Car accident pain doctors in Philadelphia, PA

How accident medical bills are paid in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is a no-fault auto insurance state (drivers can choose no-fault or traditional coverage). After a crash, your own personal injury protection (PIP) coverage is usually billed first for medical care, whoever caused the accident. Tell the pain clinic you were in a car accident and bring your auto claim number.

Symptoms that show up days after a crash

• Neck pain and stiffness, headaches at the base of the skull (whiplash) often start 24 to 72 hours later.
• Low back pain that spreads into a leg, numbness or tingling can mean an irritated nerve and should be checked.
• Go to an emergency room right away for severe headache, weakness, confusion or loss of bladder control.
• Keep every visit, prescription and missed workday in one folder; your insurer and attorney will ask for them.

Choosing a pain doctor in Philadelphia

• Check the license with the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine. Physicians can also be looked up on DocInfo.org.
• Ask whether the doctor is board certified in pain medicine (through anesthesiology, PM&R or neurology).
• Ask which procedures are done in the office and which at a surgery center, and who reads your imaging.
• Bring a list of medicines, prior imaging (MRI, X-ray) and the dates your pain started or changed.