Short version: if anything feels scary, go to the ER first. Everything else on this page is about the "everything else."
Go to the ER or call 911 if
- You lost consciousness, even briefly
- You have a severe or worsening headache, repeated vomiting, or confusion
- You have chest pain or trouble breathing
- You have numbness, weakness, or trouble moving an arm or leg
- You think something might be broken
- You have severe belly pain, or you lost control of your bladder or bowels
That list isn't complete, and when you're unsure, treat it as an emergency. Nobody will mind that you came in "for nothing."
Urgent care
Urgent care sits in the middle. It makes sense when you want someone to look you over, maybe get an X-ray, and rule out the big stuff, but nothing feels life-threatening. It's often faster and easier than the ER, and a decent first stop for sprains, cuts, and "I just want to be sure."
What urgent care usually isn't set up to do is follow you for weeks. You get checked, you get instructions, and then you're mostly on your own with a sore neck.
Your primary care doctor
Your regular doctor knows your history, which counts for a lot. They can examine you, order imaging, and prescribe medication when it's appropriate. The catch is availability. Getting in within a couple of days of a crash isn't always possible.
A chiropractor
Here's what we do and don't do. We examine the spine and the soft tissue around it: how your neck and back move, where they're tender, whether something points to nerve irritation. If we think you need a different kind of care, such as imaging, a medical evaluation, or a specialist, we'll tell you so rather than pushing ahead.
When the exam supports it, care might include adjustments, traction, ultrasound and e-stim, and rehab exercises, and we follow you through it. For auto injury patients, we bill PIP directly. Your policy governs what's covered, so check with your insurer or agent.
A word about imaging
X-rays are good at showing bones. They don't show muscles, ligaments, or most disc problems, and those are what MRI is for. So a normal X-ray after a crash doesn't automatically mean nothing is wrong with your neck. It means the bones look okay. If our exam points toward imaging, we'll recommend it and send you to the right place for it.
What to bring, wherever you go
Your insurance card, your auto claim number if you have one, a list of any medications, and notes about how the crash happened and what you've felt since. If you've already been seen somewhere, bring those papers. It saves time and keeps your records in one place.
Who pays for what
PIP can apply to ER, urgent care, and chiropractic bills alike, depending on your policy. Tell every provider you were in a crash, and give them your claim number. Your insurer or agent can tell you how your coverage works, and this is general information, not legal advice.
A rough order that makes sense
If you're hurt badly or it's unclear, emergency care first. If it's less clear-cut, a same-day check at urgent care or your own doctor is reasonable. Then, once you've been cleared of anything urgent and you're still stiff or sore, schedule an exam with us (if you're unsure whether you need one, see when to see a chiropractor versus waiting it out). Waiting too long to see anyone isn't a great plan either way, and it can leave gaps in your records. See how documentation supports your claim for why.
If it's a head injury you're worried about, start with our concussion red flags guide, and for a timeline of the first few days, see what to do in the first 72 hours. Patients visit us from Milwaukie, Gladstone, Oregon City, and Portland; the new patient page explains what to bring.
Past the emergency stage?
If you've been cleared of anything urgent and you're still sore, we can examine your spine and soft tissue.