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ACCIDENT INJURY EVALUATION · SOMERVILLE, MA

Car crash injuries: the details of your accident matter.

Rear-end, side-impact, parking-lot or rollover crash? Start with what happened to you—not just what happened to the car.

A car can look fine while you feel anything but fine.

Maybe you drove home, exchanged insurance information and tried to get on with your day. Now turning your head is uncomfortable, your lower back tightens when you stand up, or you cannot find a comfortable sleeping position. The amount of visible vehicle damage does not replace a clinical examination. Tell us what you feel, when it started and how it has changed. We do not decide whether you are injured from a photograph of a bumper.

Rear-end, T-bone, head-on and sideswipe crashes

For a rear-end collision, we ask whether your head was turned, whether you saw the impact coming and where you were sitting. For a side impact, describe which side was struck and whether your shoulder or knee contacted the door or console. With a head-on or multiple-impact crash, tell us about each impact and any airbag deployment. These details guide questions and examination; they do not prove a particular injury or its severity.

Low-speed and parking-lot accidents

A short trip through a parking lot can still leave you with questions about new pain. Describe whether you were reversing, stopped, getting into the vehicle or walking nearby. Do not minimize symptoms because someone called the crash minor. At the same time, symptoms need to be assessed rather than automatically attributed to a disc injury, pinched nerve or whiplash. If you were outside the vehicle, our pedestrian page explains the different information to bring.

SUV, pickup, van and rollover accidents

These belong in one car-crash resource because your examination depends on the event and your findings, not a separate marketing page for every body style. A rollover, ejection or major impact calls for prompt medical assessment before routine chiropractic care. If you have already been evaluated, bring discharge instructions and imaging reports. We will review those instructions before considering care here.

Hit-and-run and uninsured-driver questions

Missing driver information can make paperwork confusing. Bring the police incident number, your own policy information and any claim correspondence you have. Ask the insurer or your attorney which benefits may apply; an unidentified or uninsured driver does not by itself establish what will be paid. We can discuss required billing information and estimated costs. Do not wait for perfect paperwork before seeking necessary medical attention.

What to record for your evaluation

Write down your seat position, direction of impact, whether you wore a seatbelt, and when each symptom appeared. Note problems with sleep, driving, lifting, stairs or work. A short timeline is more useful than trying to remember everything at the appointment. Our role is to document your reported history and clinical findings, assess whether our care is appropriate and explain the next step—not to determine legal fault.

Your questions, answered.

Does a low-speed crash automatically mean whiplash?

No. Whiplash describes an injury related to sudden neck movement, but the crash label alone does not establish your diagnosis. Your symptoms, history and examination guide the assessment.

Should I mention pain where the seatbelt crossed my body?

Yes. Describe the location, bruising and any chest or abdominal symptoms. New chest pain, breathing difficulty or significant abdominal pain after a crash needs prompt medical evaluation rather than a routine office appointment.

Is this different from your main auto injury page?

Yes. This page helps you organize the details of a passenger-vehicle crash. Our main auto injury page explains the overall office evaluation, care process and next steps.

YOUR SOMERVILLE OFFICE

Clear findings. A personal next step.

Dr. Christopher Cordima, DC, BCN, has been practicing since 1988 and is Board Certified in Chronic Intractable Pain & Neuropathy. Your visit begins with your history and an examination. Depending on your findings, that may include neurological testing and a review of whether imaging or another medical evaluation is needed.

If care here is appropriate, we explain the options and costs before you decide. We do not promise a particular result or recovery time. With your permission, our team can coordinate relevant records with your attorney.

707 Broadway, Somerville, MA 02144 · Monday–Thursday, 10 AM–12 PM and 2–6 PM · By appointment.

Related accident resources

Browse all accident injury resources · Our auto injury care approach · PIP and billing questions · Free accident patient guide

Sources and coverage information

Reviewed October 17, 2026. General information, not a determination of your benefits or legal rights. Ask the insurer or your attorney about your specific claim.

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