Car Accident Chiropractic Care in Burnsville

What is a car accident chiropractor?

A car accident chiropractor is a chiropractor who focuses on evaluating and treating the musculoskeletal injuries — primarily to the spine, muscles, and ligaments — that result from vehicle collisions. Even crashes at moderate speeds generate enough force to strain the cervical spine (causing whiplash), compress spinal joints, and damage the soft tissue of the neck, back, and shoulders. Chiropractic care is one of the most effective and well-researched conservative treatments for these exact injuries.

At our Burnsville clinic, Dr. Jeff Plaster combines a thorough auto-injury evaluation, gentle drug-free treatment, and detailed medical documentation into a single coordinated plan — so you recover fully and your insurance or legal file is complete.

What to do after a car accident

The steps you take in the first few days shape both your recovery and your insurance claim. If you’ve been in a collision near Burnsville:

1. Get checked, even if you feel okay. Adrenaline masks pain for 24–72 hours — a quick exam catches injuries before they settle in.
2. See a chiropractor early — ideally within 72 hours. An early, dated injury record is one of the strongest things you can do for your health and your no-fault claim.
3. Report the accident to your own auto insurer. In Minnesota, your own policy’s PIP coverage pays your medical bills first (more on that below).
4. Keep everything. The police report, photos, the other driver’s information, and any medical paperwork all support your care and claim.
5. Don’t rush a settlement. Some injuries take days or weeks to fully surface. Complete your care before closing out a claim.

We handle the medical side of that list start to finish — the exam, the treatment, and the documentation your insurer or attorney will need. Keep the steps handy: download our free Minnesota Car Accident Recovery Checklist — a print-and-keep PDF for your glovebox.

Minnesota no-fault insurance: what you need to know

Minnesota is a no-fault auto insurance state, and understanding how that works is often the difference between getting the care you need and leaving an injury untreated. Here’s what it means for you after a crash.

Your own policy pays — regardless of fault

Every auto insurance policy sold in Minnesota is required to include Personal Injury Protection (PIP) — no-fault medical coverage that pays for accident-related medical treatment no matter who caused the accident. You don’t have to prove the other driver was at fault, and you don’t have to wait for a settlement to start care. Your own PIP coverage steps in first.

At least $20,000 in medical benefits — with no co-pay

Minnesota law requires a minimum of $20,000 in PIP medical-expense benefits on every policy (separate from wage-loss coverage). PIP pays 100% of reasonable and necessary medical care up to that limit. Unlike most health insurance, there’s typically no deductible and no 20% patient share — which is why most of our accident patients pay nothing out of pocket at the time of care. We verify your exact benefits before your first visit so you know precisely where you stand.

Chiropractic care is a covered benefit

Chiropractic treatment for accident injuries — exams, adjustments, soft-tissue therapy, rehab, and any necessary imaging — is a covered PIP benefit in Minnesota. We bill your no-fault claim directly and handle the paperwork, so you can focus on healing rather than fighting with an insurer.

Time limits matter

No-fault benefits carry documentation and timing requirements. Gaps in care or a delayed start can give an adjuster a reason to question your claim. Establishing a clear, dated injury record right away — ideally within 24–72 hours of the crash — is one of the most important things you can do to protect both your recovery and your coverage.

When your injuries are serious

If your injuries are significant, Minnesota law may allow a separate liability claim against the at-fault driver on top of your no-fault benefits (for example, once medical bills or disability cross certain thresholds). This is where a personal-injury attorney is invaluable — and we’re glad to recommend experienced local attorneys and coordinate directly with the one you choose. We also provide referrals for imaging (MRI, advanced X-ray) whenever your exam findings call for it, so nothing gets missed.

Bottom line: in most Minnesota auto-injury cases, your care is covered by your own PIP benefits with little or no cost to you — and the sooner you’re evaluated and documented, the stronger both your recovery and your claim will be.

What to expect from your first visit

Your first appointment is a comprehensive post-accident evaluation. Dr. Plaster takes a detailed history of the collision, your symptoms, and how your condition has changed since the crash. He then performs orthopedic and neurological testing, evaluates your range of motion, and checks the spinal joints, muscles, and ligaments for signs of injury. If imaging is needed to rule out fractures or identify disc damage, we’ll coordinate that immediately.

From there, you receive a specific care plan tailored to your injuries — including the number of visits, the techniques we’ll use, and the functional milestones that mark your progress. Typical treatment combines:

• Gentle chiropractic adjustments to restore motion to restricted or subluxated spinal joints
• Soft-tissue therapy (massage, myofascial release, or trigger-point work) to address muscle guarding and ligament damage
• Corrective rehab exercises to rebuild the deep stabilizing muscles of the neck and back
• Modalities such as ultrasound or electrical stimulation to reduce acute inflammation

Every visit is documented with objective findings and functional progress notes. If you’re working with an attorney or a no-fault adjuster, we can provide a narrative report summarizing your injuries, treatment, and response to care.

Complete auto-accident care under one roof

Dr. Plaster and our Burnsville team have helped thousands of patients recover from auto-accident injuries — and most of your treatment happens right here, without running all over town between appointments. Our in-house auto-accident services include:

• Detailed examination — a thorough orthopedic, neurological, and range-of-motion evaluation
• Chiropractic adjustments — to restore motion to injured, restricted spinal joints
• Therapeutic modalities — ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and more to calm acute inflammation
• Massage therapy — to release the muscle guarding and soft-tissue tension that follow a crash
• Digital X-rays — on-site imaging to evaluate your spine when it’s needed
• Rehab and strengthening — to rebuild the deep stabilizing muscles of the neck and back
• Home exercise recommendations — so your recovery keeps progressing between visits

When your injury needs a specialist

Some accident injuries call for care beyond chiropractic — and we coordinate that for you. We refer to and work alongside a trusted network that includes MRI and Digital Motion X-ray (DMX) imaging, neurologists, orthopedists, surgeons, physical therapists, dentists, and pain specialists — so nothing about your injury slips through the cracks. We also process your no-fault claim and handle the insurance paperwork for you, coordinating with your attorney if you have one.

Who a car accident chiropractor helps

Car accident chiropractic care is appropriate for anyone who has been in a motor vehicle collision and is experiencing — or wants to rule out — musculoskeletal injury. You’re a good candidate if you have:

• Neck pain or stiffness after a crash — even if it started a day or two later
• Whiplash — pain, tightness, or restricted motion in the cervical spine
• Back pain (upper, mid, or lower) following the collision
• Headaches or migraines that began after the accident
• A possible disc injury — numbness, tingling, or shooting pain into an arm or leg
• General soreness, muscle spasms, or limited mobility that appeared in the days after impact
• A recent crash with no symptoms yet — early documentation protects both your health and your claim

Minnesota’s no-fault law means most residents have PIP coverage for these injuries regardless of who caused the accident. We verify your benefits before your first visit so you know exactly where you stand.

Why choose Eagle Trace Spine & Sport

Patients from Burnsville, Savage, Apple Valley, Eagan, and Lakeville choose us as their car accident chiropractor because we treat the injury completely — not just the pain. Dr. Jeff Plaster provides the thorough exam, drug-free treatment, and professional documentation that accident patients need, and he coordinates with your insurance company or attorney so you can focus on getting better.

Ready to be seen? Use the request form on this page and our office will reach out fast — or call us directly if you’d like to discuss your situation first.