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(817) 477-2907
1600 N Hwy 287 N, Ste 103, Mansfield TX
Accident victims — the first 72 hours are critical

Hurt in a Car Accident? Don't Wait for the Pain to Peak.

Adrenaline masks injury. Inflammation builds over 72 hours. By the time you feel it — nerves are already being compressed and scar tissue has started forming. Don't wait to call Dr. Jensen.

The Science of Accident Injury

Why the First 72 Hours Are Critical

In the moments after a collision, your body floods with adrenaline and cortisol. These stress hormones mask pain remarkably well — they let you walk away from a crash feeling like you got lucky. That "I feel fine" can be dangerously misleading.

What's actually happening: soft tissue is torn, stretched, or compressed. An inflammatory cascade begins immediately and builds for the next 72–96 hours. By day three or four, what felt like minor stiffness on day one can become severe, radiating nerve pain — and the window for the easiest recovery is already closing.

Seen early, the same injury responds beautifully to treatment. Gentle adjustments restore joint motion before soft tissue "remembers" being misaligned. Active Release Therapy keeps inflammatory fluids moving. And — critically — the visit creates a contemporaneous medical record that protects you legally and financially.

0–48hrs
Adrenaline window
You may feel minimal pain while inflammatory cascade begins internally
72–96hrs
Inflammation peaks
Nerve compression, muscle spasm, and pain escalate rapidly
Day 5–7
Scar tissue forms
Disorganized scar tissue in soft tissue begins locking vertebrae out of position
Weeks later
Chronic pain risk
Without early treatment, injury patterns solidify into long-term problems

Why You Need a Chiropractor — Quickly

Four Things a Prompt Evaluation Does for You

1

Documents the Injury

Creates a timestamped medical record tying your injuries directly to the accident date — essential for any insurance or legal claim.

2

Stops Inflammation Early

Reduces nerve irritation and tissue swelling before they peak — meaning less pain, faster healing, and less scar tissue.

3

Establishes Causation

Insurance carriers and personal injury attorneys give significant weight to early chiropractic exam findings and objective measurements.

4

Prevents Chronic Pain

Early treatment dramatically reduces the risk that a 2-week injury becomes a 2-year condition.

Your First Visit

What to Expect at Your Post-Accident Exam

A competent post-accident chiropractic exam is a careful, layered process — not a quick neck crack and send you on your way.

Mechanism of Injury History

We document every detail: which direction the impact came from, your head position, seat-belt geometry, airbag deployment, speed estimate. Every detail matters for documentation and treatment planning.

Orthopedic & Neurological Testing

Dermatome sensation mapping, muscle-strength grading, deep tendon reflexes, range-of-motion measurement with inclinometers, and palpation of every spinal segment.

Digital X-Rays (When Indicated)

In-office digital X-rays when clinical findings warrant. We read them with you and explain what we see.

Objective Clinical Documentation

SOAP notes with measurable, repeatable data: degrees of motion lost, grip strength reduced, dermatomal deficits, positive orthopedic tests named and described. This documentation protects your claim.

Red-Flag Screening

When findings suggest serious pathology (progressive weakness, bowel/bladder changes, vascular signs), we refer immediately to the appropriate specialist — MRI, orthopedics, or the ER.

Treatment Plan & Referrals

A clear plan for your recovery — adjustments, ART, rehabilitation exercises — and warm referrals to attorneys if your case calls for legal representation.

Why Documentation Matters

The Notes We Write Can Be Worth More Than the Treatment

Important: Insurance adjusters and opposing attorneys look at three things — onset, continuity, and objective findings. Our documentation is designed to meet that standard from day one.

A chiropractor trained in personal-injury documentation produces SOAP notes that include measurable, repeatable data: degrees of motion lost, pounds of grip strength reduced, dermatomal sensation deficits, positive orthopedic test results with the test name spelled out, and a clear narrative tying every finding to the mechanism of injury.

That documentation travels cleanly to your primary-care physician, to any specialist we refer you to, to your auto or health insurer, and — should you ever need one — to your personal injury attorney.

Patients who delay care for two or three weeks routinely lose tens of thousands of dollars in legitimate claims simply because there is no medical record showing the injury existed in that window. Don't make that mistake.
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PIP Insurance

Personal Injury Protection covers chiropractic care after auto accidents — no out-of-pocket cost to you during treatment.

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Letter of Protection

We accept Letters of Protection — treatment now, payment deferred until your case settles. You get care when you need it.

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Attorney Referrals

We work with trusted personal injury attorneys across DFW. If you don't have representation, we can connect you with the right firm.

Conditions We Treat After an Accident

Whiplash & cervical strain
Herniated or bulging discs
Nerve root compression (radiculopathy)
Lower back pain & lumbar strain
Shoulder & rotator cuff injuries
Headaches & concussion aftereffects
Jaw pain (TMJ) from airbag deployment
Knee & soft-tissue injuries
Numbness, tingling & weakness
Post-traumatic muscle spasm
Thoracic outlet syndrome
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction

Were You in an Accident? Call Right Now.

Every hour matters. Call us right away and we'll get you in as quickly as possible.

1600 N Hwy 287 N, Ste 103 · Mansfield, TX 76063 · Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat

The information on this page is educational and does not constitute medical advice. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.