CAR ACCIDENT? GET TREATED TODAY
Auto Accident & Car Wreck Chiropractor in
Austin, TX
Specialized chiropractic treatment for motor vehicle accident injuries. Whiplash, back pain, neck pain, and soft tissue injuries. Same-day appointments. We bill auto insurance directly.
✓ Same-Day Appointments ✓ Auto Insurance Accepted ✓ Attorney Liens Available
20+
Years Experience
⭐ 5.0
Google Rating
116+
5-Star Reviews
50K+
Patients Treated
Been in a Car Accident? Here’s What You Need to Know
Car accidents are one of the most common causes of spinal injuries, and Austin’s congested highways — I-35, MoPac, 183, and 360 — see thousands of collisions every year. Even a “minor” fender bender at low speed can generate enough force to cause whiplash, disc injuries, and soft tissue damage that may not produce pain for hours or even days after the crash.
At Touch of Life Chiropractic, Dr. Todd Stranahan specializes in diagnosing and treating motor vehicle accident (MVA) injuries. He’s treated thousands of car accident patients over 20+ years and understands the unique biomechanics of crash injuries — how the forces of impact travel through the spine and create damage patterns that standard medical exams often miss.
We accept auto insurance (PIP/MedPay), work with personal injury attorneys, and offer attorney lien arrangements so you never have to choose between getting treatment and worrying about the bill.
🚨 Important: Texas PIP Coverage
Texas law requires auto insurance companies to offer Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. If you have PIP, it covers your medical expenses after an accident regardless of who was at fault. This means you can get treated immediately — your PIP pays for it.
Even if you think you declined PIP, you may still have coverage. We verify your PIP benefits for free. Call us at 512-458-9200 and we’ll check before your first visit.
Common Car Accident Injuries We Treat
Whiplash
The most common car accident injury. The sudden back-and-forth motion of impact damages neck muscles, ligaments, and discs. Symptoms often don’t appear until 24–72 hours after the crash — which is why immediate evaluation is critical.
Back & Spinal Injuries
Impact forces compress, twist, and jar the spine — causing herniated discs, vertebral misalignments, muscle strains, and ligament sprains throughout the thoracic and lumbar spine. These injuries can become chronic without proper treatment.
Neck Pain & Stiffness
Beyond whiplash, car accidents cause cervical disc injuries, pinched nerves, and muscle spasms in the neck that lead to chronic pain, reduced range of motion, and headaches if not properly addressed.
Shoulder & Arm Pain
Seatbelt injuries, bracing against the steering wheel, and airbag impact can damage shoulder joints, rotator cuffs, and cause radiating pain, numbness, or tingling down the arms from compressed cervical nerves.
Headaches & Migraines
Post-accident headaches are almost always cervicogenic — meaning they originate from neck injuries sustained in the crash. Chiropractic adjustment of the upper cervical spine often provides dramatic relief.
Sciatica & Radiating Pain
The impact of a crash can herniate lumbar discs that press on the sciatic nerve, causing shooting pain, numbness, and weakness down one or both legs. Chiropractic care and decompression address the disc injury at its source.
Why Chiropractic After a Car Accident — Not Just the ER
The ER Rules Out Emergencies
Emergency rooms check for fractures, internal bleeding, and life-threatening injuries. They’re not designed to diagnose whiplash, soft tissue injuries, or spinal misalignments — the injuries that cause chronic pain if untreated.
Chiropractic Finds What the ER Misses
Dr. Todd performs detailed orthopedic and neurological testing specifically designed to identify musculoskeletal injuries from car accidents. These are the injuries that won’t show up on an ER X-ray but will cause you pain for months or years.
Medication Masks, Chiropractic Heals
Pain medication and muscle relaxers may provide temporary relief, but they don’t fix the underlying structural damage. Chiropractic adjustments restore proper alignment, reduce nerve pressure, and allow injured tissues to heal.
Documentation That Protects You
Every visit is documented with clinical findings that directly support your insurance claim or legal case. Insurance adjusters take chiropractic records seriously when they show objective, measurable evidence of injury and recovery progress.
Your First Visit After a Car Accident
Accident History & Symptoms
We document the accident details — speed, direction of impact, seatbelt use, airbag deployment — along with all your current symptoms. Bring your police report and insurance information if available.
Comprehensive Examination
Dr. Todd performs orthopedic, neurological, and range-of-motion testing to identify all areas of injury. This exam is specifically designed to find the soft tissue and spinal injuries that car crashes cause.
Insurance Verification
We verify your PIP/MedPay coverage and handle all auto insurance billing directly. If you’re working with an attorney, we coordinate with their office on lien arrangements so you have zero out-of-pocket cost.
Treatment Begins
In most cases, we begin treatment on your first visit. Your care plan may include chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue therapy, spinal decompression, and rehabilitative exercises — tailored to your specific crash injuries.
⚠️ Don’t Make These Common Mistakes After a Car Accident
✗ Waiting to get treated — Delays give insurance companies reason to deny your claim
✗ Only going to the ER — ERs miss soft tissue and spinal injuries
✗ Relying on pain medication — Masking symptoms doesn’t heal the injury
✗ Saying “I’m fine” at the scene — Adrenaline masks pain; symptoms appear later
✗ Settling too fast — Don’t accept a settlement before you know the full extent of your injuries
✗ Not documenting everything — Medical records are the backbone of your claim
In a Car Accident? Call Us Now
Same-day appointments available. We accept PIP/auto insurance and attorney liens. The sooner you get evaluated, the better your recovery and the stronger your claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon after a car accident should I see a chiropractor?
Within 72 hours. Many car accident injuries — especially whiplash — don’t produce immediate pain due to adrenaline and inflammation masking symptoms. Getting evaluated quickly ensures injuries are caught early and creates the medical documentation that links your injuries directly to the accident.
Will my auto insurance cover chiropractic treatment?
Yes. If you have PIP (Personal Injury Protection) or MedPay coverage on your auto policy, it covers chiropractic treatment after an accident regardless of fault. We verify your coverage before your first visit and bill your auto insurance directly.
What if the accident wasn’t my fault?
If another driver caused the accident, their liability insurance should ultimately cover your medical expenses. In the meantime, your PIP coverage or an attorney lien arrangement allows you to get treated immediately without waiting for the other driver’s insurance company to accept responsibility.
The accident was minor — do I still need treatment?
Yes. Research shows that whiplash injuries can occur at speeds as low as 5 mph. Low-speed collisions are particularly deceptive because the vehicle may show little damage while the occupants sustain significant soft tissue injuries. Many patients who dismiss “minor” accidents develop chronic neck and back pain within weeks.
Do you provide records for my attorney or insurance claim?
Absolutely. We provide detailed clinical records, narrative reports, and treatment summaries that attorneys and insurance companies require. Our documentation includes objective findings, diagnosis codes, treatment rendered, and prognosis — everything needed to support the full value of your claim.
Related Services
Serving Austin & Surrounding Communities
Touch of Life Chiropractic is located on Balcones Drive in Northwest Austin. We serve patients from Northwest Hills, Far West, Allandale, Rosedale, Crestview, Great Hills, Arboretum, Westlake, Tarrytown, Cedar Park, and the greater Austin metro area.