Whiplash and neck pain after a car accident in Michigan
Whiplash is the most common car accident injury. Neck pain, stiffness and headaches can start hours or days after the crash. NovaMed in Southfield examines your neck the same day when we can and treats the injury before it settles in.
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Headaches at the base of the skull
- Shoulder and upper back pain
- Phones answered Mon-Fri, 9 AM to 5 PM. After hours the line goes to voicemail. Walk-ins from 9 AM.
Call to schedule your car accident injury evaluation
Hurt in a car accident? Our team sets up your visit and checks your auto coverage on the phone. Same-day visits are often available during office hours.
- Same-day visits often available
- No referral needed
- Phones answered Mon-Fri, 9 AM to 5 PM. Walk-ins welcome at 27211 Lahser Rd, Suite 200, Southfield
Tap to call from your phone. Phones are answered Mon-Fri, 9 AM to 5 PM. After hours the line goes to voicemail. If you are badly hurt, call 911.
- Same daySame-day car accident visits are often available, and walk-ins are welcome.
- No-FaultMichigan No-Fault (PIP) accepted. We handle the paperwork with your auto insurer.
- RecordsExam findings and reports sent to your insurer or attorney with your permission.
- Southfield27211 Lahser Rd, Suite 200. Serving Detroit and all of Metro Detroit.
What is whiplash?
Whiplash is an injury to the soft tissues of the neck, the muscles, tendons and ligaments, caused by a fast back-and-forth movement of the head. It is most common in rear-end crashes, even at low speeds. Doctors also call it a neck sprain or strain, or a whiplash-associated disorder.
In a rear-end collision your body is pushed forward with the seat while your head lags behind, then snaps forward. That motion can overstretch the neck and injure the joints and discs between the vertebrae, as well as the nerves around them.
Why whiplash symptoms can start late
Many people feel fine right after a crash. Neck pain and stiffness often build over the first 24 to 72 hours as the injured tissues swell. Headaches, dizziness and pain in the shoulders or between the shoulder blades can follow.
Getting examined early matters. A neck injury that is not checked can be harder to treat, and it leaves no medical record that ties your symptoms to the accident. If your neck started hurting after a crash, even weeks later, come in.
How we evaluate and treat whiplash
A clinician asks how the crash happened and examines your neck, shoulders and upper back. We check how far you can turn and tilt your head, your strength and reflexes, and the nerves that run to your arms and hands. When it is medically necessary, we order imaging such as X-ray or MRI through our referral partners.
Your plan is based on that evaluation. It can include pain management, physical therapy, follow-up exams and referrals to orthopedic, spine or neurology specialists when you need them. We measure your neck’s range of motion at each visit and adjust the plan as you improve.
Every finding goes into your medical record, including how your injuries relate to the accident. With your permission, we send records to your auto insurer or attorney. See also back pain after a car accident.
Paying for whiplash treatment in Michigan
Under Michigan No-Fault, medical care for car accident injuries is generally billed to the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) part of your own auto insurance, up to your policy’s limits, no matter who caused the crash.
We verify your coverage before your visit and handle the paperwork with your auto insurer. Read more about seeing a No-Fault doctor in Michigan.
What happens at your first car accident injury visit
One visit gets you examined, diagnosed and on a plan, with everything written down.
What to bring
- Photo ID
- Your auto insurance card or claim number
- The police or crash report number, if you have it
- Your health insurance card
- A list of medications you take
- 01Call or walk in
Same-day visit
Call or walk in. Bring your ID, your auto insurance card and the crash report number if you have it.
- 02Exam
A full evaluation
A clinician asks how the crash happened, examines the areas that hurt and checks movement, strength, reflexes and pain levels.
- 03Records
Findings written down
Your diagnosis, exam findings and treatment plan go into your medical record, including how your injuries relate to the accident.
- 04Plan
Care that fits the injury
Follow-up visits, pain management, physical therapy or a specialist referral, and imaging such as MRI through referral partners when it is medically necessary.
Whiplash symptoms after a car accident
Adrenaline hides pain. These often show up hours or days after a crash. Any of them is a reason to get checked.
- 0-24 HNeck pain or stiffness, or pain turning your head
- 0-72 HHeadaches that start at the base of the skull
- 24-72 HPain in the shoulders or between the shoulder blades
- 24-72 HTingling or numbness in an arm or hand
- DAYSDizziness or blurred vision
- DAYSTiredness, poor sleep or trouble concentrating
- DAYSRinging in the ears
- WEEKSNeck pain that is not getting better
Loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness in the groin or inner thighs, sudden weakness in a leg or arm, a severe headache, confusion or vomiting can be serious. Call 911 or go to an emergency room.
Common questions
How long after a car accident can whiplash start?
Whiplash symptoms often start within 24 hours, but they can take two or three days to appear. Delayed neck pain still needs an exam.
How long does whiplash last?
Many whiplash injuries improve over several weeks with treatment. Some take longer, especially when nerves or discs are involved. We reassess at every visit.
Can you get whiplash from a low-speed crash?
Yes. Whiplash can happen in rear-end collisions at low speeds, even when the cars show little damage.
Should I see a doctor for whiplash if I feel okay?
If you have any neck pain, stiffness or headaches after a crash, get it checked. Symptoms often get worse over the first few days.
Do I need a referral or a lawyer to be seen?
No. You can call or walk in. No referral is needed.
Is whiplash treatment covered in Michigan?
Medically necessary care for crash injuries is generally billed to your PIP benefits, up to your policy’s limits. We verify your coverage first.
Care for every part of a crash injury
Car accident whiplash and neck injuries
The most common car accident injury. We check how your neck moves and treat the strain before it settles in.
Learn moreCar accident medical exams
A head-to-toe evaluation of the areas that hurt, done the same day, with findings recorded.
Learn moreCar accident medical records
Clear documentation of diagnoses, findings and treatment, ready when your insurer or attorney asks for records.
Learn moreMichigan No-Fault (PIP) patients
We work with your auto insurer’s PIP medical benefits and help you get the paperwork right.
Learn moreSouthfield, on Lahser Road
- Address
- 27211 Lahser Rd, Suite 200
Southfield, MI 48034 - Phone
- (313) 319-4284
- Visits
- Same-day appointments and walk-ins. Call ahead and we'll have your paperwork ready.
- Serving
- Southfield, Detroit, Oak Park, Royal Oak, Farmington Hills, Dearborn, Livonia, Novi, Troy, Warren and the rest of Metro Detroit.