Motor Vehicle Accident & ICBC Rehabilitation in North Vancouver
Your Recovery Has a Plan. Lets Build It.
A motor vehicle accident can affect your neck, back, and overall movement in ways that aren't always obvious right away. I provide chiropractic care and active rehabilitation for ICBC claims and whiplash-related injuries, coordinating with your claim and building a plan around how you're actually recovering, not a generic timeline.
What is causing your pain?
No two motor vehicle accidents affect people the same way. Some people feel the effects immediately, others notice symptoms days later, and the right treatment depends on understanding exactly what's been affected. Here are some of the things I most commonly assess after a collision:
Cervical Muscle Strain
The most common injury after a collision, the rapid acceleration-deceleration force overstretches the neck muscles, causing pain, spasm, and restricted movement.
Cervical Ligament Sprain (Whiplash)
The ligaments connecting the neck vertebrae can be stretched in a collision, which generally takes longer to heal than a muscle strain and can contribute to ongoing stiffness if not addressed.
Cervical Disc injury
A collision can occasionally bulge or irritate a disc in the neck, causing radiating pain, numbness, or tingling down the arm.
Facet Joint Injury
The small joints at the back of each neck vertebra are especially vulnerable to whiplash forces, and are a common source of ongoing neck pain after a collision.
Prolonged-Concussion Symptoms
Even without a direct hit to the head, the whiplash motion itself can cause a mild concussion, with symptoms like headache, fog, or dizziness (see my Concussion Rehabilitation page for more).
What to expect during your session.
1
Comprehensive assessment
Every visit starts with a full movement, clinical, and neurological assessment of how the accident has affected you, with documentation that supports your ICBC claim from day one.
2
A plan build around you
From there, we build an individualized plan that combines manual therapy with active, exercise-based rehabilitation. You'll know exactly what we're addressing, why, and what the process looks like going forward.
3
Built for long-term resilience
We track your progress at every visit, reassessing regularly and adjusting your plan as you improve. The goal is genuine, long-term resilience and a real return to the activities you care about, not an open-ended treatment plan.
How long does recovery take?
This depends on what's been affected and how significant it is, which is exactly why an assessment matters before anyone can give you a real timeline. Many whiplash-related injuries improve significantly within a few weeks to a couple of months, though this varies based on severity and individual factors. ICBC typically covers up to 25 visits over the first 12 weeks for eligible claims, and I handle the paperwork and can send your adjuster extension requests if needed.
Recovery also isn't purely time-based, it follows the approximate timeline as most soft tissue injuries.
How soon after an accident should I book an assessment?
As soon as you're able to, ideally within the first few days. Symptoms can take a day or two to fully appear, and an early assessment establishes a baseline and gets your ICBC claim moving without delay.
Do I need to see a doctor before booking with you?
No referral is required. You can book directly, and I'll help you understand the ICBC claims process from there.
Can symptoms appear after the accident rather than right away?
Yes. Some people don't notice significant discomfort immediately, and symptoms can become more noticeable in the days that follow. If new or persistent symptoms develop, an assessment can help determine the right next step.