“I have had sich a great experience seeing Dr. Bergin. When other offices have told me I just had muscle damage or the only thing they could do for me was give shots, he said he had others ways to manage my pain and numbness, along with improving mobility. And he was right! I feel so much better! With such friendly staff and welcoming office environment, it makes for an amazing experience. I'll definitely continue seeing him!”
Condition
Car Accident Injury Treatment
in Lakeland and The Villages, FL
Get examined, get the findings written down, and get treated. Crash injuries are often quiet on day one and loud on day four.
- 22 years in practice
- Same lineup at both offices
- $47 new-patient exam
Medically reviewed by Dr. Justin Bergin, DC Updated September 18, 2026
Quick summary
After a collision, the injuries that matter most are often the ones that do not hurt yet. Whiplash and soft tissue trauma commonly surface days later.
Dr. Justin Bergin examines you, writes down what he finds, and treats the neck, mid back and low back. No surgery and no medication, at the Lakeland and Lady Lake offices. Getting examined early matters for your recovery and for your records.
Understanding car accident injuries
A car accident injury is trauma to muscle, ligament, disc, joint or nerve caused by the rapid acceleration and deceleration of a collision. Whiplash is the common neck version of it. The injured tissue swells and stiffens over days, so symptoms often appear well after the crash.
In a rear impact your torso is pushed forward by the seat while your head lags behind, then whips the other way. It is over in a fraction of a second.
Three structures take that load, and which of them was injured is what the examination is there to find. None of that requires a dramatic crash or a damaged bumper.
Symptoms usually arrive late. Stiffness comes first, then headaches from the base of the skull, then symptoms traveling into an arm or a leg if a nerve has been irritated.
How it works
The neck ligaments stretch
They are pulled past their normal range in a fraction of a second, which is the injury the word whiplash describes.
The small joints compress
The joints at the back of the spine are compressed in the same instant that the ligaments are stretched.
The discs take a shearing load
Where that leaves a disc irritating a nerve root, pain travels into an arm or a leg rather than staying in the neck or back.
Why does it hurt more three days later?
The ambulance did not come. You said you were fine, exchanged information and drove home.
Three days later you cannot turn your head to reverse out of a parking space. Your shoulders burn by lunchtime and your sleep is broken. That is the normal course of a crash injury.
Even a low speed collision puts real force through muscle and ligament, and adrenaline hides it well at the time.
What does the first week decide?
What you do in the first week shapes the next six months.
Dr. Justin Bergin has spent 22 years examining people after collisions. The work is the same at both offices: find out what was injured, write it down properly, and start treating it.
Independent background: About Transportation Safety, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Symptoms
Most people recognize their own version somewhere in this list. Each one maps to a specific finding the examination checks for.
- Neck stiffness that started days later
- Headaches from the base of the skull
- Pain between the shoulder blades
- Reduced ability to turn the head
- Tingling or numbness in an arm
- Low back pain with sitting or driving
- Dizziness or a foggy feeling
- Jaw soreness or clicking
- Broken sleep and irritability
Common causes
Rear impact and the whiplash mechanism
The head lags behind the torso and then snaps forward. Neck ligaments and the small joints at the back of the spine take the load. It does not require high speed to produce real injury.
Side impact and rotational force
A hit from the side loads the spine sideways and rotates it at once. Rib, shoulder and mid back symptoms follow, and the asymmetric pattern is easy to misread as a simple strain.
Bracing at the moment of impact
Gripping the wheel and locking the arms transmits force through the wrists, elbows and shoulders into the neck. People who saw it coming are often more symptomatic than people who did not.
Seat belt and airbag loading
Restraints do their job and still concentrate force across the collarbone, ribs, sternum and pelvis. Chest wall and shoulder soreness after a crash is frequently belt related and deserves examining.
How we treat car accident injuries in Lakeland and The Villages
Care starts with a full examination and written findings. Treatment then restores movement to the joints that locked up, settles the injured soft tissue, and unloads the disc where the crash produced radiating symptoms. Nothing is injected, nothing is prescribed and no surgery is involved.
Chiropractic examination and adjustment
The joints of the neck and mid back commonly lock down after a collision, to protect the area. They stay that way long after the worst of it has passed. Adjustment restores that movement.
This part of care is billed to insurance, and our team verifies benefits before your first visit.
Spinal decompression where a disc is involved
Where the examination points to a disc, with pain traveling into an arm or a leg, computer-controlled decompression reduces the load on that level.
It is comfortable, you stay clothed, and it is done on a table rather than through any procedure.
computer-controlled spinal decompression for crash-related disc pain
Soft tissue treatment for the injured muscle and ligament
Left alone, strained tissue repairs itself untidily. That is where months of lingering neck and shoulder tightness come from.
Hands on and instrument assisted work treats it while the area is still responding.
soft tissue rehabilitation for strained neck and shoulder muscle
Available at our 2 locations
Treatment at our Lakeland office, and also at:
What recovery usually looks like
Examination and documentation As soon as possible after the crash
A full history of the collision, orthopedic and neurological testing, range of motion measurement and imaging where indicated. The findings are recorded properly, which matters for your care and for any records requested later.
Settling the injury, then repairing the tissue Through the plan
First the protective spasm comes down and movement returns to the joints that shut down. Then the injured tissue is treated while it is still healing.
That usually decides whether you recover fully or live with a stiff neck for a year.
Return to normal and re-examination Toward the end of care
You are re-examined against the findings recorded at the start, not against how you say you feel on the day. Where something has not resolved, we refer rather than extend a plan.
When to seek care sooner
What to try at home first, in the days after a collision: keep moving your neck gently within comfort rather than holding it rigid. Use ice for the first day or two and heat after that.
Sleep with support under your neck. Avoid long drives while your neck will not turn properly. Book an examination even if you feel manageable, because symptoms commonly arrive late.
Some symptoms need a physician right away in the days after a crash. Go to an emergency department for a worsening headache, numbness or weakness in an arm or leg, or neck pain with vomiting or confusion. Do the same if you lost consciousness, if you have chest pain, or if there is any change in bowel or bladder control.
Cost, insurance and financing
What care costs after a collision depends on what was injured and how much of the spine is involved.
The one published price
Consultation, Exam, X-Rays (If Needed) & Report of Findings: Only $47
What affects the cost
- How many spinal regions were injured
- Whether nerve symptoms are present
- Whether imaging is required before care begins
What a course includes
- The consultation, examination and written report of findings
- Documentation of examination findings in your clinical record
- Re-examination measured against your starting findings
Payment:
Chiropractic care bills insurance, and our team verifies your benefits before your first visit.
Florida is a no-fault state, and personal injury protection is generally part of an auto policy. What is covered, and how soon you must be seen for it to apply, depends on your policy and on current state rules.
Our front desk will help you confirm it with your own insurer. We document your care. We do not handle claims, and nothing here is a promise about what any insurer will pay.
New patients start with a consultation, exam, x-rays if needed and report of findings for only $47.
Who you would be seeing
Who carries out the examination?
Dr. Justin Bergin, DC has been in practice for 22 years and has examined a great many people in the weeks after a collision.
What makes a record worth having?
He cares about the difference between two kinds of record. One says the patient reported neck pain. The other says which segments were restricted, by how much, and which orthopedic tests were positive.
The first is a note. The second is an examination.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Justin Bergin, DC.
Dr. Justin Bergin, DC, 22 years in practice, performs the examination personally and explains the findings before any program starts. Lakeland: 6595 Florida Ave S, Suite 13, Lakeland. The Villages market office: 929 US-441 #404, Lady Lake. Both offices run the same program.
Getting to us
Which roads is the Lakeland office near?
The Lakeland office at 6595 Florida Ave S, Suite 13 sits in South Lakeland close to the S. Florida Avenue and Polk Parkway corridors, where a large share of Polk County collisions happen.
Patients come in from Highland City, Christina, Scott Lake, Dixieland and the Southgate area, often the same week as the crash.
How do you reach the Lady Lake office?
The Lady Lake office at 929 US-441 #404 sits on the north US-441 run just above CR 466.
That stretch is full of busy intersections, as anyone driving between The Villages, Summerfield, Wildwood and Leesburg already knows.
Browse every condition on the conditions we treat index.
Car Accident Injuries in recent research
These sources are independent of this practice and none of them endorses it. They are listed so the reasoning behind the care can be checked rather than taken on trust.
- The Treatment of Neck Pain-Associated Disorders and Whiplash-Associated Disorders: A Clinical Practice Guideline
The guideline our whiplash plan follows, recommending structured exercise and manual therapy over rest and collars in the first weeks after a crash.
- Whiplash
A plain account of how a crash injures neck tissue, what a normal recovery looks like and which symptoms need urgent medical assessment.
Options compared, honestly
This is treated very differently depending on who you walk in to see. Here is the full set, including the options this practice does not provide.
| Option | What it is | Typically considered when | Invasive? | Offered at ChiroMed? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiropractic care after a crash Our approach | Examination, documented findings and manual restoration of joint movement | Neck, mid back or low back symptoms follow a collision | No | Yes |
| Spinal decompression | Computer controlled traction that reduces load on a spinal level | Symptoms travel into an arm or leg and point to a disc | No | Yes |
| Soft tissue therapy | Manual and instrument assisted treatment of strained tissue | Muscle and ligament injury is limiting movement | No | Yes |
| Muscle relaxants and pain medication | Prescribed medication to reduce spasm and pain | Acute pain is preventing sleep or basic movement | No | Not performed here. Appropriate when a physician judges short term medication necessary in the acute phase. |
| Spinal surgery | An operation to stabilize or decompress an injured spinal segment | There is a fracture, instability or progressive neurological loss | Yes | Not performed here. Appropriate when imaging confirms a structural injury that conservative care cannot address. |
Most crash injuries are soft tissue and joint injuries that do well with conservative care. A minority are not, and the examination exists to tell those two groups apart before anyone is put on a plan.
What to expect
From evaluation to a plan for your car accident injuries
A course, not a single visit. The examination decides the length and the cost, and both are written down first.
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01Evaluation
Orthopedic and neurological testing, with imaging on site where it changes the plan.
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02Findings, in plain language
What the examination actually found, and honestly whether this is a case conservative care can help at all.
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03A written program
Which disciplines, how many visits, over what period, and what it costs. Decided before anything begins.
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04Reassessment as it runs
Function is re-measured through the course. If the response says the plan should change, it changes.
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Find out what is actually driving it before choosing a program.
“Dr. Bergin was instrumental in relieving my back pain which I had for many years. The techniques he used on relieving my back pain were impressive. I been going to chiropractors for years and Dr. Bergin is the best. Thank You Dr. Bergin :)”
“Took a good amount of time going over my preliminary results and going over potential care plan. Great adjustment and doesn’t sugarcoat when discussing. Would recommend”
“The environment is incredible at this office with the staff and also both doctors are extremely friendly and great at what they do”
“Amazing, Super friendly and talented Staff and Doctors! My back was a hot mess after a semi hit my car on my first day moving to Florida. But after going through the treatment program I was able to get my neck, my back and my life in alignment. It was a total transformation. Thank You New City Chiropractic!”
“Hands down the best chiropractic office out there! They are super friendly and make me feel comfortable to tell then what’s wrong. They always ensure the best treatment for their patients!”
“I absolutely love this place , it is like going to visit family. They are always so pleasant , happy , and professional. I always enjoy seeing the ladies , they always put a smile on my face and even if I am having a bad day. The doctors are always so friendly and concerned with my well being. I actually look forward to going there and miss them on the days that I don't go.”
“I only wish it was closer. You are welcome it's definitely a compliment and I have read the great comments people made about the facility and staff! Amen Open one in Auburndale please!!”
“HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend coming here if you have any pains in your back or neck!! These guys are AMAZING at what they do!! Just a few months into coming here, I feel a change in the way I walk, the way my head sits on my shoulders, and I just feel GREAT; ALL THE TIME!! Crazy what some little adjustments did for me!!”
“This is an awesome chiropractic!! They are all nice and kind! Ever Since I have been adjusting my back, I don't need to take medicine before I go to bed. Also, I have been sleeping without waking up in the middle of the night because of the pain!! I really recommend the chiropractic 😊”
“Dr. Bergin at Chiromed Wellness Centers is the best chiropractor in town. I no longer have to take pain meds. If you still have pain, you’re not seeing to best chiropractor.”
“Love this place!! Cynthia and Angie are amazing! So nice and helpful!! The chiropractor’s are also amazing!! Just a great place overall! I highly recommended it!!”
“Look them up I waited so long to see a chiropractor and I found this place and am so happy that I did . Love the Drs they are so helpful and make feel like family.”
“The staff is super friendly and they walked me through the whole process. I’ve been going for a few weeks now and I’m already feeling results! The treatment the offer is very hands on and informative. I’ve never had manual adjustments until coming to this office and the staff makes you feel comfortable and takes care of your needs. Highly recommend !”
“The best Chiropractic center in South lakeland! love it here the Doctors are very urged to help with any of your needs, the beautiful assistants are nice and helpful they really make you feel welcomed. Most highly recommended Chiropractic Center. :)”
“Muy profesional la atención es formidable todos los empleados son muy amigables.Y muy efectiva sus terapias..Los recomiendo 100x100%”
“My pain has decreased dramatically, I’m no longer stretching and moving my neck in every angle trying to find relief. Every part of my body I can feel is finally getting closer to symmetry! All I can say is you should give new city a try!”
“I love this place!! They're very caring for their patients and strive to help you feel better. I strongly recommend giving them a try. I promise you won't regret it”
“The staff is very knowledgeable and organized, they get to know you and are flexible about fitting your treatment in to your life. They use proven methods to treat the root of your issues and the results are incredible. I was in a lot of pain after a car crash and within a few weeks I was able to go back to my normal routine with no discomfort.”
“I have seen and feel the change in my body since I started, I use to have major pain in my knees and neck ache. I'm an athlete and constantly need more adjustments, and every time I come I always without a doubt feel welcomed and important.”
Get in touch
Schedule your car accident injuries evaluation
Tell us what you are feeling and which office is closer. The front desk answers during office hours; leave a message after hours and they call back the next open day.
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Send the form
Two minutes. Tell us what hurts and which office is closer.
- 2
We call you back
A real person, during office hours, to find a time that works.
- 3
Exam and answers
History, orthopedic and neurological testing, imaging on site when it changes the plan.
- $47 consultation, exam, X-rays if needed and report of findings
- Payment plans available on the self-pay programs
- 4.8 out of 5 from 225 Google reviews
- Choose Lakeland or The Villages on the form
Car Accident Injuries questions
Tap a message for the honest answer. Call Lakeland (863) 940-3444
Should I see someone if I feel fine after a car accident?
Yes. Crash injuries commonly show up two to four days later, once the adrenaline has gone and the injured tissue has stiffened.
An examination in the first week gives you a proper baseline. A fresh injury is also far easier to treat than a six-month-old one.
Is being cleared at the emergency room the same as being examined?
No, and this catches a lot of people out. An emergency visit is designed to rule out fractures, bleeding and life-threatening injury, and it does that well.
It is not designed to assess ligament injury, joint restriction or the mechanics of a strained neck, which is a different examination entirely.
Will my auto insurance cover chiropractic care after a crash?
Often, through personal injury protection, but the details depend on your policy and on current Florida rules, including how soon you need to be seen.
Our front desk will explain what usually applies and help you verify it with your insurer. We document your care. We do not handle the claim itself.
My attorney has asked for records. Can you provide them?
Your clinical records are yours, and we release them on your written authorization like any other healthcare provider.
What we produce is an examination record: findings, measurements, the plan and your response to it. We do not advise on claims and we do not work for anyone but you.
Can a chiropractor fix a pinched nerve from a crash?
Where a nerve is irritated by a stiff joint, guarding muscle or disc pressure, hands-on care often relieves it. Decompression is added when the disc is the cause.
Where there is weakness that keeps getting worse, or imaging confirms a structural injury, that is a surgical conversation and you will be referred.
How long after an accident is it too late to start treatment?
It is rarely too late to benefit from treatment, though it does get harder, because untreated tissue heals in whatever shape it was left in.
Coverage is a separate question. Policy and state time limits apply, so confirm those with your insurer quickly.
Same-week appointments
Start with an examination, not a package.
Find out what is actually driving it before choosing a program.
- 4.8 out of 5 on Google
Consultation, Exam, X-Rays (If Needed) & Report of Findings: Only $47