Auto Injury Chiropractor in Winter Garden: Your First Visit After a Crash

After a car accident, your first visit with an auto injury chiropractor at our Winter Garden office takes about an hour. We talk through the crash and your symptoms, do a hands-on physical exam, take digital X-rays only if they're clinically indicated, and then explain what we found and what we recommend. If you plan to use Florida PIP, try to have that first visit within 14 days of the crash.

Below is each step in plain language, along with what to bring and the basics of how PIP works, so you know what to expect before you walk in.

Key Takeaways

• Get checked soon. Florida PIP medical benefits depend on getting initial care within 14 days of the accident.
• Feeling fine doesn't always mean you are fine. Whiplash pain may not show up right away and can take hours to weeks to develop.
• Your first visit takes about an hour: a consultation, a physical exam, digital X-rays only if they're clinically indicated, and a clear explanation of what we found.
• Bring a photo ID, your auto insurance information (and claim number, if you have one), a list of medications or supplements, and any prior imaging.
• No referral is needed. At Atlas Injury to Health, care after an auto accident is handled through Florida PIP.

Why get checked after a crash, even if you feel okay

Plenty of people walk away from a fender bender, swap insurance details and assume that's the end of it. Sometimes it is. But neck injuries don't always announce themselves at the scene. According to MedlinePlus, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's health information service, the pain of whiplash may not appear right away after an accident and sometimes takes hours to weeks to develop. The symptoms it lists include dizziness, headache, and pain or stiffness in the neck, jaw, shoulders or arms.

That delay matters for two reasons. An exam soon after the crash gives you a starting point to compare against if symptoms show up later. And Florida's PIP rules put a clock on your medical benefits, which we explain below.

Signs worth paying attention to in the days after a crash:

• Neck pain or stiffness, or a neck that won't turn as far as it used to
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Pain in your jaw, shoulders or arms
• Low back pain
• Anything that feels different from how you felt before the accident

When to go to the emergency room first

A chiropractic visit is not emergency care. Call 911 or go to an emergency room right away if, after a crash, you have:

• Loss of consciousness, confusion, or a headache that keeps getting worse
• Numbness, weakness or tingling in your arms or legs
• Severe neck pain, especially after a hard hit to the head or neck
• Trouble breathing, chest or belly pain, or heavy bleeding
• Anything that feels like an emergency to you

Once anything urgent has been ruled out, a chiropractic exam can be a sensible next step.

Florida PIP and the 14-day window

Florida requires at least $10,000 of Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage on any vehicle with four or more wheels registered in the state, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The rules for how PIP pays medical bills are in Florida Statutes §627.736. In plain English:

• 14 days. To use PIP medical benefits, you need initial care within 14 days after the accident. A chiropractic physician is one of the providers who can give that initial care, along with medical doctors, osteopathic physicians, dentists, advanced practice registered nurses, hospitals and emergency services.
• 80%. PIP pays 80% of reasonable expenses for medically necessary care, up to your limit. Your policy and any other coverage decide who pays the rest.
• $10,000 or $2,500. The limit is up to $10,000 if a medical doctor, osteopathic physician, dentist, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse determines that you had an emergency medical condition, and $2,500 if a provider determines you did not. Chiropractors aren't on the list of providers who can make that finding. Your chiropractic care can still be covered, but the higher limit depends on that finding by one of the providers listed above.
• Massage and acupuncture aren't covered. Florida PIP medical benefits exclude both, whoever provides them.
• Your own policy matters. Deductibles and other terms vary, and the statute also sets rules for follow-up care and referrals between providers. Your insurer can tell you how they apply to your claim.

For a fuller walk-through, read our guide to how Florida PIP covers chiropractic care and the 14-day rule.

This section is general information, not legal advice. Source: Florida Statutes §627.736 (2026).

What to bring to your first visit

• A photo ID
• Your auto insurance information, and your claim number if you have one
• A list of current medications or supplements
• Any prior imaging, such as X-rays or an MRI

It also helps to jot down a few notes before you come in: when and where the crash happened, whether you were hit from the front, side or behind, and when each symptom started. Details like these fade quickly, and they help us understand what happened to your body.

Your first visit, step by step

Your first visit takes about an hour. Here's how that hour usually goes.

1. A conversation about the crash and your symptoms

We start with a thorough consultation. We'll ask how the accident happened, what you've felt since, what makes it better or worse, and about your health before the crash. If you've already been seen at an emergency room or urgent care, tell us what they found. There are no wrong answers here; the more we know, the better we can help.

2. A physical examination

Next comes a hands-on exam. We look at how your neck and back move, where you're tender, and how you're holding yourself. If something hurts, say so. You can ask us to slow down or stop at any point.

3. Digital X-rays, only if they're clinically indicated

If your history and exam call for imaging, we take digital X-rays on-site at our Winter Garden office. Not everyone needs them. If you've had imaging since the crash, bring it with you; it helps us get a complete picture.

4. What we found, in plain language

Before any adjustment, we walk you through what we found and the care plan we recommend: what we'd do, roughly how often, and why. We'll also talk through whether chiropractic care is a fit for you. Ask us anything.

5. When care begins

Our signature adjustment is Atlas Orthogonal, a precision instrument adjustment of the atlas, the top vertebra of the neck. There's no twisting, popping or cracking, and most patients describe it as a light tap. Upper cervical chiropractors hold that the forces of a crash can shift the atlas out of its normal position, and an Atlas Orthogonal adjustment is aimed at restoring it. Our founder, Dr. Michael St. Louis, trained directly under Dr. Roy Sweat, the creator of the Atlas Orthogonal technique.

Our Winter Garden chiropractors

Our Winter Garden team includes Dr. Patrick Russell, D.C., and our founder, Dr. Michael St. Louis, D.C. You can read more about both on our Winter Garden team page.

What care can look like after the first visit

Every plan is built around what your exam shows, so there's no standard number of visits. We'll give you a clear estimate after your consultation and any X-rays. Depending on what we find, care may include:

• Atlas Orthogonal adjustments
• Other chiropractic adjustments
• Therapeutic exercises and stretches you can keep doing at home

Chiropractic care isn't the only care you may need after a crash. If your symptoms point to something else, seeing a medical doctor is the right next step, and as the PIP section above explains, it's also the route to the higher PIP limit.

Paying for care after an auto accident

Atlas Injury to Health is out of network with all health insurance plans and doesn't bill health insurance. Care after an auto accident is the exception: it's handled through Florida PIP. Bring your auto insurance details to your first visit, call us as soon as you can after the crash, and we'll help you navigate the process. If you have questions about cost, ask us before care begins.

Do I need a lawyer?

Many people handle a PIP claim directly with their insurer. Others choose to talk to an attorney, especially when injuries are serious or fault is disputed. That's your decision, and this article isn't legal advice.

Finding our Winter Garden office

We're at 424 N Dillard St, Winter Garden, FL 34787, a short drive for neighbors in Ocoee, Windermere, Oakland and Horizon West. Call us at (407) 656-0390, or see current office hours on our Winter Garden location page. No referral is needed, and you can schedule your first visit online.

For more on crash-related injuries, see car accident injury care in Winter Garden and whiplash care in Winter Garden.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I see a chiropractor after a car accident if I feel fine?

It's worth getting checked. Whiplash pain may not show up right away and can take hours to weeks to develop, and Florida PIP medical benefits depend on initial care within 14 days of the accident. An exam soon after the crash gives you a clear starting point.

How soon after a car accident should I see a chiropractor in Winter Garden?

As soon as you reasonably can, and within 14 days if you plan to use Florida PIP. If you have any emergency signs, such as confusion, a worsening headache, or numbness or weakness in your arms or legs, go to an emergency room first.

How long does the first visit take?

About an hour. That covers a consultation, a physical exam, digital X-rays if they're clinically indicated, and a walk-through of what we found and the care we recommend.

Will PIP pay for my chiropractic care?

Florida PIP can cover chiropractic care after a car accident if you get initial care within 14 days. It pays 80% of reasonable expenses for medically necessary care, up to $10,000 if a qualifying provider determines you had an emergency medical condition, or $2,500 if not. Your own policy's terms apply, so check with your insurer. This is general information, not legal advice.

Do I need a referral?

No. You can schedule directly with our Winter Garden office.

Will the adjustment crack my neck?

No. Atlas Orthogonal uses a precision instrument, with no twisting, popping or cracking. Most patients describe it as a light tap.

What if it's been more than 14 days since my accident?

PIP medical benefits generally depend on initial care within 14 days. If you've missed that window, call your insurer to ask about your options. You can also call us to talk about care and payment.

Schedule a consultation in Winter Garden

If you've been in a crash in or around Winter Garden, we'd be glad to help you work out what's going on. Schedule your first visit online or call us at (407) 656-0390, and we'll take it one step at a time.

This article is general health and insurance information, not medical or legal advice. In an emergency, call 911.