Auto accident settlement chiropractor Kent WA — if you were recently in a car accident and the insurance company is already calling with a settlement offer, stop. Do not sign anything until you have completed chiropractic care. At Palmer Chiropractic in Kent, WA, Dr. Brian J. Bussard has spent 27 years helping auto accident patients understand why settling before treatment is complete is one of the costliest mistakes they can make.
Once you sign a settlement agreement, your claim is closed forever. No matter how much worse your injuries get, no matter how many future medical bills you accumulate — you cannot go back for more.
⚠️ Important: Washington State gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. You are under no obligation to settle on the insurance company’s timeline. Take the time you need to complete your treatment.
Why Insurance Companies Want You to Settle Quickly
Insurance companies are businesses. Their goal is to minimize the amount they pay on every claim. The fastest and most effective way to do that is to get you to sign a settlement agreement before you fully understand the extent of your injuries.
This is why adjusters call quickly — often within days of the accident — with what sounds like a fair offer. They know that in the immediate aftermath of a collision, many injuries have not yet fully manifested.
Once you accept a settlement and sign a release, Washington State law bars you from pursuing any additional compensation from that party — regardless of what happens to your health in the future.
What You Don’t Know Yet — The Hidden Cost of Auto Accident Injuries
Many injuries are not fully apparent immediately
Whiplash, cervical and lumbar disc herniations, nerve injuries, and soft tissue damage frequently produce worsening symptoms over days and weeks. What feels like minor soreness on day three may be debilitating pain by day ten.
Some injuries have long-term consequences
Untreated whiplash can become chronic neck pain that lasts for years. Untreated disc herniations can lead to permanent nerve damage. Settling before these long-term consequences are understood means you receive no compensation for future suffering.
Your treatment costs may far exceed the initial offer
A full course of chiropractic care, spinal decompression therapy, massage therapy, and cold laser treatment can represent thousands of dollars in medical expenses. A quick settlement offer rarely accounts for the full cost of care you will need.
You may have permanent impairment
Some auto accident injuries result in permanent loss of range of motion, chronic pain, or neurological deficits. Compensation for permanent impairment is a significant component of personal injury settlements — but only if you have completed treatment and had your impairment properly assessed.
Why Chiropractic Evaluation and Treatment Must Come Before Settlement
1
A chiropractic evaluation reveals the true extent of your injuries
Dr. Bussard performs a comprehensive examination including orthopedic and neurological testing, range of motion measurement, and review of available imaging — giving you a complete picture before you make any decisions about settlement.
2
Chiropractic treatment establishes medical necessity
Insurance companies look for evidence that your injuries were real and required professional medical treatment. A consistent record of chiropractic care with thorough documentation is powerful evidence.
3
You cannot know your future medical needs until treatment is complete
Settlement should never happen until you have reached maximum medical improvement. Only then do you know the full cost of your injuries, whether you have permanent impairment, and what your future medical needs will be.
4
Documentation strengthens your negotiating position
Dr. Bussard’s clinical records, examination findings, and narrative reports give your attorney the medical foundation needed to negotiate the highest possible settlement.
What Maximum Medical Improvement Means and Why It Matters
Maximum medical improvement — commonly called MMI — is the point at which your condition has stabilized and further treatment is unlikely to produce significant additional improvement. Reaching MMI does not mean you are pain-free. It means your condition has reached a plateau.
Settlement should never occur before MMI because you do not yet know the full cost of your treatment, whether you have permanent impairment, or what your future medical needs will be.
Dr. Bussard will clearly communicate when you have reached MMI and provide a final narrative report documenting your injuries, treatment, outcomes, and any permanent impairment. This report is a critical component of your personal injury settlement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I wait before settling my auto accident claim?
You should not settle until you have completed chiropractic treatment and reached maximum medical improvement. This timeline varies from a few weeks for minor soft tissue injuries to several months for disc herniations and more serious conditions.
What if the insurance company pressures me to settle quickly?
You are under no obligation to settle on the insurance company’s timeline. Washington State gives you three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Take the time you need to complete your treatment.
Should I get an attorney before seeing a chiropractor?
Ideally yes — but don’t let the absence of an attorney stop you from seeking chiropractic care immediately. Your health comes first. If you need an attorney referral, Dr. Bussard can connect you with experienced personal injury attorneys in the Kent area.
Does seeing a chiropractor before settling really make a difference?
Absolutely. Thorough medical documentation from a chiropractor is one of the most powerful tools in a personal injury attorney’s arsenal. Claims supported by consistent chiropractic treatment and detailed clinical records consistently settle for higher amounts than claims without documentation.
What if I already accepted a settlement?
Once you have signed a release, your options are very limited. In rare circumstances a settlement can be challenged — but this is the exception rather than the rule. This is exactly why it is so important not to settle before completing treatment.
Don’t Settle Until You’re Ready — Call Palmer Chiropractic
Dr. Brian J. Bussard provides the exceptional clinical care and thorough documentation that auto accident patients in Kent and throughout South King County need before settling their claims.
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Auto AccidentPersonal InjuryWhiplash TreatmentSpinal DecompressionLow Level Laser Therapy