Auto Accident Injury Doctor in Medical Lake & Spokane
Same-day appointments for whiplash and crash injuries — chiropractic, physical therapy, medical massage and medical evaluation under one roof in Medical Lake.
Auto Accident Injury Care at Essential Health Group
Seen Today, Not Next Week
If you have been in a car accident in or around Spokane, we offer same-day appointments for whiplash and soft tissue injuries — with chiropractic, physical therapy, medical massage and medical evaluation available in one building.
The emergency room rules out fractures and internal injury. That is what it is there for, and if you have not been yet, go. What an ER visit does not include is a detailed assessment of the neck, mid back and lower back — the structures most often affected in a collision and the ones that tend to surface days later.
That second examination is what we do.
What to Do After an Accident
1. Get checked for serious injury. The emergency room or an urgent care clinic will rule out anything that needs immediate attention.
2. Get a full musculoskeletal examination. Whiplash and soft tissue injuries are frequently missed in the first hours, partly because adrenaline masks symptoms and partly because the ER is looking for something else.
3. Come and see us — same day where possible. Prompt assessment matters for your recovery, and it matters for your record if there is an insurance claim.
Why Whiplash Is Easy to Underestimate
A collision applies force to the neck faster than muscles can brace against it. The joints, discs and soft tissues absorb that movement, and the resulting irritation often does not announce itself straight away. People commonly feel reasonably well at the roadside and considerably worse two or three days later.
Stiffness, headache, reduced neck rotation, pain between the shoulder blades, and in some cases blurred vision or dizziness are all worth having looked at rather than waiting out. If vision symptoms are part of what you are experiencing, we have written about that in more detail: can whiplash cause vision problems.
Dr. Christopher Wellwood
ARNP, NP-C, DC — Physical Medicine & Regenerative Medicine
Evaluating and treating auto accident injuries for patients across Medical Lake, Spokane and Airway Heights.
📍 731 N Stanley St
Medical Lake, WA 99022
🕒 Mon–Thu 8am–5pm · Fri 8am–4pm
⭐ 307 five-star Google reviews
🚗 Accident Injury Services at Essential Health Group
Recovery after a collision is rarely one treatment. We assess the whole picture — spine, soft tissue, nerve involvement and function — and combine the therapies that fit your injury, adjusting as you progress. Everything below happens in the same building, which means your providers talk to each other rather than sending you across town.
🦴 Chiropractic Care
Assessment and treatment of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine after a collision — restoring movement in joints that have stiffened in response to the injury, which is the usual starting point for whiplash.
🏃 Physical Therapy
Graded, supervised movement to rebuild strength and range in the neck and back. Active rehabilitation is favoured over rest and collars for most soft tissue injuries, and the exercises are tailored to what your examination actually found.
🖐 Medical Massage
Targeted soft tissue work for the muscles that guard and tighten after an accident — easing the protective spasm that keeps the neck and upper back locked down.
💊 Medical Evaluation & Management
Medical assessment on site when your injuries need it — including imaging referral, medication review and coordination with any other providers involved in your care.
💉 Regenerative Medicine
For injuries that have not settled with conservative care, PRP, prolozone and prolotherapy are available as non-surgical options for damaged ligaments and joints.
📋 Documentation for Your Claim
Thorough records of examination findings, treatment and progress, prepared for your attorney or insurer. Accurate documentation from the start is considerably easier than reconstructing it later.
Accident Injury FAQs
How soon after a car accident should I be seen?
As soon as you have been cleared of serious injury. Symptoms from soft tissue damage commonly appear a day or two after the collision, and being examined early gives you both a clearer picture of what was injured and a contemporaneous record of it.
Do I need a referral from my attorney or insurer?
No. You can book directly with us. If you are working with an attorney, we will provide the documentation they need.
What if I feel fine?
Feeling fine immediately after an accident is common and is not the same as being uninjured. An examination either confirms you are fine — which is worth knowing — or finds something while it is still straightforward to treat.
Will my car insurance cover treatment?
In Washington, Personal Injury Protection coverage commonly applies to treatment after a motor vehicle accident. Coverage varies by policy, so bring your insurance details to your first visit and our front desk will help you work out what applies.
Do I need a neck brace?
Usually not. Current practice favours keeping the neck moving within comfortable limits over immobilising it, and your examination will determine what is appropriate for your injury.
How long does recovery take?
It depends on what was injured and how long it has been left. We will give you a realistic picture at your first appointment rather than a number chosen before anyone has examined you.
Everything Under One Roof
Accident recovery goes badly when it is fragmented — a chiropractor here, a physiotherapist there, a doctor somewhere else, and nobody holding the whole picture. At Essential Health Group our chiropractic, physical therapy, massage and medical teams work in the same building on the same cases, and your plan changes as your examination findings change.
If you have been in an accident in or around Spokane, book an appointment today or call (509) 299-6900.
Further Reading — Injury & Recovery
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Injured in an Accident? Get Seen Today
Same-day appointments for whiplash and accident injuries, with the documentation your claim needs.
Medical Lake, WA · (509) 299-6900 · In-Person & Telehealth