auto injuries. Trauma in various places upon impact can result in a number of injuries and abnormalities that cannot be viewed upon x-ray and there may be no visible damage. As a result, the seriousness of an injury is often initially overlooked.
We highly recommend that you visit us as soon as possible after an Oregon or Washington motor vehicle accident. We will evaluate and determine the best type of care for you. Acupuncture treatments, chiropractic treatments and massage therapy (with a referral from a doctor or Chiropractor) are included under PIP. Therapeutic assessment and treatment are most effective if started immediately after the accident.
