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Hurt in a car crash? Spine & Joint Center provides same-day chiropractic care for whiplash, spinal injuries, and soft tissue damage — and accepts Florida PIP insurance.
Spine & Joint Center provides same-day chiropractic care for auto accident injuries in Fort Lauderdale, including whiplash, spinal misalignment, and soft tissue damage. Treatment combines Diversified adjustments and spinal decompression therapy, and the practice accepts Florida PIP insurance for accident-related care.
A car accident transfers sudden deceleration force through the spine in a fraction of a second. That force can compress the cervical vertebrae (C1–C7), strain the paraspinal muscles, and place stress on the intervertebral discs — most often at the L4/L5 and L5/S1 levels of the lower back. Whiplash specifically involves a rapid hyperextension-then-hyperflexion of the neck that pushes the cervical spine past its normal range of motion, injuring ligaments and the small facet joints.
Early care is measurable. A 2020 study published in the European Spine Journal reported that patients who began conservative treatment within 72 hours of a motor-vehicle injury were significantly less likely to develop chronic pain than those who delayed care. Chiropractic adjustment aims to restore normal joint motion and reduce that injury cascade. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke notes that most whiplash injuries respond well to conservative, non-surgical management.
Spine & Joint Center is located at 410 NE 44th St in Oakland Park, just minutes from downtown Fort Lauderdale, serving patients across Broward County. With 77 years of combined chiropractic experience, Dr. Michael F. Petrie, DC and Dr. Douglas Kellerman, DC have treated accident injuries at the same location since 1979. If you've been in a crash, call (954) 561-4700 today — the 14-day Florida PIP deadline does not wait.
Florida law gives you just 14 days after a crash to seek care and keep your PIP benefits.
Crash injuries are not always obvious in the first hours. As a car accident chiropractor in Fort Lauderdale, Spine & Joint Center evaluates and treats the full range of injuries that follow a collision — from whiplash to disc damage.
The rapid back-and-forth motion of a collision strains the C1–C7 ligaments and facet joints, causing neck stiffness, reduced range of motion, and headaches. Care focuses on restoring cervical mobility through gentle adjustment. Our cervical pain treatment options address whiplash directly.
Collision force can shift vertebrae out of their normal position, irritating spinal nerves and limiting movement. A chiropractic exam identifies these restrictions, and targeted adjustments work to realign the affected segments and ease nerve pressure.
Sprains, strains, and micro-tears in the paraspinal muscles and ligaments often appear a day or two after a crash. Treatment combines manual therapy and rehabilitation exercises to reduce inflammation and restore strength.
Compression at the L4/L5 and L5/S1 levels can push disc material against a nerve root, causing radiating pain into the leg. Spinal decompression and adjustment aim to relieve that pressure. Learn more about herniated disc recovery.
Cervicogenic headaches stem from injured neck joints referring pain into the head. By addressing the underlying cervical dysfunction, chiropractic care can reduce the frequency and intensity of post-accident headaches.
Lower-back pain after a crash often signals strained muscles or joint irritation in the lumbar spine. A structured care plan targets the source of the pain. See our approach to spinal injury relief.
Recovery starts with an accurate picture of your injuries. Every new auto accident patient at Spine & Joint Center begins with a thorough evaluation before any treatment plan is built.
Orthopedic testing, neurological screening, and digital X-ray imaging identify the specific structures injured in the crash.
Precise, controlled adjustments restore motion to restricted neck segments after whiplash and cervical strain.
Gentle, computer-guided traction eases pressure on injured discs at the L4/L5 and L5/S1 levels.
A non-thrust technique that decompresses the lumbar spine and is well suited to disc-related injuries.
Targeted exercises rebuild strength and stability in the muscles that support the injured spine.
Clear clinical records support PIP insurance claims and any associated legal case tied to your accident.
Most auto accident care plans run a typical course of 6 to 12 weeks, adjusted to the severity of the injuries and your progress at each visit. Because crash injuries differ from person to person, your Doctor of Chiropractic reviews your response to care regularly and updates the plan as you recover. The goal is a measured return to your pre-accident activities, not a one-size-fits-all schedule.
After an accident, the safest assumption is that you have been injured even if you feel fine. Two separate clocks start the moment the crash is over — one medical, one legal.
The 14-day Florida PIP deadline. Under Florida Statute 627.736, you must receive initial medical care within 14 calendar days of an auto accident to remain eligible for Personal Injury Protection benefits. Florida PIP provides up to $10,000 in medical coverage, paid at 80% when an emergency medical condition is confirmed. Miss the 14-day window and that coverage can be lost entirely. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation publishes the current PIP rules.
The medical reason to come in early is just as important. Whiplash and soft tissue injuries frequently have delayed symptom onset — it is common for neck pain, stiffness, and headaches to appear 24 to 72 hours after the crash, once the initial adrenaline fades. Seeking care before symptoms peak allows treatment to begin sooner and creates a clear, dated record of your injuries for insurance and legal purposes. Early conservative care is also associated with a lower risk of pain becoming chronic, which is why prompt evaluation matters even when the crash felt minor.
If you notice severe headache, numbness or weakness in the arms or legs, loss of bladder or bowel control, or worsening pain, treat it as urgent and seek emergency medical attention right away. For accident injuries that are painful but not emergencies, call (954) 561-4700 to be seen the same day.
See a chiropractor as soon as possible after a car accident — ideally within 72 hours. In Florida, you must receive medical care within 14 days of the crash to keep your PIP insurance benefits under state law. Spine & Joint Center in Fort Lauderdale offers same-day appointments so accident injuries can be evaluated and documented quickly.
Yes. Florida Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance covers chiropractic treatment for auto accident injuries. PIP provides up to $10,000 in medical benefits, paid at 80% when an emergency medical condition is diagnosed. Spine & Joint Center in Fort Lauderdale accepts PIP and can help verify your accident-related coverage before treatment begins.
Whiplash symptoms include neck pain and stiffness, reduced range of motion, headaches starting at the base of the skull, shoulder or upper-back pain, and sometimes dizziness or fatigue. Symptoms often appear 24 to 72 hours after the crash. A whiplash chiropractor in Fort Lauderdale can evaluate the cervical spine and begin care before the injury worsens.
Yes. Spine & Joint Center offers same-day appointments for auto accident injuries in Fort Lauderdale. Because the Florida 14-day PIP deadline and delayed symptom onset both make timing important, prompt evaluation is encouraged. Call (954) 561-4700 after a crash and you can typically be seen the same day.
Most auto accident chiropractic care plans run 6 to 12 weeks, depending on injury severity and your response to treatment. Some patients feel meaningful relief within the first few visits, while disc and soft tissue injuries take longer. Your Doctor of Chiropractic reviews progress regularly and adjusts the plan as you recover.
No referral is required to see a chiropractor after an auto accident in Florida. You can contact Spine & Joint Center directly and schedule an evaluation. For PIP insurance purposes, what matters is that you receive medical care within 14 days of the crash, so calling promptly is the most important step.
Bring a photo ID, your auto insurance information, any police or accident report you have, and the contact details for any attorney involved in your claim. A list of your current symptoms and when they started is also helpful. Spine & Joint Center in Fort Lauderdale uses these details to document your injuries accurately for PIP.
Yes. The same techniques used for crash injuries — adjustment, spinal decompression, and rehabilitation — also address work injuries such as lifting strains, repetitive-motion damage, and falls. As a work injury chiropractor in Fort Lauderdale, Spine & Joint Center evaluates the injured area and builds a care plan suited to your job demands.
Don't let the 14-day PIP deadline pass. Spine & Joint Center provides same-day auto accident care in Fort Lauderdale and accepts PIP insurance — so you can focus on recovery.
410 NE 44th St, Oakland Park, FL 33334 · Get Directions →
Medically Reviewed By Dr. Michael F. Petrie, DC
Last Updated: May 2026
This information is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual results may vary. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before beginning any treatment program.
