Does a person get injured in a car accident when the car sustains no damage? Unfortunately, the auto insurance industry, with shareholder interests in mind would say of course of not. This is my generalization of course, but I have seen this multiple times where an auto insurer will not pay a claim because there is no damage to the car. These types of cases are extremely difficult to fight, and sadly leaves many victims by the wayside to deal with the burden and suffering of permanent injuries.
A study by Szabo and Welcher (1), examined the effects on the human frame with live test volunteers with a series of 10mph crashes. No structural damages occurred to the test vehicles, which were Volvos fitted with standard head rests. The car accidents were recorded with high speed cameras, and sensors recording acceleration of the cervical spine and lumbar region were recorded.
Due to variances in size, weight, height, gender, build, they found that the cervical spine accelerated dramatically. The acceleration ranged from 6.6 g – 17.2 g forces. The acceleration of the lumbar region ranged from 3.9 – 7.5 g forces. Other noteworthy data collected was the acceleration was produced before any muscle activity was produced.
This like getting punched in the head with out you knowing that you were going to get punched. Guarding and stiffening would have helped prevent injury, so getting rear ended in a car accident with out your knowledge of the impeding impact will create more damage. This goes against the collective thought created with drunk drivers having less injuries than their counterpart accident victims. Guarding protects the body, and drunk drivers do fairly well in car accidents because they are the ones doing the hitting.
As a car accident doctor in Denver, I have seen many people end up with permanent injuries from whiplash scenarios that create brain injury. With the head having the potential to accelerate over 17 g forces, widespread permanent injuries can occur.
The astronauts black out during High g training at 4-6 g, and a constant 15 g-s for a minute is deadly. During a car accident, the g force occurs with in a split second, which is enough time to create a brain injury.
The brain injury can be severe or mild, and the mild brain injuries often escape the car accident doctor in Denver. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported in 1989 that the annual number of brain injuries in 7 million. This equates to 1 injury for every 40 citizens, and that is why traumatic brain injuries are noted as the silent epidemic.
Sadly I have seen this in my chiropractic clinic. A person gets rear ended, minor to moderate damage occurs to the car, and the person has neck pain, headaches, and back pain. Careful observation from a car accident doctor in Denver that is trained to deal with auto injuries can spot mild traumatic brain injuries.
Brain injuries from car accidents are simple to understand. The brain is soft, and the skull is hard which makes the brain susceptible to damage. The brain basically sloshes around in the skull, which end up shearing axons, and thus creating damage.
If you have been in an auto collision in Denver, it is imperative for your well being to see a car accident doctor in Denver that has special training in detecting this silent epidemic. Feel free to call, if you would like a free consultation.
Sincerely,
Dr. Trent Artichoker MS, DC
Denver Chiropractic, LLC
3890 Federal Blvd Unit 1
Denver, CO 80211
303-455-2225
1. Szabo TJ, Welcher JB: Human subject kinematics and elecromyographich activity during low speed rear impacts. SAE paper 962432, 295-315, 1996
One of the most dangerous activities that we do on a daily basis is driving. Our roads are full of dangerous and irresponsible drivers of all sorts. How many times do per day do you see the driver talking on their cell phone, eating, putting on makeup, drinking, or texting. As a Denver chiropractor, I see many car accident victims. Some seek treatment the same day of the accident, and some wait weeks to months, or even years before they seek help.
Some people understand the importance of seeking help early. Others do not, which could cost them dearly in the form of chronic pain.
The early treatment of car accident related injuries in a chiropractic office will focus on re-establishing motion and function of the spine and associated structures through various techniques. Without early intervention, substantial changes can take effect.
When we compare healthy subjects versus people who have whiplash associated disorders, there are significant changes to the muscles that occur. The difference between the two groups is that the people with whiplash associated disorders have fatty infiltration of the neck muscles (1).
So, more fat gets deposited in the muscles that are used to stabilize the neck. How can a neck work when the muscles have turned to fat? It doesn’t work. This is probably why some people end up with chronic neck pain. Their once healthy muscles have now turned to fat, which doesn’t contract like a muscle. This invariably will cause destabilization in the neck, poor performance and control of neck movement, and loss of proprioception.
Early specific treatment can help ward off this fatty infiltration. Seeing a proplerly trained car accident doctor will help retain the function of the neck and its associated structures.
Neck pain increases the risk of injury, changes patterns of neck muscle activity, reduces strength, and endurance (2). Auto accidents are unique in the fact that pain and dysfunction can set in hours to days, or even weeks.
If you have been in a car accident in Denver, CO I would highly advise you seek treatment and advice immediately. Don’t be a fool, minor pain can turn into long lasting pain that might never go away. Get yourself checked!
- Elliot J, PT, MS, Jull G, MPhty, PhD, al e. Fatty infiltration in the cervical extensor muscles in persistent whiplash associated disorders. An MRI analysis. Spine 2006;22:E847-55
- Jull, G. M., PhD, FACP. The Management of Disorders of the Cervical Region. 2007. Cervical spine & Whiplash research unit. Division of Physiotherapy. University of Queensland.
Dr. Trent Artichoker MS, DC
Denver Chiropractic, LLC
3890 Federal Blvd Unit 1
Denver, CO 80211
303-455-2225
Whiplash is the common term used, but it is also called cervical acceleration deceleration syndrome (CAD). This syndrome has many different symptoms, and it affects people in different ways. This is in part is due to the different forces involved in the rear end type accident, as well as the type of vehicle, and of course occupant kinematics.
The syndrome is characterized by a constellation of symptoms, such as:
1. Neck pain
2. Neck and back stiffness
3. Upper back pain
4. Headache arising from the back of the neck
5. Diffuse pain in the back that can radiate to the arms
6. Trigger Points
There are many factors involved such as:
1. Seat angle
2. Height, weight, gender of occupant
3. Prior health conditions
4. Seat belts
5. Type of cars involved
6. Speed of impact
7. Amount of damage to all the cars
8. Age
9. Awareness of impending impact
CAD trauma will be unique to each individual due to the factors mentioned above. Other symptoms can occur due to being rear ended such as:
1. Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)
2. Tempromandibular Joint Dysfunction
3. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
4. Barre-Lieou Syndrome
5. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
6. Post concussion Syndrome
7. Fibromyalgia
8. Disc Herniations
Such symptoms should be examined as soon as possible. Whiplash symptoms are you usually the most magnified 72 hours after the accident, but they can also appear weeks to months after the car accident.
Whiplash damage occurs so fast during a car accident, that the body is unable to respond. Just about every type of tissue can be damaged, such as:
1. Nerves
2. Muscles
3. Tendons
4. Joint Capsules
5. Joint surfaces
6. Ligaments
7. Bones
The damage occurs because of the high amount of acceleration and deceleration that the spine undergoes, and the G forces that correspond. When an individual is in an automobile crash, the cervical spine first extends. While the cervical spine extends, downward pressure is also created. The down pressure (axial compression) in combination with the extension creates shear forces. At this time, the brain undergoes a high degree of force as well.
The shear forces generated in the brain are powerful enough to shear individual nerve axons. This leads to brain injury, post traumatic headaches, and causes symptoms such as: (described by Barnat – listed in descending frequency of occurance
1. Headache
2 Irritability
3. Insomnia
4. Anxiety
5. Memory Problems
6. Other Pain
7. Concentration problems
8. Depression
9. Dizziness
10. Confusion
11. No control of emotions
12. Loss of libido
13. Tinnitus
14. Can’t carry out plans
15. Flashbacks
16. Don’t enjoy sex
17. Nightmares
18. Arithmetic problems
As you see, car accident injuries can be numerous, and sometimes hidden. I’ve seen patients who have been treated for over a year before they are diagnosed with a brain injury. This is why it is best to see a doctor who has been trained to deal with car accident whiplash type injuries.
Sincerely,
Dr. Trent Artichoker MS, DC
Denver Chiropractic, LLC
3890 Federal Blvd Unit 1
Denver, CO 80211
303-455-2225
By Michael Smith, North American Correspondent, MedPage Today Published: March 21, 2011 Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and Dorothy Caputo, MA, RN, BC-ADM, CDE, Nurse Planner
More than one in 10 people in a prospective cohort developed chronic widespread pain over a four-year period and most of them were involved in a traumatic event during that time, researchers reported.
Among those who reported new, widespread chronic pain, 43% said they had experienced a traffic accident, surgery, or broken bones over the same period, according to Gareth Jones, PhD, of the University of Aberdeen in Aberdeen, Scotland, and colleagues.
In contrast, only 36% of those who remained pain-free reported such an incident, Jones and colleagues reported online in Arthritis Care & Research.
Note that among those who reported new, widespread chronic pain, 76% said they had experienced a traffic accident, surgery, or broken bones over the same period.
Explain that traffic accidents alone was a significant predictor of new chronic widespread pain but lost significance after further adjustment for anxiety and sleep problems.
Much of the difference – which approached but did not reach statistical significance — was driven by traffic accidents, workplace injuries and fractures, Jones and colleagues reported.
Chronic widespread pain, according to the American College of Rheumatology, is pain above and below the waist, or on both the left and right sides of the body, for three months or longer.
Earlier research has suggested the prevalence of the condition a primary characteristic of fibromyalgia — is about 11% to 13%. People with chronic widespread pain often attribute it to a single precipitating condition, such as a car accident, but there is little evidence to support that, Jones and colleagues noted.
To help fill the gap, they turned to the EpiFunD Study (for Epidemiology of Functional Disorders), a large prospective cohort study in northwest England.
At the start of the study, 6,290 people were recruited from three general practices in Manchester, England and were asked to fill out a questionnaire, part of which asked about chronic pain.
For this study, the researchers asked the same questions four years later of those who had been chronic pain-free at baseline. All told, 4,444 were known to be available for follow-up and 2,069 completed a second questionnaire, Jones and colleagues reported.
Of those, 241 — or 11.6% — said they now had chronic widespread pain and 37.2% reported at least one traumatic event over the same period, including traffic accident, workplace injury, surgery, fracture, inpatient treatment for any other reason, and, in women, childbirth.
More people with chronic widespread pain reported a traumatic event — 88 of 203 versus 596 of 1,638 — and the crude odds ratio was 1.34 with a 95% confidence interval from 0.996 to 1.80. While that approached significance, the researchers noted, adjustment for age, sex, baseline pain status, and the general practice from which participants were recruited attenuated the odds ratio even further.
In an analysis adjusted for age, sex, general practice and baseline pain status, traffic accidents alone remained a significant predictor of new chronic widespread pain.
The odds ratio was 1.84, with a 95% confidence interval from 1.10 to 3.11, Jones and colleagues reported, but it lost significance after further adjustment for anxiety and sleep problems.
Nonetheless, they argued, there is “some evidence to suggest that involvement in a road traffic accident, specifically, may confer an increase in the risk” of the condition.
Future research should try to determine what specific aspects of traffic accidents might be responsible, they concluded.
The researchers cautioned that the loss of more than half of the cohort to follow-up reduced the study’s statistical power. And, they added that it was not possible to tell which came first chronic pain or a traumatic event.
Cold Laser
We are still far away from hover boards, and time machines, but our advances in laser therapy to treat pain and injuries has come a long way. Our chiropractic clinic in Denver has the latest advancement in laser therapy. We utilize the MR4 Super Pulsed Laser.
This one piece of equipment utilizes a combination of 5 different therapies. It includes in one treatment, 1. A super pulsed laser, 2. Pulsed broad band infrared, 3. Pulsed red light, 4. Static Magnetic field, and 5. Electric stimulation. This is a very powerful combination, that is used to treat over 300 different conditions.
One of the coolest advances with cold laser equipment, is that it has TARGET technology. Which stands for Treatment Area Recognition and Guidance Enchanced Technology. We use the device to scan an area, and it recognizes areas of increased impedence. This is the area we treat. We pull the trigger, and therapy starts, once the impedence improves, the device stops therapy.
One of the big advantages of this type of cold laser therapy is how deep the laser can penetrate. The laser is able to reach 5 inches of tissue depth. This is amazing, and unique in that other modalities cannot achieve this reach.
Clinical effects of the 5 therapies include:
1. activation of RNA and DNA synthesis
2. increased cell metabolism in the form of ATP
3. improvement of microcirculation
4. reinforcement of collagen synthesis and reduced fibrous tissue formation
5. anti-inflammatory response
6. edema reduction
7. pain reduction
8. stimulation of T-cell production
9. increased levels of prostaglandin synthesis
10. gentle heating of surface tissue layer
11. acts upon receptors in the skin and reduces pain
12. microcirculation activation
13. stimulates epithelial cell growth and regeneration
14. reinforces laser penetration into target tissues
15. localized pain relief
16. reduction in swelling
Laser therapy can be a perfect adjunct to the visit to the chiropractor. I schedule 15-20 minute appointments that include any combination of services that we provide to ensure the most impact.
Laser therapy has over 4,000 clinical trials world wide to document the effects. It is used in over 3,000 hospitals, and used in over 10,000 private practices. It can be used on just about any part of the body, and it has relatively few contraindications.
Olympic athletes, the special forces, US major league soccer team, NBA & NFL players, National soccer team, and chronic pain sufferers all utilize the MR4 Super Pulsed Laser.
The laser can treat a multitude of conditions such as
1. acute, sub-acute, and chronic pain
2. back pain
3. neck pain
4. carpal tunnel symptoms
5. arthritis pain
6. fibromyalgia
7. ligament sprains
8. tendonitis
9. tennis elbow
10. soft tissue injuries
11. muscle strain
This is just a partial list of conditions that the cold laser treats. It is used to treat over 300 different conditions. Treatments range from 1 time per week for 5 weeks to 2-3 times per week for 6-15 weeks. The frequency of visits is determined by the magnitude of the condition. Treatment by the laser usually lasts between 5-15 minutes.
In Health,
Dr. Trent Artichoker MS, DC
Denver Chiropractic, LLC
3890 Federal Blvd Unit 1
Denver, CO 80211
303-455-2225
Many of the patients that walk into my Denver chiropractic clinic after being in a car accident in Denver, do not have a lawyer. Most of the time they are unsure if they need one or not. Some of these people do, and some these people do not need a lawyer.
How do you know if you need a lawyer or not. It is not always clear cut, and most likely if you are unsure if you need an attorney, you probably do need one.
Consults with a personal injury attorney in Denver are usually free, and can occur over the phone. I always recommend you take advantage this, they are not in business to make cases out of nothing. If they feel you could benefit, or be protected from their services, then you absolutely need a lawyer.
Do not make the mistake of trying to negotiate your case yourself, especially if there is lots of property damage, and serious injuries. You are not an expert in legal matters. This can be the biggest mistake you could make in dealing with your auto accident. Medico-legal matters can be very complex, and if you do not know the rules, you will be shortchanging yourself.
I think one big mistake that people make, is that they get greedy. They think that if they hire an attorney, that they will not get as much money for their pain and suffering. Typically this is the opposite, the work of your attorney will more than pay for itself. Do you really think that you can negotiate better than a lawyer?
Since not all car accidents are the same, lets look at some scenarios that you most definitely need a lawyer.
1. If it is not clear cut who’s fault the accident is, you need a lawyer.
2.If there is more than $1000 of property damage, you need a lawyer.
3. If the other driver is uninsured, or leaves the scene of the accident, then you need a lawyer.
4. If you are unable to work, or find it difficult to work or carry out your normal activities, then you need a lawyer.
5. If there is any emotional distress among the witnesses, then you need a lawyer.
6. If it difficult for you to carry out a normal sex life, then you need a lawyer.
7. If the insurance company is harassing you, or offering you very little for your car’s damage, or a very low settlement amount, then you need a lawyer.
8. If there are inaccuracies in the police report, then you need a lawyer.
9. If the insurance company denies your claim, or delays your claim, then you need a lawyer.
10. If you had a prior medical condition, and the car accident has made this condition worse, then you need a lawyer.
11. If you have low limits on you auto policy, you probably need a lawyer.
12. If you have no insurance, or unpaid premiums, then you need a lawyer.
13. If the insurance company starts employs a special investigations unit, then you need a lawyer.
Usually, the sooner you hire an attorney, the better. Every bit of communication you have with the insurance company will in part determine your case. Insurance companies have been found to act in bad faith, so don’t get trapped into thinking that your insurance company is out for your best interests. After all, they are a company that specifically designed to make money, and they just might want to take advantage, especially if you are playing cowboy.
Most personal injury attorneys work on a contingent basis. This means if the case goes south, then you do not owe them a dime.
There are lots of car accident lawyers in Denver, and if you have decided that you do need one, then the next question is, which one. This is a whole other topic, and if you are wanting advice in this area, we can give you a list of trusted professionals.
Deciding to know if you need a personal injury lawyer in Denver or not, is not my specialty. Consults are easy, get professional advice from the experts. Why would you not take advantage of a free consult?
Dr. Trent Artichoker MS, DC
Denver Chiropractic, LLC
3890 Federal Blvd Unit 1
Denver, CO 80211
303-455-2225
kindly used from wikipedia
No matter how well you think you drive, odds are, you will have a car accident. Being prepared for such is your only offense when road conditions turn from perfect to dangerous. When you are caught in such conditions it is critical to be prepared, especially in winter driving conditions.
Besides having the necessary just in case you become stranded emergency equipment in your car, you should also have an accident information checklist in your glove compartment box. This will help protect your rights, and ensure that all information that needs to be collected, does get collected.
As a Denver chiropractor that treats auto accident patients, it is very common for the new patient to not have all the necessary information. Do not get caught in this situation. Having an easy to follow checklist in your glove compartment is an easy solution. If you would like a free checklist, I would be happy to send one to you in the mail.
The information you collect from your Denver car accident will help the at fault insurance company in determining how much your claim is worth. It will also help your doctor to understand the special directional forces transmitted to your body through vehicle collision vectors. If you need a Denver personal injury lawyer, the information will also help them to properly convey and represent your case to the insurance company.
First off, check yourself for injuries. The adrenaline rush you experience from the crash will often overide your awareness of your injuries. Next, check your passengers for injuries. If anyone is injured, call an ambulance right away!
You should also make a quick determination if your situation is prone to cause another nearby crash that might put you in more danger. It might be best to move your car to a safe postion, out of the way of traffic.
You should always call the police. The police will help get information about the other driver, and also possibly issue a ticket. Without a police report, or an issued ticket, it leaves room for the other insurance company to wiggle out of accepting fault. Always call the police, no matter what the other driver says!
Collect the other drivers information. This includes their address, home phone, cell phone, insurance company, policy number, work phone, email, license plate number, make, model, color, date, time, year of cars involved, and even insurance coverage limits, if they have the policy. Get the witnesses information as well. This can help protect you if there is any doubt of who is at fault.
When the police arrive, be sure to get the officers name, badge number, and city. Always treat the officers and emergency personnel with great respect. You might be angered by the situation, but remember that they are there to help and assist you.
Take pictures of everything! Document the damage to your car, the other peoples cars, intersections, skid marks, and even the position of your head rest. If you can, take video as well, this always adds dimension.
If you are injured at all, I suggest you go to the emergency room, or urgent care. This helps document your injuries, as well as protect you from serious underlying problems you might not be aware of. After this visit, you should schedule a visit to a medical doctor or chiropractor that is specifically trained in documenting and treating auto injuries. This is imperative! Going to a doctor that does not have additional training in auto injury accidents puts your case in jeopardy, and could put you in a position of increasing your risk for long term chronic pain.
I would also advise you to seek counsel from a well respected car accident lawyer. They can help you determine if you need a lawyer or not.
If you have any questions at all, or would like a free accident checklist, please call our office.
Dr. Trent Artichoker MS, DC
Denver Chiropractic, LLC
3890 Federal Blvd Unit 1
Denver, CO 80211
303-455-2225
As a chiropractor who treats lots of automobile accident patients, I’ve seen a common trend among people. They can present with minimal symptoms immediately after the accident, but as time goes on, their symptoms become magnified, and multiplied.Chiropractic for whiplash is a great treatment option for the injured person.
Rear end type accidents can be unique in how they cause injury to the body. They are unique, in a way that it can be difficult to know if you’ve been injured right away, or not. This is opposite of what we normally experience, so it is common to think that problems you slowly developed will go away on their own. Often times they do not.
When we usually injure ourselves, we know right away if something is wrong. Sprain an ankle, it freezes up, swells up, turns black and blue, and it is very apparent that you are injured. A slip, and a fall, and you end up with a bruise and a very sore spot immediately.
Rear type collisions can be more insidious, or create injuries that are not so often immediate. This is due to the type of injuries that you sustain, and the time it takes for the body to respond to those injuries. As well as an enormous amount of adrenaline that is pumped into your system because of the car accident.
In common terms, you have whiplash. The head jerks backward, then forward violently, and quickly. It is the quickness of the head movement, or the acceleration that it undergoes, which causes injury to the tissue.
Rather than use the term, whiplash, to describe what you underwent, we use the term, cervical acceleration deceleration (CAD) trauma. It is unique, in the fact that it can take days for the symptoms to become apparent.
Symptoms can vary, but getting yourself to a doctor that is trained in automobile accidents is crucial. This will protect you, and the rights you have with the automobile policy you purchased. Cervical acceleration deceleration trauma usually produces connective soft tissue injuries. This is basically everything except bone. Nerves, tendons, cartilage, ligaments, muscle, and brain tissue are all susceptible to injury.
Chiropractic for whiplash is a great choice of treatment to receive. Why? Our main treatment modality helps to restore the range of motion that is lost. Just like a sprained ankle, the spine will stiffen when it receives trauma. It is thoroughly accepted that restoring motion as soon as possible after CAD trauma, leads to the best outcomes.
Dr. Trent Artichoker MS, DC
Denver Chiropractic, LLC
3890 Federal Blvd Unit 1
Denver, CO 80211
Call us for a free consult to help you determine if chiropractic care can help you.
303-455-2225
