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Frequently Asked Questions about Auto/Motorcycle Injuries

How long will it take me to feel better?

That's really impossible to tell without performing an examination. Dr. Jameson will evaluate your symptoms, disabilities, pain syndromes, and create diagnoses and prognoses based upon your examination findings. From that, he can give you a general time table of healing. Most people after an auto accident are treated by Dr. Jameson for a period of three to six months, but of course that is dependent on many factors. Once you undergo your examination, Dr. Jameson will be able to give you a more concrete answer to this question.

Is choosing a chiropractor for treatment of my injuries my best choice?

Absolutely! There is no other health profession that can provide relief to spinal injuries, concussions, and pain referral syndromes like chiropractic can. Chiropractic is unique in that it is non-invasive, drug-free, conservative, and gentle. It allows you to return to function in a number of ways.

  1. First, healing the spine after an injury is critically important. This is what chiropractors do by gentling creating mobility back to your injured spine and releasing the muscle spasms you're feeling around the spine and into your arms and legs.
  2. Second, your nervous system can become severely stressed after and accident. Chiropractic improves nervous system function by decreasing the pressure exerted upon it by misaligned vertebrae and distorted spinal structures.
  3. Third, Dr. Jameson will encourage activity, movement, and exercise ASAP to help get you back on your feet again. Every patient is given stretching and exercise protocols to begin immediately upon starting care. Studies show that the faster you become active, the faster your life can return to normal.
  4. Fourth, Dr. Jameson, as a primary health care provider, can refer you for any test or doctor that you need for recovery. He can refer you to orthopedists, neurologists, pain management doctors, physical therapists, personal trainers, and for testing procedures like MRIs, X-rays, and even blood work. Dr. Jameson will be your "quarterback" for all the decisions regarding your recovery.

What will it cost?

Read the following questions to get an in-depth answer on costs, involvement of attorneys, third party pay situations, and your own medical coverage.

Am I covered by my insurance?

If you have Medical Payment coverage on your auto policy (Your policy - not the other driver's policy), then you should have coverage for chiropractic care in Dr. Jameson's office. Most Auto Policies have $5,000, $10,000, or more in coverage for the care of injuries. To confirm this coverage, Dr. Jameson will ask that you bring, fax, or email, the declaration page of your insurance coverage. (That's the first page where you see all the coverage amounts.) This will confirm with the Doctor that you have the coverage needed for your chiropractic care program.Some auto policies will offer Med-Pay coverage only after your regular health coverage is exhausted or is denied. Please read through your policy or talk to your agent to determine if this is the case.

Auto insurance "Med-Pay" can be billed whether you were at fault or were not at fault of your accident. You invest in this coverage with every premium you pay. You should make use of it.

Hospital stays, ambulance costs, and other doctor's offices can exhaust Med Pay coverage. Dr. Jameson will do his best to determine if you still have coverage left for your chiropractic care.

Please note that Dr. Jameson is not a provider with any private insurance company, so your medical health coverage (like Kaiser, Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, etc) will not pay for his services following an auto accident)

But it was the other guy's fault! I shouldn't need to use my insurance, right?

Yes, we know you may not have been at fault in the accident, but the policy at Bayshore Chiropractic is to bill our patient's (primary) auto insurance first - not the other person's (third party) insurance. Since we have no relationship with the at-fault party, there is no gaurantee they will pay for services rendered by Dr. Jameson. We don't want you stuck with a huge bill when your case is completed because you thought it was going to be paid by the other driver's insurance.

If you were not at fault, your insurance company cannot raise your rates because you opened an injury claim - that's against the law. They will seek financial restitution from the other person's insurance once your case settles, or depending upon your policy, may ask you for reimbursement of the medpay amount after you settle with the at-fault insurance company. Besides, if you opened a claim to get your car fixed, then you can also contact your insurance rep to let them know you are also seeking care for your injuries.

The other guy didn't have insurance! Now what do I do?

Again, our first procedure will be to determine if you have Medical Payment coverage to cover your treatment costs. If you don't, we will investigate "Uninsured Motorist" coverage which may cover your medical treatment expense. You should talk to your agent or claims rep about this option as well.

I don't want to use my insurance! It wasn't my fault!

If you decide not to use your insurance coverage that offers Medical Payment coverage, then you will be responsible for the chiropractic care program fees. Dr. Jameson will advise you of our regular cash payment options.

I don't have Med-Pay coverage on my auto insurance!! What should I do?

Ask Dr. Jameson about retaining an attorney to represent you in your auto injury case. If you are represented by an attorney, Dr. Jameson will draft a lien with the attorney to guarantee payment for chiropractic services. Dr. Jameson works with a number of excellent attorneys in the area and can offer a referral should you need one.Should your auto accident be minor (like a small ding on a rear bumper or a scrape on a door) than Dr. Jameson will have you pay out of pocket for the services rendered. Attorneys typically will not accept these types of small impact cases.

I don't have to pay anything, right?

While in most cases, patients under Dr. Jameson's care use their Med Pay and/or are represented by an attorney for their auto injury care program and the doctor has a lien with the attorney. But the costs of the care program ultimately are your responsibility. Should a problem arise with your medical coverage, or you fire your attorney, or the attorney loses the case, or any other situation whereby the doctor has been denied payment, you will be responsible for paying Dr. Jameson for the services rendered. Dr. Jameson will send you a monthly statement so you can see the total charges for his services.