What if I Suffer Injuries from a Chiropractor?

Chiropractic medicine can be beneficial, and victims of accidents widely use it. Personal injury attorneys will even recommend chiropractic care. However, chiropractic providers, just like other providers of medicine, can make mistakes. If you suffer injuries from a chiropractor, you may have legal options depending on the nature of the injury.

What is the Most Common Injury with Chiropractic Care?

A recent Gallup poll found that 33 million Americans saw a chiropractor in 2014, and two-thirds sought neck and back pain treatment.

Neck, back, and shoulder pain are the most common reasons patients see chiropractors, which means they are likely to receive spinal manipulation and back adjustments. Unfortunately, these methods are the leading cause of chiropractic-related injuries, especially when they are done incorrectly. The most severe injury on record is a stroke.

Other injuries that you might experience from spinal manipulation include:

  • Pinched nerves
  • Pinched arteries
  • Headaches or migraines
  • Facial paralysis
  • Vertigo
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Numbness and tingling sensations of the extremities

Frequent spinal manipulation that is done without proper care can also result in bladder and bowel issues, bone-weakening conditions, and a herniated spinal disc.

When is a Chiropractor Liable?

To file a claim for chiropractic malpractice, you must prove that the chiropractor’s treatment fell below the standard of care.  A chiropractor in Arizona must be registered with the Board of Chiropractic Examiners. This committee oversees what treatments chiropractors are legally allowed to offer in the state, and tracks all complaints and previous claims filed against chiropractors in Arizona.

If a chiropractor injures you, your cause of action will likely be professional negligence, which is the basis of a medical malpractice claim. In Arizona, your claim for a chiropractic injury falls under the same rules of procedure as a medical malpractice claim.  Let the medical malpractice and personal injury attorneys at Udall Shumway, PLC can assist you with your chiropractic injury claim.

This blog should be used for informational purposes only. It does not create an attorney-client relationship with any reader and should not be construed as legal advice. If you or someone you know wishes to seek the help of an experienced personal injury attorney regarding Injuries from a Chiropractor, or other personal injury matters, call 480.461.5300. Udall Shumway PLC is located in Mesa, Arizona and is a full service law firm. We assist Individuals, families, businesses, schools and municipalities in Mesa and the Phoenix/East Valley.