El Nino seems to be bringing us some much-needed rain this year.  Unfortunately, along with the rain and Modesto’s crazy drivers comes an increase in the number of car accidents.  Many times people walk away from accident’s thinking, “wow, I’m lucky I didn’t get hurt!”  However, in a couple of days the neck pain, back pain, and headaches start to show up.  It’s very difficult when several thousand pound vehicles run into each other for us not to sustain some sort of injury.  The forces that are created by collisions are enormous, and we’re strapped in absorbing all of that force.

The only problem is, ligaments and cartilage don’t have a whole lot of nervous supply.  Therefore you can tear ligaments in half and feel very little.  It’s a false sense of security that can cost us down the road.  One of the things I tell people all the time is that you don’t pay for accidents now, you pay for them ten years from now.  Many people, even if they feel a little pain after an accident, will just wait it out a couple of weeks, and remarkably, they start feeling better.  Unfortunately, many times whiplash and spinal injuries can lie dormant for years and then come back with a vengeance causing chronic pain that is very difficult to fix.

It is always best to get checked after an accident to make sure you don’t have any injuries. These common problems are much easier to take care of right after an accident than they are ten years down the road.  Scar tissue and degenerative changes that occur make a full recovery very difficult at that point.

Another issue that keeps people away right after an accident is a fear of dealing with your automobile insurance.  There is a law in the state of California which protects you after an accident.  If you’re in an accident that isn’t your fault, the law states that if you use your own insurance, the insurance company cannot raise your rates.  If you don’t have med-pay on your policy, we have two very good attorneys that we have worked with for over 20 years who can assist you in getting the care you need paid for.

So, if you’re in an accident, even a little fender-bender, come into the office and get checked out.  It can save you from many problems down the road.  Whiplash is a silent villian that doesn’t show up for years. Don’t take the chance.