Auto injury doctor in Central Florida — same-day care after a car accident

After a car accident, seeing an auto injury doctor quickly is one of the most important steps you can take — for your health and your insurance benefits.

Complete Care provides same-day evaluation, imaging, and coordinated injury care at 30+ Central Florida locations.

No referral is needed, and Florida’s PIP insurance requires patients to seek care within 14 days of an accident to access full benefits.

What does an auto injury doctor do?

An auto injury doctor evaluates patients who have been in car accidents, identifies injuries that may not be immediately obvious, and builds a treatment plan to support recovery.

This process is different from an ER,  general practitioner, or urgent care visit. Auto injury doctors understand the specific mechanics of collision trauma, the delayed onset of symptoms, and the documentation requirements for insurance and legal claims.

At Complete Care, auto injury care is multidisciplinary. Depending on your injuries, your care team may include chiropractic physicians, physiotherapists, spine and orthopedic providers, pain management specialists, chiropractic neurologists, and mental health counselors — all coordinated in one healthcare system, working from the same care plan.

No referral is needed. Walk-in and same-day appointments are available at all 30+ locations.

a doctor is talking to an older woman who is sitting on a bench

What should you do after a car accident in Florida?

The steps you take in the days immediately following an accident affect both your recovery and your ability to use your insurance benefits.

Here’s what you should consider:

  • Get evaluated — even if you feel fine. Many auto accident injuries, including whiplash, disc herniations, and concussions, do not produce immediate symptoms. Pain and stiffness can develop hours or days after the collision. Getting evaluated promptly creates a medical record that documents your injuries from the start.
  • Act within 14 days. Florida is a no-fault insurance state. Under Florida’s Personal Injury Protection (PIP) law, your auto insurance covers up to $10,000 in medical expenses after an accident — regardless of fault. To access those benefits, you must seek medical care within 14 days of the accident. Missing this window can eliminate your ability to file a PIP claim.
  • Report your injury under PIP before using health insurance. File your PIP claim first. PIP often covers more than standard health insurance, including lost wages and medical costs for passengers in your vehicle.
  • Follow your treatment plan. Insurance carriers can use gaps in treatment to argue that your injuries were not serious or were not caused by the accident. Consistent care protects both your recovery and your claim.

Learn more about payment and insurance at Complete Care.

What injuries do auto injury doctors treat?

Car accidents cause a wide range of injuries — from soft tissue damage that resolves in weeks to complex spinal and neurological conditions that require months of coordinated care. Complete Care treats the full spectrum.

Common auto accident injuries:

  • Whiplash — neck strain from rapid back-and-forth head motion
  • Herniated and bulging discs — disc displacement from collision force
  • Concussions and traumatic brain injury — from head impact or rapid deceleration
  • Nerve damage and radiculopathy — compression or irritation of spinal nerve roots
  • Soft tissue injuries — muscle strains, ligament sprains, and tendon damage
  • Shoulder, knee, and joint injuries — from bracing impact or seatbelt force
  • Sciatica — nerve pain radiating from the lower back into the legs
  • Rib injuries — from seatbelt restraint or airbag deployment
  • Wrist and hand injuries — from gripping the steering wheel at impact
  • Spinal fractures— vertebral fractures caused by high-impact trauma. Depending on the severity and stage of healing, some patients may benefit from ongoing rehabilitation and modified care after medical clearance

Symptoms that warrant evaluation:

  • Neck pain, stiffness, or limited range of motion
  • Headaches, especially starting at the base of the skull
  • Back pain or pain that radiates into the arms or legs
  • Numbness, tingling, or weakness in the extremities
  • Dizziness, balance problems, or ringing in the ears
  • Brain fog, difficulty concentrating, or memory issues
  • Fatigue or disrupted sleep
  • Anxiety, irritability, or emotional distress following the accident
  • Swelling or inflammation around joints

If you are experiencing severe symptoms, including loss of consciousness, inability to move a limb, or signs of a serious head injury, dial 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.

What services does Complete Care provide for auto accident injuries?

Complete Care is a fully integrated injury care system. All services are coordinated under a single care plan, so your providers work from the same clinical picture.

Call for a same-day appointment, walk in, or request an appointment online. Our providers conduct a thorough exam, review your accident history, and determine what imaging or additional testing is needed. You leave with a clear diagnosis and a treatment plan.

Complete Care offers in-system diagnostic imaging and X-rays—including digital X-rays and advanced MRI options such as wide-bore MRI, DTI (diffusion tensor imaging) for traumatic brain injury evaluation, and susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI). Imaging is performed only when medically necessary, and results inform your care plan from day one.

Our chiropractic care team provides spinal manipulation, manual therapy, and targeted treatment to restore joint motion, reduce pain, and address cervical and lumbar injuries from collision trauma.

Our injury care and rehabilitation team designs individualized programs to rebuild strength, flexibility, and function after accident injuries — focused on active recovery and returning patients to the life they had before the accident.

For auto accident injuries involving the spine, joints, and extremities, our spine and orthopedic injury care providers offer assessment and treatment ranging from conservative management to minimally invasive procedures and surgical coordination.

When pain is limiting recovery, our interventional pain management physicians offer minimally invasive options, including epidural steroid injections, nerve blocks, and trigger point injections.

Our chiropractic neurology providers evaluate and treat neurological symptoms following auto accidents, including post-concussion syndrome, dizziness, balance disorders, and cognitive changes.

Car accidents are a leading cause of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Our licensed counselors provide trauma-informed mental health services for patients managing psychological effects alongside physical injuries — delivered via telehealth and integrated into the overall care plan.

What can you expect at your first visit?

Coming to Complete Care after a car accident is straightforward. Here is what happens at your first appointment:

  • Intake and accident review — Your provider reviews how and when the accident occurred, your current symptoms, and your medical history.
  • Physical examination — A thorough exam of your spine, joints, range of motion, and neurological function.
  • Diagnostic imaging — If needed, X-rays or MRI are ordered.
  • Diagnosis and care plan — Your provider explains your injuries and outlines a personalized treatment plan before you leave, unless imaging or other diagnostics were ordered.
  • Insurance coordination — Our team begins coordinating with your PIP carrier or attorney on your behalf.
a doctor pointing at an x-ray of a knee

How does Florida’s PIP insurance work for auto accident injuries?

Florida requires all drivers to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance. Here is what you need to know:

  • Coverage: Up to $10,000 in medical expenses per accident
  • Fault: PIP pays regardless of who caused the accident
  • 14-day rule: You must seek medical care within 14 days of the accident to preserve your PIP benefits
  • What it covers: Medical treatment, a portion of lost wages, and medical costs for passengers in your vehicle
  • How to file: Report your injury under PIP before using your health insurance

Complete Care works directly with PIP carriers. We handle the billing and documentation on your behalf so you can focus on recovery.

For more information on Florida’s PIP requirements, visit the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.

Why choose Complete Care?

With Complete Care, you get everything in one place.

Evaluation, imaging, chiropractic, rehabilitation, pain management, orthopedics, chiropractic neurology, and mental health — all coordinated under one care plan, with providers who communicate directly with each other.

Patients experience:

  • Same-day access, no referral needed. Call or walk-in — our providers see you the same day and start your care plan before you leave.
  • 30+ locations across Central Florida. From Tampa Bay to the Space Coast, there is a Complete Care clinic close to where you live or work.
  • Providing injury care since 2012. Complete Care has helped Central Florida residents recover from auto accident injuries for over a decade.
  • ACR-accredited imaging. Our imaging facilities meet the standards of the American College of Radiology.
  • We handle insurance. We work directly with PIP carriers and personal injury attorneys so you can focus on getting better.

See what patients are saying

 

Frequently asked questions

Go to the emergency room immediately if you have severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, including loss of consciousness, inability to move a limb, signs of a serious head injury, difficulty breathing, or severe abdominal pain.

For injuries that are painful but not immediately life-threatening, such as neck, back, or headache pain, stiffness, or tingling, Complete Care is the appropriate next step.

Same-day evaluations are available, and X-rays can be ordered the same day.

As soon as possible — and no later than 14 days after the accident to preserve your Florida PIP insurance benefits.

Many injuries, including whiplash and concussions, do not produce immediate symptoms.

Getting evaluated early creates a medical record that documents your injuries from the start and protects your ability to file a claim.

An auto injury doctor or multidisciplinary injury care clinic is the most appropriate first stop for non-emergency accident injuries.

Complete Care’s team includes chiropractic physicians, orthopedic and spine providers, chiropractic neurologists, pain management specialists, and mental health counselors — all under one roof.

Yes. Complete Care works directly with Florida PIP carriers. PIP covers up to $10,000 in medical expenses per accident, regardless of fault. You must seek care within 14 days of the accident to access your benefits. Our team handles the billing and coordination with your insurer.

This is common. Whiplash, disc injuries, concussions, and soft tissue damage often develop or worsen in the 24 to 72 hours following a collision.

If you were in an accident and feel fine initially, you can still be evaluated — and you should be, especially to preserve your PIP benefits.

A same-day evaluation at Complete Care creates a baseline record even when symptoms are mild at first.

No referral is needed. Complete Care accepts walk-in patients and offers same-day appointments at all 30+ locations. Call us at 844.699.2273, walk in, or request an appointment online.

Yes. Our providers document your injuries thoroughly, which supports your personal injury claim.

We work directly with personal injury attorneys and PIP carriers and can provide the medical records and documentation your attorney needs.

Yes. Florida’s PIP law covers the driver and all passengers in the vehicle. All passengers injured in the accident are eligible for the same evaluation and care available to the driver.

Complete Care Locations

a chiropractor holding a model of a herniated disc
Get in Touch

Get seen today

If you’ve been in a car accident, don’t wait. Same-day evaluations are available at 30+ Complete Care locations across Central Florida — no referral needed, walk-ins welcome.

Call us at 844.699.2273, request an appointment online, or find a location near you.

Â