If you've been in a car accident in Marietta, GA, the decisions you make in the first few days matter more than you realize. Injuries from auto collisions — especially whiplash, ligament tears, and soft tissue damage — don't always show up right away. In fact, some of the most serious injuries feel like nothing more than stiffness or soreness for the first 24 to 72 hours.
At United Chiropractic Center, we specialize in finding and correcting the damage that car accidents cause to the spine and nervous system. Dr. Steve Landry has firsthand experience with auto injury recovery and understands what it takes to heal properly — not just feel better temporarily, but actually correct the structural damage that was done.
for accident patients
We handle your insurance
in Marietta & East Cobb
Common Auto Injuries We Treat
Car accidents create forces that the human body was never designed to absorb. Even a low-speed collision at 10-15 mph can cause significant damage to the ligaments, discs, and soft tissues of the spine. These are the injuries we see most often — and the ones that cause the most long-term problems when they go untreated.
Whiplash & Cervical Spine Injuries
Whiplash occurs when the head is thrown forward and backward rapidly during impact. This stretches and tears the ligaments and muscles in the neck far beyond their normal range. Symptoms often include neck pain and stiffness, headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, and difficulty concentrating. Left untreated, whiplash can lead to chronic neck pain, reduced range of motion, and long-term spinal instability. Early detection and corrective care are critical.
Ligament Damage & Spinal Instability
The ligaments that hold your vertebrae in place can be stretched or torn on impact. Unlike muscles, ligaments have very poor blood supply — which means they heal slowly and often incompletely without proper care. Ligament laxity creates spinal instability, which can lead to accelerated disc degeneration, nerve compression, and chronic pain that shows up months or even years after the accident. Postural X-rays and a thorough examination allow us to identify this damage early.
Soft Tissue & Disc Injuries
The muscles, tendons, and discs throughout the spine absorb tremendous force during a collision. Disc herniations, bulges, and muscle tears may not present with immediate severe pain, but they create inflammation and nerve interference that compounds over time. Corrective chiropractic care addresses the structural cause of this damage — not just the symptoms — so the body can heal the way it was designed to.
Mid-Back & Lower Back Injuries
The force of a collision doesn't stop at the neck. The thoracic and lumbar spine absorb significant impact, especially in rear-end and side-impact collisions. Patients frequently experience mid-back stiffness, lower back pain, sciatica, and difficulty sitting or standing for extended periods. Spinal misalignments in these areas interfere with nervous system function and must be properly identified and corrected.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
When you come to United Chiropractic Center after an auto accident, we don't guess. We perform a comprehensive evaluation to find exactly what was damaged and build a plan to correct it — not just manage it.
Comprehensive Pain & Injury Examination
We begin with a thorough evaluation of your spine, posture, and nervous system. This includes range-of-motion testing, neurological screening, and orthopedic assessments designed to identify the specific areas of damage from your accident.
Postural X-Rays to Find the Root Cause
We take diagnostic X-rays to see exactly how the impact affected your spinal alignment. These images show us where the vertebrae have shifted, where ligament damage may have occurred, and how severe the structural damage is. This is not guesswork — it's evidence-based corrective care.
Personalized Correction Plan
Based on your examination and imaging, we create a custom correction plan that addresses the specific structural damage from your accident. This includes the type of adjustments you need, how frequently, and what your expected recovery timeline looks like. You'll understand exactly what happened to your spine and exactly how we plan to fix it.
Your First Adjustment — Same Day
In most cases, we begin your corrective care on the very first visit. Our goal is to start reducing nerve interference and restoring proper spinal alignment as quickly as possible so your body can begin healing from day one.
Why Corrective Care Matters After a Car Accident
Most people make one of two mistakes after a car accident: they either wait too long to get checked, or they only treat the symptoms. Pain medication masks what's happening. Muscle relaxers don't fix torn ligaments. And if the structural damage isn't corrected, it gets worse — not better.
The spine protects the nervous system, and the nervous system controls everything in your body. When a car accident shifts your vertebrae out of alignment, it creates interference in that communication. That interference doesn't just cause pain — it affects how your entire body functions.
Corrective chiropractic care is different from pain management. We don't just help you feel better. We use specific, gentle adjustments to restore proper alignment, remove nerve interference, and give your body the best possible environment to heal. Our goal is full structural correction — not just temporary relief.
We Handle the Insurance So You Don't Have To
Dealing with insurance companies after a car accident is stressful, confusing, and time-consuming. You shouldn't have to fight with an adjuster while you're trying to heal. That's why we handle it for you.
At United Chiropractic Center, we work directly with your auto insurance and your attorney. We handle the documentation, the billing, and the communication so you can focus entirely on your recovery. In most cases, there is zero out-of-pocket cost to you.
We Bill Your Auto Insurance Directly
You don't need to pay anything upfront. We work with your auto insurance policy to cover your treatment. Our team handles the paperwork, submits the claims, and follows up so you don't have to.
Attorneys Work With Us Directly
If you have a personal injury attorney, we coordinate with them on your behalf. We provide all medical records, imaging, and documentation your attorney needs to build your case. Many personal injury attorneys in the Marietta area refer their clients directly to us because they trust our process and our documentation.
Thorough Medical Documentation
Proper documentation of your injuries is critical — both for your recovery and for your claim. We create detailed records of your initial examination, X-ray findings, diagnosis, treatment plan, and progress. This documentation protects you and supports your case.
What Our Patients Are Saying
Don't take our word for it. Here's what real patients are saying about their experience at United Chiropractic Center.
"The staff and doctors here are awesome. I have had no problems with them. They are wonderful people. If you need a chiropractic adjustment, choose them."
"Christian and family-owned. They work with patients financially. Amazing service and truly caring staff."
"Dr. Landry and the staff are informative and caring throughout the entire chiropractic journey. I experienced significant improvement in my back pain and could feel the difference right away."
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon should I see a chiropractor after a car accident?
As soon as possible. Ideally within the first few days. Soft tissue injuries, ligament damage, and spinal misalignments worsen when left untreated. Early care leads to better outcomes and creates the medical documentation you need for your insurance claim. We offer same-day appointments for accident patients.
Will I have to pay anything out of pocket?
In most cases, no. We bill your auto insurance directly and work with your attorney on the financial side of your care. Our goal is for you to focus entirely on healing — not on medical bills. We'll explain your specific coverage during your first visit.
What if I don't feel pain right away after the accident?
This is extremely common and one of the most important reasons to get checked. Adrenaline and inflammation can mask pain for hours, days, or even weeks after a collision. The structural damage is still there even when you can't feel it yet. Many of the patients we see waited because they "felt fine" — and the delay made their injuries significantly harder to correct.
Do you work with personal injury attorneys?
Yes. We work directly with personal injury attorneys throughout the Marietta and greater Atlanta area. We provide all necessary medical records, imaging, and documentation to support your case. Many local attorneys refer their auto injury clients directly to us because they trust our process.
What's the difference between what you do and what the ER does?
The emergency room is designed to rule out life-threatening injuries — fractures, internal bleeding, and trauma that requires immediate intervention. They are not looking for ligament damage, spinal misalignments, or soft tissue tears. That's what we specialize in. Many patients are told they're "fine" at the ER, only to discover weeks later that they have significant structural damage that was never identified. The ER and chiropractic care serve different purposes — both are important.
Is chiropractic care safe after a car accident?
Absolutely. We use gentle, specific corrective adjustments that are tailored to your injuries. We always take X-rays before adjusting to understand exactly what we're working with. Our approach is designed to restore proper alignment and remove nerve interference so your body can heal naturally. We never use a one-size-fits-all approach — every treatment plan is customized to your specific injuries.
How long does recovery take?
It depends on the severity of the damage. Minor soft tissue injuries may respond in a few weeks. More significant ligament damage and spinal misalignments typically require several months of corrective care to fully stabilize. During your first visit, we'll give you an honest timeline based on your X-rays and examination — not a guess.
What if the accident wasn't my fault?
Georgia is an at-fault state, which means the at-fault driver's insurance is typically responsible for covering your medical expenses. We handle the insurance billing and work with your attorney to make sure your treatment is covered. You should never avoid getting treatment because of uncertainty about who is paying for it — that's our job to figure out.
"I was in a serious car accident when I was 18. I know what it feels like to be in pain and not know where to turn. That experience is the reason I became a chiropractor — so I could help people heal the way I did."