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Car Accident Chiropractor Reno | Whiplash Treatment & Auto Injury Care
A car accident is a scary ordeal and may leave you with more than just a damaged vehicle. Some injuries and pain symptoms from a collision may take days or even weeks to show up. When these symptoms do reveal themselves, it is important that you receive the proper evaluation and treatment. If left unchecked, these injuries could lead to long term, or even permanent damage. Our doctors and staff are ready and able to evaluate your injuries and help you understand all options for care and recovery.
Latent Injuries: Why Pain May Not Appear Immediately
Symptoms after a collision may take hours or days to develop. Seeing a chiropractor for a car accident in Northern Nevada helps detect hidden injuries early.
Why Chiropractic Care Is Essential After a Car Accident
Even minor car accidents can cause hidden injuries affecting the muscles, joints, ligaments, and spine. Without prompt treatment, these injuries may worsen over time and lead to chronic pain or reduced mobility. As a trusted car accident injury chiropractor in Northern Nevada, our team helps support proper healing, reduce inflammation, improve function, and prevent long-term complications after an accident.


- Adrenaline and shock after an accident can temporarily hide pain symptoms
- Neck pain, stiffness, headaches, and dizziness may appear days later
- Soft tissue injuries are often not immediately noticeable after a collision
- Delaying treatment may lead to improper scar tissue formation
- Untreated injuries can increase the risk of chronic pain and reduced mobility
- Early evaluation helps identify hidden injuries before they worsen
How Our Reno Chiropractors Diagnose Auto Accident Injuries
As trusted car accident chiropractors in Northern Nevada, our doctors use advanced diagnostic tools and detailed physical examinations to identify both obvious and hidden injuries after a collision. We focus on detecting joint dysfunction, soft-tissue damage, inflammation, and mobility restrictions that may not be immediately apparent following an accident.
- Comprehensive spinal and orthopedic evaluations
- Digital x-rays and advanced diagnostic imaging
- Range of motion and neurological assessments
- Evaluation of soft tissue and ligament injuries
- Personalized treatment planning based on injury severity
- Ongoing monitoring to track healing and recovery progress
Common Questions for Car Accident Injury Chiropractors
Our doctors are trained not only to detect injury after a car accident, but also to maximize your body’s natural healing potential. Don’t wait… Within the first 72 hours your body is already starting to lay down the scar tissue that is needed for joint and muscle repair. During this time, and for the next 4 to 6 weeks, your body is most susceptible to poor healing. Scar tissue can form incorrectly, leading to adhesions that, if left untreated, could decrease mobility and lead to arthritis.
Chiropractic manipulation along with proven physiotherapy equipment such as ultrasound, electric muscle stimulation, traction, and spinal decompression (among others) is utilized by your doctor at Northern Nevada Chiropractic. We pride ourselves on our modern, state-of-the-art equipment, facility, training, and experience.
Common Questions About Car Accident Injuries
How do I know I have whiplash?
Whiplash is pain and inflammation as a result of over-stretching of muscles, tendons and ligaments in and around your spine. Most often, whiplash is the result of forceful, rapid back-and-forth movement usually associated with a rear-end collision. The most common whiplash injury symptoms include:
- Neck pain and stiffness
- Worsening of pain with neck movement
- Loss of range of motion in the neck
- Headaches, most often starting at the base of the skull
- Tenderness or pain in the shoulder, upper back or arms
- Tingling or numbness in the arms
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
Why Northern Nevada Chiropractic instead of just any other chiropractor?
When it comes to treating auto accident injuries, there are few chiropractic clinics that can compete with our professional experience, our customer care, or our state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. The doctors at NNC have years of experience and have attended postgraduate education in the treatment of car accident injuries. Our chiropractors typically co-manage treatment plans with other medical care providers to give patients a balanced approach on the path to recovery.
Does car insurance pay for Chiropractic care?
Absolutely YES, chiropractic care is covered. Nevada Law requires that auto insurance liability and Medpay cover chiropractic care. It is unlawful to discriminate against a healthcare provider based on their field or specialty.
NNC does not bill third-party insurance – third-party insurance is the insurance of the person who hit you. We only bill your auto insurance if you have Medpay coverage. If you do not have Medpay under your auto insurance, then you can pay self-pay by cash or by using your chiropractor benefits under your health insurance. If neither of these options seems viable, then we recommend hiring a personal injury attorney. The patient, our office, and the attorney will sign a Lien making sure you will receive top medical care during your time at NNC.
Do I need to go to the hospital first?
Unless you have life-threatening injuries, or injuries that require emergency medical attention, most patients skip the ER visit. Our offices are equipped with state-of-the-art X-ray and diagnostic tools to properly evaluate, diagnose, and treat your condition. Our doctors have been treating traumatic injuries for over 15 years.
Does Chiropractic care hurt?
The science and art of Chiropractic Care have been around for over 100 years. Numerous studies have demonstrated not only the incredible safety of chiropractic care but also that chiropractic has one of the highest levels of patient satisfaction. Most patients report that their treatment is pleasant and enjoyable. If a patient is in an acute phase, we will take extra caution to provide a pleasant treatment experience.
Do I need to see an attorney first?
No, it is not necessary to see an attorney first. However, our office does not dispense legal advice and, if asked, will refer you to appropriate legal counsel. Many of our patients request a referral to legal counsel who has demonstrated positive experience in the past. Our office receives consistent positive comments for our timely, thorough, and detailed reports. Our record-keeping is valued by the legal profession and insurance industry.
The other car/driver has no insurance. How will I pay for my care?
Fortunately, there is no reason for concern. Most Nevada drivers carry what is called “UM Coverage,” which stands for Uninsured Motorist. Insurance carriers generally do not penalize or increase your rates for utilizing UM coverage unless you were also at fault.
The insurance adjuster told me my damage was minor.
Do not be intimidated by insurance adjusters. Our experience has shown us that perceived visual damage to a vehicle does not always indicate or correlate with the severity of injury. We recommend that anyone involved in trauma always be evaluated as soon as possible. If there is no injury detected, the doctors will release you immediately. If you were injured, you would will receive excellent care.
Whiplash Symptoms You Should Never Ignore
Whiplash symptoms may not appear immediately after a collision, but ignoring early warning signs can lead to long-term discomfort and mobility issues. As the best car accident chiropractor, our team carefully evaluates symptoms commonly associated with auto accident injuries to help patients begin treatment as early as possible.
- Neck Pain & Stiffness: Inflammation and strain in the muscles and ligaments can make turning or supporting the neck painful after an accident.
- Headaches Starting at the Base of the Skull: Whiplash injuries often trigger tension headaches due to neck and upper spine strain.
- Tingling or Numbness in the Arms: Nerve irritation or spinal misalignment after a collision may cause numbness, weakness, or tingling in the arms and hands.

Keep an Auto Incident Card in Your Glove Box
In the stress of the moments following a car accident, it is hard to remember all the information you need to document the incident. Northern Nevada Chiropractic has created an Accident Incident Card that walks you through all the necessary information you need to gather before leaving the scene, such as:
- Date
- Time
- Location
- Other driver’s information
- Witness information
Download your Card here. Print it out and put it in your glove box with your insurance and vehicle registration information.
Watch: Dr. Riley on Whiplash Treatment (KOLO TV)
Dr. Riley talks with KOLO Mom’s Everyday about the most common winter injuries he sees in his practice. Back strain and injury from shoveling snow and whiplash from car accidents on Reno’s icy roads are some of the most common. It is important to get checked by a chiropractor following a winter-related injury to prevent further pain or any long-term issues.
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