Hit-and-run accidents can change your life forever. Equally alarming is the fact that hit-and-run accidents are happening with increasing frequency. In 2015, careless drivers fled the scene an average of 2,000 times a day, often delaying the time it took for their victims to receive medical care. Miami-Dade County has long been known as one of the most dangerous areas in the state for drivers. An examination of county accident statistics also paints a grim picture for hit-and-run victims.

• Starting in 2011, hit-and-runs increased by an average of 6.8% from one year to the next.
• There were 22,204 hit-and-run accidents in 2018 alone. In other words, two people are injured and abandoned by reckless drivers every hour.
• 6% of hit-and-run accidents cause physical injuries, many of which can be treated by a chiropractor in Miami.

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Chiropractic Care in Miami is a Great Way to Treat Hit-and-Run Injuries

Even minor accidents can lead to significant injury. One study found that over 70% of people who visit the emergency room after a collision are still in pain weeks later. Fortunately, visiting a chiropractor in Miami can provide you with short-term and long-term relief.

Below is an overview of hit-and-run injuries that chiropractic care can treat:

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WHIPLASH

Whiplash is the most common car accident injury in Florida and can happen at speeds as low as five miles per hour. It generally occurs in rear-end collisions that cause the head and neck to move back and forth with enough force to stretch or tear soft tissue in your neck.

Symptoms of whiplash include:

• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Stiff neck muscles
• Mild to severe neck pain
• Headache at the base of your skull
• Difficulty turning your head
• Soreness in your shoulders or upper back
• Numbness or tingling in your arms

On average, symptoms appear within 24 hours after the accident and cause intense pain, limited mobility, and other complications that can cause you to sleep poorly, experience limited mobility, and even miss time from work.

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SPINAL CORD INJURIES

Spinal cord injuries are commonplace after you have been involved in a hit-and-run accident. Your vertebrae can be dislocated, crushed, or fractured. Your ligaments, nerves, muscles, and even your spinal cord can suffer damage depending on the severity of the hit-and-run accident. Symptoms, which may not always be felt immediately, include:

• Swelling and inflammation
• Fluid build-up
• Issues with bowel and bladder control

Your recommended chiropractic treatment plan will depend on the severity of your injury. Common chiropractic techniques at Advance Health Services in Miami include spinal manipulation, manual therapies designed to treat soft tissue injuries, ultrasound, and a low-frequency electrical current to help stimulate muscles and reduce inflammation.

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BENEFITS OF CHIROPRACTIC CARE

Seeing a chiropractor after a car accident can address persistent muscular pain and headaches and improve the quality of your recovery. When an injury causes pinched nerves, improper alignment, and other spinal problems, chiropractic treatment can effectively treat your injuries.

Benefits include:

• Pain reduction - After a car accident, your muscles can tense up to support an injured area, causing extreme pain in your head, neck, and spinal column. A chiropractor in Miami can enable the release of tense muscles and fascia by adjusting your spine.
• Faster healing - The shaking and jerking motion you endure during a hit-and-run accident can tear your muscles and the connective tissue around your spine. This can impact the alignment of your spine can also impacted and can exacerbate your musculature damage by putting irregular pressure on your spine. When this misalignment is corrected, it takes the pressure off of your muscles and allows them to heal.
• Reduced scarring - As your body heals, there is always the risk that scar tissue will develop and cause your muscles to be stiff. Chronic tension and pain can also follow. A chiropractor can manipulate the scarred muscle tissue.

If headaches, muscular pain, and limited mobility prevent you from working, caring for yourself, or living a full life, working with a chiropractor can help you enjoy life once more.

If you suffered whiplash or another musculoskeletal injury after a hit-and-run accident, please contact our team at Advance Health Services in Miami to make an appointment.