Auto accident injury
After a collision, symptoms often appear later than the injury. Assessment covers the neck, mid and low back, with digital X-ray on site where indicated. Treatment is usually billed through the at-fault driver's liability cover, MedPay on your own policy, or on a lien if you are represented — not out of pocket.
Understanding the problem
Why symptoms can appear days after the accident
It is common to feel largely unhurt at the scene and to develop neck stiffness, headache or low back pain two or three days later. Adrenaline masks pain at the time, and soft-tissue inflammation takes time to build. A low-speed impact is not a reliable indicator of low injury — a collision at 5 mph can still displace cervical and lumbar segments, because the forces go through the spine regardless of how the vehicle looks afterwards.
The practical consequence is about timing rather than pain tolerance. The longer the gap between the accident and being examined, the easier it is for an insurer to argue the symptoms are unrelated. Being assessed within a week keeps the record clean, and gives you a baseline to measure recovery against.
What a first visit involves
How we work through it
We do not begin treatment on first meeting you. The assessment comes first.
- History — we listen firstWhere the pain is, when it started, what makes it worse, previous injuries, and your work and sleep posture. For accident or work injury cases, how the incident happened.
- Physical examinationPalpation, range of motion testing, and a neurological check of reflexes, strength and sensation — to work out whether the problem is structural, neurological or soft tissue.
- Digital X-ray if indicatedTaken on site. Whether it is needed is a clinical judgement, not a default for every patient.
- Findings and plan explainedIn the same visit you are told what was found, the likely cause, what is proposed and roughly how many visits it may take — before anything begins.
At the clinic
Treatment rooms and equipment
What may be used
Combined according to the assessment
Not every patient needs every item. What is used follows from what the examination shows.
- Chiropractic adjustment of affected segments
- Digital X-ray where clinically indicated
- Spinal traction
- Electrical stimulation and microcurrent for muscle spasm
- Ultrasound therapy
- Cold therapy in the acute phase, heat later
- Therapeutic massage for soft-tissue involvement
- Rehabilitation exercise as the acute phase settles
- Written findings and progress notes for the claim file
Fees and insurance
Who usually pays for this
How treatment is funded changes what paperwork you need. Pick the closest to your situation:
Auto accident
The at-fault driver's liability cover, MedPay on your own policy, or on a lien where you are represented.
What you need →Work injury
California workers' compensation — approved treatment is paid by the employer's insurer.
How it works →Private insurance
What PPO plans typically cover, and deductibles.
How to check →Self-pay
Self-pay rates, including initial examination with digital X-ray.
See rates →Why here
A few objective points
1988 — 38 years
Same practitioner, same Oakland Chinatown block since 1988.
Cantonese · Mandarin · Taiwanese · English
From history-taking to explaining the plan, in the language you are most comfortable in.
Digital X-ray, same visit
Where imaging is clinically indicated it is taken here, not at a separate centre.
5 min from Lake Merritt BART
Madison professional building, downtown Oakland. Building and street parking.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How soon after an accident should I be seen?
Within a week where possible. Two reasons: delayed symptoms need to be assessed early, and the shorter the gap between the accident and examination, the harder it is to dispute that the injury is related.
Do I have to pay up front?
Usually not. Treatment after a collision in California is commonly paid by the at-fault driver's liability cover, by MedPay on your own policy, or on a lien where you are represented by an attorney, settled when the claim resolves. We go through which applies at the first visit.
What documents should I bring?
The police report number, the claim number and the adjuster's contact details if you have them, plus your attorney's details if you are represented. If none of that has come through yet, come anyway — the assessment matters more than the paperwork, and the paperwork can follow.
I was told the damage was minor, so I can't be injured
Vehicle damage and occupant injury do not track each other closely. A stiff bumper can transmit force to the occupant rather than absorbing it. What matters clinically is what the examination finds, not what the car looks like.
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