First: call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room now if, after a crash, you have:
- a head injury with passing out, fainting or confusion [1]
- an injury to the neck or spine, especially with loss of feeling or not being able to move [1]
- a headache that gets worse and does not go away, repeated vomiting, slurred speech, one pupil larger than the other, or weakness, numbness or decreased coordination [2]
- convulsions or a seizure, or you are very drowsy or cannot be woken up [2]
- severe chest pain or pressure, or trouble breathing [1]
- heavy bleeding, a deep wound, or a possible broken bone [1]
- severe pain anywhere on the body [1]
- back pain with numbness or weakness in both legs, loss of feeling around the genitals or anus, or changes in bladder or bowel control [3]
The NHS also lists back pain that started after a serious accident, such as a car accident, as a reason to call emergency services, and says not to drive yourself there [3]. If someone is with you, show them this list. A chiropractic office is not an emergency room, and nothing on this page is a reason to skip one.
There isn't one "car accident doctor"
"Car accident doctor," "accident doctor," "auto accident doctor near me," "car wreck doctor": people type all of these after a crash. What they want to know is who should look at them now. Different doctors do different parts of the job:
- Emergency room doctors handle anything on the list above.
- Urgent care clinics see problems that aren't life-threatening when you can't get in with your own doctor soon enough [1].
- Your own doctor (primary care) can evaluate you, answer medication questions and refer you on.
- Chiropractors are Doctors of Chiropractic (DC), licensed in California by the Board of Chiropractic Examiners [4]. They are not medical doctors (MD). They examine and care for neck, back and other muscle and joint problems.
Many people see more than one: the ER on the day of the crash and a chiropractor afterward, or their own doctor and a chiropractor at the same time. Tell each one about the others.
A plain decision guide
1. Any warning sign? Emergency room
If you have anything on the list at the top, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. MedlinePlus says to call 911 rather than drive when you or someone with you cannot wait [1].
2. No warning signs, but you're hurt and want a medical check soon: urgent care or your own doctor
MedlinePlus says that if a problem is not life-threatening or risking disability, but you are concerned and can't see your provider soon enough, urgent care is the place to go [1]. It lists minor injuries such as sprains, back pain, minor cuts and minor broken bones among the problems urgent care can handle [1].
3. Not sure? Call someone first
If you don't have one of the serious problems above and you aren't sure what to do, MedlinePlus says to call your provider, whose after-hours line may be answered by a nurse, or a nurse advice line from your health plan [1].
4. When a chiropractor fits
A car accident chiropractor fits when the problem is neck pain, back pain, stiffness or a muscle and joint strain from the crash, and emergencies have been ruled out. A chiropractic exam takes a history of the crash and of each symptom, checks how you move, where it is tender, and what orthopedic and neurological tests show, and writes that down with a date. It isn't the right first stop for everyone, and it isn't a substitute for the ER or for your own doctor.
5. When the clinic refers you out
Oakland Accident Care doesn't do CT or MRI scans and doesn't diagnose or rule out concussion. If your history or exam points to any of these, the clinic refers you out, and you'll be told before any chiropractic care starts:
- imaging, such as X-rays, CT or MRI
- a possible concussion, which a medical doctor should evaluate
- a possible fracture, or numbness, weakness or other signs that a nerve may be involved
- anything else that needs a medical doctor or medical specialists, including medication
Is a chiropractor a doctor?
Yes, a Doctor of Chiropractic, which is a different license from a medical doctor. In California, chiropractors are licensed by the Board of Chiropractic Examiners, and you can look up any chiropractor by name on the Board's License Search [4]. At this clinic the doctors are Dr. Ben Glass, DC and Dr. Irina Velichko, DC. For what to ask any clinic before you start, see how to choose a car accident chiropractor.
If a chiropractor is the right next step
Get examined as soon as you can. An early, dated exam starts your record from the beginning.
Auto insurance, MedPay, PIP, and liens accepted.
Oakland Accident Care is a chiropractic clinic in downtown Oakland that sees only people hurt in motor vehicle collisions, with Dr. Ben Glass and Dr. Irina Velichko, in English, Spanish or Russian. The clinic holds same-day appointment slots for new accident patients. For neck pain after a crash, see neck pain or a stiff neck after a car accident; for the days after a crash, see what happens next.
Ask for a call back
Leave a first name and number. We'll call you back within 30 minutes during clinic hours; outside clinic hours, first thing the next morning.
Questions
What kind of doctor should I see after a car accident?
Should I go to urgent care or the ER after a car accident?
Is a chiropractor a doctor?
Can I see a chiropractor and my own doctor at the same time?
Who pays for care after a car accident?
Related pages
Sources
- MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), "When to use the emergency room - adult" (reviewed July 15, 2026). Read October 7, 2026.
- CDC, "Symptoms of Mild TBI and Concussion" (page dated Sept. 15, 2025). Read October 7, 2026.
- NHS, "Back pain" (last reviewed March 5, 2026). Read October 7, 2026.
- California Board of Chiropractic Examiners, "License Search". Read October 7, 2026.
This page is general information, not medical advice, and it does not diagnose. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911.