How Soon Can I Be Seen After an Accident?

Quick Answer: As soon as possible — and we mean it. McNamara Chiropractic Center offers same-day and next-day appointments for accident victims. Florida's 14-day PIP rule means you must seek treatment within two weeks of your accident or you lose access to your insurance benefits. Call us at (954) 943-1100 immediately and we'll get you in fast.

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The Full Answer

One of the most important things you can do after a car accident is seek medical evaluation quickly. At McNamara Chiropractic Center, we make that as easy as possible — we reserve scheduling priority for accident patients and work to get you seen the same day or the next day you call.

Why Speed Matters After a Car Accident

There are two reasons to seek care quickly after an accident: your health and your rights.

1. Your Health

Crash injuries are deceptive. In the immediate aftermath of an accident, adrenaline and shock can mask pain signals. Many patients feel relatively fine right after a collision and assume they're uninjured — only to wake up the next morning with severe neck stiffness, back pain, and headaches.

The injuries most common in car accidents — whiplash, disc compression, muscle tears, and ligament sprains — worsen with time when left untreated:

• Muscle spasm becomes chronic
• Inflammation becomes fibrosis (scar tissue)
• Disc displacement progresses
• Nerve compression worsens

The sooner we evaluate and begin treating these injuries, the faster and more completely you'll recover.

2. Your PIP Rights — Florida's 14-Day Rule

Florida's Personal Injury Protection (PIP) law includes a strict 14-day requirement:

You must seek medical treatment within 14 calendar days of your accident to qualify for PIP benefits.

If you wait longer than 14 days, you forfeit your right to $10,000 in medical coverage — regardless of how injured you are or how clearly the accident caused your injuries. This is one of the most costly mistakes accident victims make, and it's completely avoidable.

The 14-day clock starts at the time of the accident — not when your symptoms appear. Even if you feel fine on Day 1, seek an evaluation by Day 3 or 4 at the latest. It takes only one appointment to preserve your benefits.

What Happens at Your First Visit

When you come to McNamara Chiropractic Center after an accident, your first appointment includes:

Comprehensive Injury Evaluation
Dr. McNamara performs a full physical examination with a focus on the areas involved in the accident. He assesses range of motion, neurological function, muscle integrity, and spinal alignment.

Review of Accident Mechanism
Understanding how the crash happened — direction of impact, vehicle speed, seatbelt use, airbag deployment — helps us anticipate which injuries are most likely and structure our evaluation accordingly.

Diagnostic Referral if Needed
If imaging is warranted (X-ray, MRI), we coordinate referrals to appropriate diagnostic centers. Imaging is often critical for documenting disc injuries, fractures, or other structural damage.

Documentation for PIP and Legal Purposes
Our office provides thorough documentation of your injuries, treatment plan, and progress — essential for your PIP claim and for any personal injury lawsuit.

Treatment on Day One
In most cases, we begin gentle initial treatment at your first visit rather than making you wait for a separate treatment appointment.

What to Bring to Your First Visit

• Your auto insurance card and policy information
• The accident report or police report number (if available)
• Your attorney's contact information (if you have one)
• A list of current medications
• Any photos of vehicle damage from the accident

We Work with Personal Injury Attorneys

If you have a personal injury attorney — or are considering getting one — we work seamlessly with law firms throughout Broward County. We provide all required medical records, narratives, and documentation. If you don't have an attorney and want a referral, we can connect you with reputable PI firms we work with.

PIP Insurance — No Out-of-Pocket Cost

We accept PIP insurance and bill your insurer directly. For most accident patients, there is no cost to you for your initial evaluation or ongoing treatment.

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Were you in a car accident? Don't wait. Call McNamara Chiropractic Center at (954) 943-1100 right now. Same-day appointments are available. We're at 3320 N. Federal Highway, Suite 101, Lighthouse Point, FL 33064.

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