Car accidents that result in injuries should be handled with concern, since certain symptoms do not appear immediately after the accident. Symptoms such as neck and back pain, numbness, dizziness, headache, nausea, vomiting, hearing loss, etc. may occur several days, and even weeks, after the date of the accident. Even if there is no apparent injury, it is important to consult a physician, such as chiropractor or orthopedist.
Our practice is located in Edgewater, New Jersey which is on the New Jersey/New York border and also close in proximity to Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Due to the location it is common for a patient to visit our office who has been involved in an accident out of state while insured under a NJ auto insurance plan. The process to file claims for medical expenses is different in that case as opposed to a patient who was involved in an accident in NJ under a NJ auto insurance plan. Insurance and auto accident fault laws vary vastly from state to state; therefore, evaluating what the proper steps are can be a confusing and taxing process. If there is a mistake in the process of medical billing, your insurance may refuse payment and your patient responsibility may increase.
At our office, the staff is experienced and can assist the patient throughout the process so the patient can focus on treatment and improving their health. In addition, we have a partnership with an insurance claim agency that specializes in auto insurance claims and an attorney who serve as counsel to our office for complicated cases.
First Steps
Have you been involved in an auto accident? You must take prompt actions.
1. Obtain information
Accidents are usually nerve-wracking and upsetting. Your impulse may be to deal with the matter as quickly as possible to seek comfort; however, it is important to get as much information as possible from all the parties involved.
We suggest obtaining the following information:
- Name, address, phone number, and the driver license of the opponent
- Name, address, and phone number of the car owner
- Name of the insurance company and the policy number of the opponent
- Make and model, and the license plate of the opponent’s car
- Possible witness’ name(s) and phone number(s)
- Photos of accident scene and damage
In case of a major accident, if the other party is not insured, if the other party is obviously inebriated, or hit and run, please call the police promptly. If anybody involved is seriously injured, call an ambulance immediately. Collect the completed police report at a later date.
2. Report to insurance company
Once you have obtained the above information, contact your insurance company and report the accident. Many insurance companies accept accident reports 24 hours a day by phone. The contact information should be located on your auto insurance card.
After reporting the accident, the insurance company will provide you with a claim number and the name and phone number of the insurance agent, also known as adjuster, who will oversee your case. You will then receive documents from your insurance company, and they should be filled out and returned promptly. If you need help or do not know how to fill out the documents, contact your adjuster.
3. Treatment
Repairing your car after an accident is important, but repairing your body should take priority. Even if you don’t feel pain or discomfort immediately after the accident, it is likely that symptoms will appear in the following days or weeks. Chiropractic care is very effective for injuries due to traffic accidents. Visit our office for diagnosis and treatment promptly to prevent symptoms from getting worse or more severe conditions from developing.
At our office, the staff is experienced in dealing with the insurance technicalities backed by our partnership with auto insurance claim agency and traffic accident attorney so that you can focus on your health.