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The reason this question gets confusing is that most of the pages answering it are written by law firms, and most of them tell you to see a medical doctor first. That advice is not wrong, but it is incomplete. What actually matters is that somebody with a license examines and documents you quickly, because the clock on both your recovery and your claim starts the moment the crash ends.
Why does medical care come before the legal call?
Because your injuries are on a clock and your lawyer search is not.
Crash injuries are often quiet at first. Adrenaline suppresses pain in the hours after a collision, and soft tissue inflammation builds over the following one to three days. People walk away from a wreck feeling fine and wake up on day three unable to turn their head.
Finding the right attorney takes time. Consultations, comparing firms, and signing a fee agreement can easily run a week. Your neck does not wait a week.
There is a second reason. A claim is built on medical records. If no provider has examined you, there is nothing for an attorney to work with. That is the entire purpose of our auto accident injury care in Dallas, to document what happened while it is still documentable.
What does a gap in treatment do to your claim?
It gives the insurance company an argument, and it is the argument they use most.
If you were hurt on Monday and first saw a provider three weeks later, the adjuster will ask why. The answer they will offer is that the injury came from something other than the crash, or that it was too minor to need care. A gap in the record is the easiest thing in the world for an adjuster to point at.
Getting examined in the first few days removes that argument before it can be made. It also means your treatment plan is based on how you actually presented right after the collision, not on what you remember weeks later.
What does a chiropractor handle, and what does an attorney handle?
They do different jobs, and neither one replaces the other.
| Task | Chiropractor | Attorney |
| Examine and diagnose your injury | Yes | No |
| Treat spine and musculoskeletal injuries | Yes | No |
| Order diagnostic imaging | Yes | No |
| Write the records your claim relies on | Yes | No |
| Prescribe medication or perform surgery | No | No |
| Determine who was at fault | No | Yes |
| Negotiate with the insurance adjuster | No | Yes |
| File suit before your legal deadline | No | Yes |
| Advise you on what your claim is worth | No | Yes |
Under the Texas Administrative Code, Title 22, Section 78.2, a chiropractic license does not cover surgical or incisive procedures, prescribing controlled substances or prescription drugs, or x-ray therapy. Diagnostic x-rays are a different thing and remain part of normal practice, along with the hands on and rehabilitative work described on our what we do page.
Do you need a referral to see a chiropractor in Texas?
No. You can book an appointment directly.
A referral from a medical doctor is not required to be seen. What can be required is prior authorization from your health insurance plan, which is a billing question rather than a legal one, and it varies by plan.
If your exam turns up something outside the musculoskeletal system, a responsible clinic refers you out rather than treating it. For everything inside it, care ranges from adjustments to pain management and therapeutic massage, depending on what the exam finds.
When do you actually need a lawyer?
When fault is disputed, when injuries are serious, or when an insurer is already pushing back.
Some claims do not need representation. A minor collision with clear fault, modest bills, and a cooperative adjuster can often be handled directly. You should strongly consider an attorney if any of the following apply.
| Situation | Why it matters |
| Fault is contested or shared | Texas assigns fault by percentage, and that percentage changes what you can recover |
| The other driver was uninsured or underinsured | The claim shifts onto your own policy, which changes the whole approach |
| Injuries required surgery, hospitalization, or ongoing care | The numbers are large enough that mistakes become expensive |
| The adjuster has offered a quick settlement | Early offers usually arrive before anyone knows the full extent of the injury |
| A government vehicle or commercial truck was involved | Different rules and much shorter notice deadlines apply |
One warning. Be cautious with any attorney who insists you treat with a specific clinic, or any clinic that will only see you if you sign with a specific firm. Your provider and your lawyer should be two separate choices.
Who should talk to the insurance adjuster?
Not you, if you can avoid it, and never before you have been examined.
The adjuster will call fast, often within a day or two. They may ask for a recorded statement and they may ask how you are feeling. Saying you feel okay on day one, before symptoms have surfaced, becomes part of the file permanently.
Report the crash to your own insurer as your policy requires. Beyond that, if you have an attorney, let them handle the other side. If you do not, keep it factual and short, and decline a recorded statement until you know the extent of your injuries.
What should the first week after a Dallas crash look like?
Fast documentation, then treatment, then the legal decision.
| When | What to do |
| At the scene | Call police, photograph vehicles, road, and injuries, exchange information, get witness names |
| Within 24 to 72 hours | Get examined, even if you feel fine. This is the window where injuries surface |
| Within the first week | Begin the treatment plan, notify your own insurer, start a folder for every bill and record |
| Week one to two | Decide on an attorney if any of the situations above apply |
| Ongoing | Keep every appointment. Consistency in the record matters more than volume |
If you are past the scene and into the symptom stage, the next step is simply getting seen. You can book at either of our Dallas and Lewisville clinics, and same day slots are kept open for new injury patients.
How long do you have before your options close?
Two years to file suit in most Texas injury cases, but the practical window is much shorter.
The deadline comes from Section 16.003 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Chapter 16, which requires suit to be brought no later than two years after the cause of action accrues. Claims involving a city, county, or state entity carry far shorter notice requirements, and other exceptions exist.
Two years sounds generous. It is not the number that decides most cases. A claim filed on time with a three week treatment gap is weaker than one filed early with a clean record from day two.
When should you go to an emergency room instead?
Some symptoms are not a chiropractic problem. Go to an emergency room for any of these.
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
- Numbness through the groin or inner thighs
- Progressive weakness in one or both legs
- Confusion, repeated vomiting, or loss of consciousness after the crash
- Severe head, chest, or abdominal pain
- Pain that will not ease in any position
Get emergency care first. Chiropractic treatment can follow once you have been cleared.
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Medically reviewed by Dr Long, Texas chiropractic license number [NUMBER]. [YEARS] years treating auto accident and injury patients in the Dallas Fort Worth area at Longhorn Injury and Rehab Centers.
Last updated: 16/09/2026