Pauley Law Group PLLC» Back and Neck Injuries

Minimal property damage does not mean minimal injuries

admin — Fri, 29 May 2009 03:03:16 +0000

I was speaking with a Seattle chiropractor, Dr. Raymond Sue (http://www.univchiro.com/), a few weeks ago and he was kind enough to share the attached article with me. The article reviews a study that was conducted by Arthur Croft and Michael Freeman.freeman-article. Although it can be quite technical, the message is pretty clear. The amount of property damage to a vehicle is an unreliable predictor of the severity of the injuries which the passengers have suffered.

If you’ve been in an accident that has not caused much damage to your vehicle, don’t listen to an insurance adjuster or anyone else who tells you that you don’t have a claim. If you think you’ve been injured, go get examined by a doctor or chiropractor and consult an attorney. Better to be safe than sorry.

As always your comments are welcomed.

Ryan Pauley

Chiropractic Treatment – Traditional vs. Pro Adjuster

admin — Mon, 11 May 2009 20:41:51 +0000

Many individuals who have been involved in car accidents visit a chiropractor to help treat their injuries. In fact, the majority of my clients have seen the most progress from this form of treatment.

I’ve met with a few chiropractors and found there are at least two forms of common treatment: traditional and Pro Adjuster. Traditional chiropractic treatment is the most common and consists of physical adjustments to the spine. The goal of the adjustment is to reduce vertebral subluxation which is a condition that occurs as a result of a misaligned spinal segment.

Like traditional chiropractic, Pro Adjuster also treats vertebral subluxation. The Pro Adjuster is a tool which the doctor applies to specific areas of the body to determine what areas to treat. After determining the treatment area, the Pro Adjuster tool than applies pressure to that area to increase the mobility of the spinal segments. The Pro Adjuster differs from traditional chiropractic because instead of relying on the doctor’s judgment as to what areas are damaged, the Pro Adjuster measures precise levels of damage and then treats accordingly.

From a practical perspective it seems that the Pro Adjuster would appeal to individuals who are skeptical of physical adjustments. Because the Pro Adjuster tool applies pressure only to a limited area there are no major adjustments which the chiropractor must make when treating the patient.

Personally, I haven’t experienced Pro Adjuster treatment, but the next time I visit my chiropractor I am going to give it a shot.

To learn more about Pro Adjuster please see the following link: http://www.proadjusterlifestyle.com/index.php?do=chiropractic#section1.

As always, your comments are welcomed.

Ryan Pauley

Independent Medical Exams (IME): What are they and any tips?

admin — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 01:29:03 +0000

An independent medical exam is usually requested by either the driver’s PIP provider or by the other driver’s insurance company. The exam is conducted by a specialist, usually a doctor, who is hired by an insurance company. The purpose of the exam is to determine whether the client’s treatment is reasonable to treat his or her condition. If the specialist finds that the treatment is unnecessary, then benefits are typically cancelled. Conversely, if the specialist determines that treatment is necessary, the client’s benefits will likely continue.

The question which most clients ask is “How do I prevent the doctor from determining my treatment is unnecessary?” Unfortunately, there is no way to change the examiner’s opinion; however, there are a few things you can do to make sure the results are fair. First, be honest. If you try to exaggerate your condition to prolong treatment, chances are the doctor is going to catch you. As you can imagine, this does not reflect positively on you or your case. Second, be very specific when you explain the treatment you are receiving. This helps the examiner determine if other forms of treatment might be helpful.

Although the IME might not produce the result you were hoping for, these tips will at least help you receive a fair examination.