11 "Faux Pas" That Are Actually Okay to Make With Your injuries

Motor vehicle accidents can be trying experiences. They may involve vehicles such as motorcycles, trucks/SUVs, semi trucks and cars. The legal issues are often varied too.

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For example, if you are involved in a car accident, there are important issues stemming from the type of car insurance you purchased. In no-fault states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey, you will have medical benefits coverage under you car insurance policy that covers medical bills for you and your family. Your health insurance will only cover you or your family after the medical benefits under the car insurance policy are exhausted. Moreover, you would have selected a lawsuit option under your policy. In Pennsylvania, you selected either full tort or limited tort. In New Jersey, you had to select the lawsuit limitation or zero limitation. Oddly enough, your selection of a lawsuit option affects whether you may bring a personal injury claim against the person who caused the accident. There are exceptions, however. For example, you will be deemed to have selected the full tort option in Pennsylvania if the accident is caused by an intoxicated driver, whether from alcohol or medication.

If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident with a tractor-trailer, there are state and federal regulations governing the operation of the vehicle including the number of hours the operator is permitted to drive daily. Here is a brief listing of some of the federal regulations: Title 49 CFR Part 391 - Qualifications of Drivers, Title 49 CFR Part 392 - Driving of Commercial Motor Vehicles, Title 49 CFR Part 393 - Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe automobile collision Operation, Title 49 CFR Part 395 - Hours of Service of Drivers and Title 49 CFR Part 396 - Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance.

In addition, most current day trucks including tractor-trailers have data recording devices or "black boxes" that may obtain critical information about your accident. This data needs to be preserved immediately. If the data is favorable to you or your family, the owner of the tractor-trailer may well be disinterested in its preservation. The data can be easily written over once the tractor is put back on the road.

Here is a checklist of what steps you should take after being involved in a motor vehicle accident.

* Call police immediately at 911 if you or anyone is hurt and/or if there is damage to vehicles or property. It is important that a police report be filed of record.

* Keep calm. Make no statements to anyone about the accident, or who might have been at fault. Do not answer questions about the accident for anyone except the police or medical personnel.

* If possible, write down the date, time and place of the accident. Or do so as soon as you can afterwards.

* If possible, exchange driver's license and vehicle registration and insurance information with other parties involved.

* If possible, get names and addresses of witnesses.

* Write down the name, badge number and jurisdiction (i.e., Philadelphia, Cherry Hill) of the police officer taking your accident report.

* If possible, take photographs of the scene and vehicles involved.

* Describe the accident to the police as simply as possible. Do not assess or accept blame.

* If another party's insurance company or investigator asks you to sign any papers or provide a written or recorded statement, do not do so without first consulting with an attorney.

Finally, keep in mind that you should make objective decisions about fault for the accident including who is responsible for paying to have the vehicles repaired. Important decisions may also be needed regarding medical care. Try to keep your emotions from clouding your judgment.

We are blessed with modes of transportation that people living on the earth hundreds of years ago couldn't dream of. Unfortunately, we also have to take the responsibility of making these things safe, and bare the consequences of any errors in driving. Car crashes are very common and, if you ask anybody, almost everybody has been in a motor vehicle collision. This article is dedicated to some of the common misconceptions about car crashes and their consequences on the body.

First, many times the insurance companies will try to convince you that because the car was not damaged, there couldn't be any damage to you. This has been proven false many times over! It is true that low speed crashes are better for the vehicle, but they are worse for you! When your car is hit by another going at a high rate of speed, the cars will 'crumple,' absorbing all the force, which is what they are built to do. But cars these days are also built to withstand smaller speed crashes without damage. When that happens, all the energy absorbed will go through your body. It is a simple matter of physics. But, unfortunately, this can cause severe neck and back pain and should ALWAYS be evaluated by your Primary Care Physician or a Licensed Doctor of Chiropractic.

Another misconception about car crashes is that the symptoms and pain from these crashes can't last more than a few months. This is not true. It has been proven that the soreness, headaches, dizziness, and back pain can go on for years if left without proper treatment. Also, there may be symptoms that present that you may not associate with the crash, but the crash may have caused them. These need to be evaluated. A large amount of force goes through our bodies when we get into a car crash and it is better to be safe and get treatment immediately, than to have to endure that pain for years to come.

Lastly, many people believe that insurance will not cover their chiropractic expenses. This is definitely false! Insurances have to cover whomever was injured in the accident and will pay for your treatments, supports, supplies, and x-rays. Make sure you check with your insurance at least twice a month after having been in a car crash, especially if you are receiving treatment. This will ensure that your bills are being paid for you, and that way you can focus on getting better.