If you need a car accident doctor in Danbury, CT, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation of NY & CT (PMR) can evaluate your injuries and build a treatment plan that combines chiropractic care, physical therapy and other services under one roof. Connecticut handles crash claims differently from New York, so this page also covers how care is usually paid for here, the first steps to take and the documents to bring.
Our car accident injury treatment page covers common crash injuries and how New York and Connecticut differ.
When to get urgent care
Don’t wait for an office visit if any of these happen after a crash. Call 911 or have someone drive you to the ER:
- Fainting, a seizure, confusion or a worsening headache
- Signs of a stroke, such as a drooping face, weakness on one side or trouble speaking
- Pain in your chest, ribs or belly, or trouble breathing
- Severe neck or back pain, or new numbness or weakness in an arm or leg
- New numbness between your legs, or loss of bladder or bowel control
Connecticut is an at-fault state
Connecticut is an at-fault state, not a no-fault state. People hurt in a crash claim against the driver who caused it (OLR report). Since January 1, 1994, Connecticut drivers haven’t been required to carry personal injury protection (PIP), and medical payments coverage (MedPay) is optional (CID Bulletin PC-22).
The only coverages Connecticut requires on an auto policy are bodily-injury liability, property-damage liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage (CGS 38a-334). Your policy’s declarations page shows whether you also bought MedPay.
How your care can be paid for
After a Connecticut car accident injury, care is usually paid through one or more of these:
- MedPay, the optional medical payments coverage on your own auto policy, if you have it
- Your health insurance, under your plan’s usual rules
- A claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance
- Your UM/UIM coverage, if the at-fault driver has no insurance or not enough
- An attorney’s letter of protection, a private arrangement for your provider to be paid from a settlement or award
PMR accepts auto accident and personal injury claims, and our billing team files claims with most insurance companies for you. We explain your benefits and eligibility at your first appointment, and you can check your coverage ahead of time with the form on our insurance and billing page. If you have a lawyer, see our information for attorneys and case managers. Hurt while driving for work? Workers’ compensation may apply, so read about Connecticut workers’ compensation.
Why prompt care from a car accident doctor matters
Crash injuries don’t always hurt right away. Neck stiffness, headaches and back pain may take a day or two to appear, and dizziness or tingling can show up even later. Seeing a car accident doctor soon can help find problems early and give you a safe plan for staying active.
Prompt care also creates a clear record. Insurers and attorneys often look at when you first sought care, what your symptoms were and how they changed, and a long gap before your first visit can raise questions. At each visit, your PMR provider records your symptoms, exam findings and progress. You can help by keeping a simple daily log of pain, sleep and missed work.
Step-by-step after a Connecticut crash
- Head to the emergency room first if you have any red-flag symptoms listed above.
- If you’re able, collect names, insurance details and plate numbers from the other drivers, plus photos and witness contacts.
- Write down the police report number and which department responded.
- Call your own insurer to report the crash, and ask whether your policy includes MedPay and UM/UIM coverage.
- Report the claim to the other driver’s insurer, or let your attorney handle that if you have one.
- See a car accident doctor within days, not weeks, even if your pain seems minor.
- Keep every bill, receipt and insurance letter, and track the work you miss.
What to expect at your first visit
A visit with a car accident chiropractor in Danbury starts with how the crash happened and where you hurt. The exam covers your spine and joints, muscle tone and strength, and nerve function such as reflexes and feeling in your limbs. Signs of a fracture or nerve injury mean diagnostic testing or a physician referral comes before treatment.
Your plan may combine chiropractic care, physical therapy exercise and massage, and it changes as you improve, though results vary. Neck injuries are especially common after rear-end crashes, so read about whiplash treatment if your neck hurts.
What to bring
- Your driver’s license or another photo ID
- Your health insurance card and the declarations page of your auto policy
- Claim numbers and adjuster contacts for both your insurer and the other driver’s
- A copy of the police report, or at least its number
- Records from the ER, urgent care or any imaging
- Your attorney’s name and phone number and any letter of protection, if you have them
Frequently asked questions
Will my health insurance pay for car accident care?
It often can. Health insurance is one of the usual ways care is paid after a Connecticut crash, along with MedPay and claims against the at-fault driver. Your plan’s normal rules still apply, including any referral, copay or deductible. PMR works with many major health plans and explains your benefits at your first visit, or you can reach our billing office at (203) 744-8014.
What is MedPay, and do I have it?
MedPay, or medical payments coverage, is optional coverage on a Connecticut auto policy that can help pay medical bills after a crash. Because Connecticut hasn’t required personal injury protection since January 1, 1994, MedPay is one of the usual ways care gets paid here. Check your declarations page or ask your insurer, and bring the details to your first visit.
Can I start treatment before fault is decided?
Yes. You don’t have to wait for the insurers to settle who caused the crash before you get evaluated and treated. How your visits are billed depends on the coverage you have, such as MedPay or health insurance, or an arrangement through your attorney. Our billing team goes over your options at your first appointment, so you know what to expect.
Can a chiropractor be my car accident doctor?
Chiropractors are Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) who evaluate and treat musculoskeletal injuries such as neck and back sprains, so many people see one after a crash. At PMR, chiropractors work alongside physical therapists and pain-management providers on one plan. If your symptoms point to a problem outside their scope, such as a fracture or head injury, they coordinate with or refer you to a physician.
Book a visit in Danbury, CT
Looking for an auto accident doctor in Danbury, CT? Phone the office that’s most convenient for you, or use our online appointment request form.
- PMR of Danbury, CT is at 1 Padanaram Road, Danbury, CT 06811; call (203) 744-8013.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Coverage depends on your policy and claim; our billing team can help you check yours.