Thirty days. That is the window New York’s No-Fault rules give you to send the auto insurer written notice after a car accident, so start the claim even if you only feel a little stiff. Neck pain from a crash can take hours or days to fully show up, and whiplash physical therapy treatment under No-Fault also requires a referral. Here is how the process works at Lake Erie Physical Therapy in Buffalo, one step at a time.
Step 1: Notify the auto insurer within 30 days
Written notice has to reach the insurer no more than 30 days after the accident, unless you can give a clear and reasonable justification for the delay. In general, you file with the insurer of the car you were riding in. If you were a pedestrian, you file with the insurer of the car that hit you.
When you call the insurer, write down:
- your claim number
- the adjuster’s name, phone number and email
- the address where medical bills should be sent
Step 2: Get a referral for physical therapy
New York’s Insurance Law covers physical therapy under No-Fault only when the treatment is provided pursuant to a referral. In many other situations, New York lets you see a physical therapist without one, but a car accident claim is different. Ask the doctor treating your accident injuries for a prescription for physical therapy.
Step 3: Bring the right paperwork
- Your referral or prescription for physical therapy
- The auto insurer’s name, your claim number and the adjuster’s contact information
- The date of the accident
- Your health insurance card, since your health plan may pay later if No-Fault benefits run out
- A list of your current medications
- Any imaging (MRI, CT, X-ray), emergency room or operative reports
Tell us it is a car accident claim when you call, so we can send the No-Fault intake forms. Arrive 30 minutes early, or ask for the digital intake link by email and complete the forms online.
Whiplash physical therapy treatment: what to expect
Whiplash happens when sudden force or movement strains your neck, and rear-end collisions are a common cause. Your first visit is a one-on-one evaluation. Your physical therapist asks how the crash happened and how your symptoms have behaved since, then checks how your neck moves, how your symptoms respond to repeated movements and positions (the McKenzie Method, also called MDT), and the strength and sensation in your arms.
Treatment is built from what that exam shows. It may include:
- specific movements and positions to repeat at home
- hands-on manual therapy
- exercise to restore strength and control in your neck and upper back
- mechanical traction or pain-relieving modalities, only when indicated
- practical advice on driving, sleeping and work positions while you recover
Recovery time varies. Cleveland Clinic notes that most people with a minor whiplash injury recover within days or a few weeks, while more severe injuries can take several weeks or months. Read more about whiplash and neck pain and headaches that start in the neck.
Get checked by a doctor first if you notice these
Physical therapy does not replace a medical exam after a crash, and you will need a doctor’s referral for No-Fault anyway. Get medical care right away, and call 911 in an emergency, if you have:
- an arm or hand you cannot move, or new numbness, tingling or weakness in an arm or hand
- loss of bladder or bowel control
- trouble walking or keeping your balance
- trouble swallowing or breathing along with neck pain
- a head injury followed by confusion, repeated vomiting, slurred speech, unusual drowsiness or a headache that keeps getting worse
Once you have your claim number and referral, call (716) 332-4838 or request an appointment and let us know it is a No-Fault case.