How do I prevent auto accidents and auto accident injuries?

1.) Always obey traffic laws.

2.) Practice defensive driving. Follow the "3 second rule." Drive with the speed of traffic.

3.) Don't drive when sleepy.

4.) Don't drive when you're highly emotional.

5.) Avoid distractions like cell phones and text messaging while driving.

6.) Wear your seatbelt. Mandate passengers to wear their seatbelt.

7.) Place children in car seats according to traffic laws and car seat manufacturer recommendations.

8.) Don't drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

What do I do if I'm in an auto accident?

1.) Stay calm. Safely drive/walk yourself to a safe location to avoid other cars and hazards.

2.) Seek appropriate emergency medical treatment. Make sure that you and others do not have life threatening injuries such as bleeding, head trauma, internal injuries. Symptoms of memory loss, dizziness, blurred vision, headache, unconsciousness, and tiredness are signs of head injury and should be evaluated immediately.

3.) In a safe environment, collect information from any witnesses of the accident.

4.) Exchange insurance information with the parties involved. Copy down the driver's name, driver's license number, car's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), car's model, year, and color, driver's insurance company name, driver's insurance policy number, insurance adjuster's name and phone number.

5.) Submit information with the police, if present. You should seek a copy of the traffic report once completed.

6.) You may take pictures of the accident scene. Take pictures of the damage done to yourself, your passengers, your car, and other parties.

7.) Report the incident to your auto insurance company. If you are not at fault, the insurance company may not raise your premium. It is the law.

8.) Find a good doctor such as those at Chan Chiropractic who can: 1.) take good care of your health and 2.) manage your paperwork in case of legal matters.

How do I manage the healthcare bills associated with the auto accident?

1.) Use your Medical Payment portion of your auto insurance. This is a must-have portion of your auto insurance because it may be used to pay for medical expenses, whether or not you are at fault. In addition, it covers the passengers in your car.

2.) OR use your personal health insurance if it covers injuries related to auto accidents

3.) OR if you do not have Medical coverage on your auto insurance policy, find a quality doctor, then find an attorney that will work with your doctor on a lien basis. (A lien is an agreement that states that once your case is settled, payment will be made to the doctor for services rendered.)

4.) It is not recommended to settle the case early with a lump sum payment because you don't know how much medical treatment you need. No one can guarantee or predict how much treatment your body will need.

How do I avoid cost and care problems that may arise from an auto accident?

1.) Make sure you have full coverage on your auto insurance policy, including Medical Payment. Some insurance companies state that they are providing you full coverage, even though it does not include Medical Payment coverage. Medical Payment acts like health insurance for yourself and anybody in your car during the accident. It may be used whether or not you are at-fault. It is fairly inexpensive to purchase and can save you a lot of hassle in case of an accident.

2.) Choose a reputable insurance company, not based on the rates you pay but rather the benefits and service you receive if and when you use your insurance. It may be a good resource to check out the state's insurance commissioner website http://www.insurance.ca.gov

3.) Choose a good doctor first. And if necessary, then choose an attorney who is willing to work with your doctor.

4.) Collect evidence of how the accident really happened. Get reputable witnesses, including the police. Take pictures.

5.) Seek treatment early, rather than later. During the healing process, the body forms scars tissue to repair injured tissues. It is important that the scar tissue forms properly to allow full and normal function. Chiropractic treatment plays an important role in this process.

Chiropractic is one of the best and most common forms of treatment people use to help the body heal after injuries associated with auto accidents. Injuries untreatable by chiropractic should be co-managed and referred out to other appropriate healthcare providers.