The hours right after a collision are disorienting, and most people are running on adrenaline. That matters clinically, because adrenaline masks pain — it is very common to feel broadly fine at the roadside and considerably worse two days later. Here is what is worth doing in that window, in the order it usually matters.
Soft tissue injuries often do not declare themselves immediately. Neck and upper back stiffness, headaches, jaw tightness and reduced range of motion frequently appear 24 to 72 hours after the crash rather than at the scene. Being seen early gives you a documented baseline, which matters both for your recovery and for your claim.
If you have any red flag symptoms — loss of consciousness, numbness or weakness in an arm or leg, severe headache, vision changes, confusion, or significant neck pain after a high-speed impact — go to an emergency department or call 911 rather than booking a clinic appointment.
Open your claim as soon as you reasonably can. You can do it online or by phone, and you will be given a claim number. That number is what lets a clinic bill ICBC directly instead of asking you to pay up front and seek reimbursement.
You do not need a doctor’s referral to begin treatment for a motor vehicle injury in British Columbia. A set number of treatments is pre-approved when care begins soon after the crash, which is one of the reasons early booking is worth doing.
Memory for the details fades quickly. While it is fresh, note the date and time, road and weather conditions, what you felt at the scene, and when each symptom first appeared. A short symptom log — what hurts, how much, what makes it worse — is genuinely useful at your first assessment and takes two minutes a day.
Extended bed rest is no longer the standard advice for most soft tissue injuries. Gentle movement within a comfortable range tends to be better tolerated than complete rest. That does not mean pushing into pain or returning straight to the gym — it means not freezing in one position for two days.
A first appointment is mostly assessment: what happened, what hurts, how you are moving, and what a realistic recovery looks like. You should leave with a plan rather than an open-ended commitment.
We treat motor vehicle injuries at both of our Coquitlam clinics — Westwood Plateau on Parkway Boulevard and Coquitlam Centre on Glen Drive — with direct billing to ICBC, so there is no out-of-pocket cost for approved treatment. Physiotherapy, massage therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture and active rehabilitation are all available under one roof, and we will point you to the right starting point.
You can book online, or call Westwood Plateau at 604-468-7328 or Coquitlam Centre at 604-475-5328.
This article is general information and is not a substitute for individual assessment. Coverage details and pre-approved treatment amounts are set by ICBC and can change — confirm current details with ICBC or with our front desk.