Car Accident Chiropractor in Provo
Hurt in a crash? Find out what was actually injured.
Most people who come to us after a crash have already been told their X-rays are “normal.” The ER ruled out a fracture, which was its job. What it didn’t look at is how your neck and back move now, whether a ligament was stretched, or whether the disc problem on your MRI is new or was there before the crash.
That last question decides most car-accident claims. It’s also the one we’re trained to answer.
Accident & Injury Recovery
Chronic Pain & Spine
Aches & Functional Issues
Hurt in a crash? Most people can come straight to us, often the same day.
Pain often builds over the first day or two as adrenaline wears off, so do not wait for it to "settle" before getting examined. Call 801-373-1035 and we will get you in.
We check every crash patient for signs of a more serious injury at the first visit. If we find one, we send you straight to the ER or the right specialist. More: how long whiplash lasts.
Just had a crash? Use our Utah checklist for what to do after a car accident: when to call police, what to exchange, PIP, and when to get checked. Ask at the front desk for a glove-box card.
Utah requires PIP coverage on every auto policy — your accident care is covered no matter who was at fault, and we bill it directly. Accepted: State Farm · Progressive · Allstate · Geico · USAA · Farmers · Liberty Mutual · AAA · and more. Don't see your carrier? We accept all major auto insurance — call (801) 373-1035 and we'll confirm your coverage.
Motion X-ray: how your spine moves now
New injury or old wear? Why it matters after a crash
Nearly every adult over 30 has some disc or joint wear on imaging. After a crash, the other driver’s insurer will point to it and call your pain “pre-existing.” Sometimes they’re right. Often they aren’t, and the imaging can show the difference if someone knows how to read it.
Dr. Matt McClean teaches other chiropractors how to do this. In May 2026 he lectured at a continuing-education seminar in Lehi, hosted by Schriever Law, on Distinguishing Acute Trauma from Pre-Existing Degeneration. The talk covered what each MRI sequence (T1, T2, STIR, GRE) shows, how endplate (Modic) changes are classified, and why the STIR sequence matters: it shows active swelling that the standard sequences can miss.
What that means for you:
- If your MRI shows swelling (edema) at an injured level, that points to a recent injury, not years of wear.
- If the wear was there before and the crash made it worse, we document the aggravation instead of letting it get dismissed.
- If imaging doesn’t support an injury, we’ll tell you that too. A report is only useful if it’s honest.
Dr. McClean has also presented “Architecture of the Spine” at the 5th Annual Spine Management Summit.
“Architecture of the Spine”. Dr. Matt McClean, 5th Annual Spine Management Summit.
What a first visit looks like
One visit, four steps, and a clear answer about what comes next.
- 1. Your crash and your symptoms. Where you were sitting, which direction the impact came from, and when each symptom started. Rear-end, side-impact and front-end crashes injure the spine differently.
- 2. An exam that matches your pain pattern. Reproducible orthopedic and neurological tests, recorded the same way at every re-exam.
- 3. Imaging when it's warranted. Motion X-ray in the office. If you already have an MRI, Dr. McClean reviews the images and the radiology report and correlates them with your exam.
- 4. A plan with checkpoints. We set benchmarks and re-test. If you're not progressing, we tell you and refer you out (pain management, orthopedics, or surgery) instead of keeping you on a schedule that isn't working.
How your care gets paid, and what your attorney receives
Utah PIP: how your care gets paid
- Utah is a no-fault state. Your own auto policy pays first, no matter who caused the crash.
- Utah auto policies include at least $3,000 in Personal Injury Protection (PIP), and chiropractic care is covered.
- We bill your PIP directly. Bring your auto insurance information and the police report number if you have it.
- If PIP runs out and the other driver was at fault, care can often continue on a lien against the settlement, or through your health insurance.
Working with your attorney or adjuster
- Your imaging findings, including motion X-ray when it is part of your care
- MRI review when you have imaging
- Your examination findings
- Your treatment records, available on request with your authorization
- Coordination with your attorney on records requests
If you already have an attorney, we coordinate records with them directly. If you don’t, we can tell you honestly whether your case looks like it needs one. Many don’t. Learn more about Utah PIP and chiropractic care, or send us your imaging for a free MRI review.
Where we are in Provo
McClean Chiropractic – Spine Care Specialists
385 N 500 W, Provo, UT 84601
(801) 373-1035
We’re on 500 West, just north of Center Street, a few minutes from downtown, BYU and the Center Street I-15 exit.
Office hours
- Mon, Wed, Thu: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Tue: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Fri: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sat – Sun: Closed
What patients say after a crash
“I was recently in another car accident and was worried about going to another chiropractor. I did not see results like this with my last one… Matt McClean is great and his staff couldn’t be nicer.”
— Tashina S., Google review
“I’ve had a great experience… I’ve felt real results and things have been so much better after my car accident. They know what they’re doing.”
— James S., Google review
“Came in for whiplash after an auto accident. Felt much better after just a few treatments… also very helpful and patient in resolving a payment issue from the insurance.”
— Brandon B., Google review
Provo car accident FAQ
Ideally within 72 hours, and within two weeks if you can. Soft-tissue injuries often don’t hurt for the first day or two. Early exams and imaging also give the clearest record for your claim.
Usually, yes. ER X-rays check for fractures. They don’t check ligament stability or disc injury, and a normal ER film is common even with real whiplash.
No. Degeneration and a new injury can exist at the same level. The question is whether there are signs of recent injury, such as swelling on STIR images, and whether your symptoms started with the crash. Dr. McClean reviews the actual images, not just the report.
Yes. We open the PIP claim with your carrier and bill them, so you aren’t paying at each visit.
Often, yes. Same-day visits are often available for new accident patients. Call 801-373-1035 and tell the front desk it’s a car accident.
No. Many of our patients come in weeks or months after the crash. Motion X-ray is especially useful then, because it can show instability that developed while the injury went untreated.
No. We also see patients from Orem, Springville, Spanish Fork, Vineyard, Mapleton and the rest of Utah County. See our Utah County car accident care page.
Hurt in a Provo crash? Let's find out what was actually injured.
Same-day visits · PIP billed directly · 385 N 500 W, Provo
McClean Chiropractic · 385 N 500 W, Provo UT 84601 · Directions · Contact & directions
How we handle your PIP
- We verify your PIP benefits before or at your first visit.
- We bill your auto insurer directly; most patients pay $0 out of pocket up to their PIP limit.
- We tell you when you are getting close to your PIP limit.
- When PIP runs out, we can bill your health insurance, or, if another driver was at fault, continue care on a lien paid when your case settles. A lien comes out of your settlement, so we keep you informed about your balance.
- We bill per visit. There is no prepaid package.
Details: what care costs and what insurance pays · Utah PIP guide.