At Optimus Injury Treatment Center, every patient who walks through our door has been hurt in an accident, injured on the job, or affected by a traumatic event. That is the entirety of what we do. No maintenance care. No general wellness. No commercial patients. Our practice exists at the intersection of serious injury and the advocacy that follows it — and we have built every clinical system around that single purpose.
We are a personal injury chiropractic and functional rehabilitation practice serving patients across Delaware and southeastern Pennsylvania, with our primary clinic in Dover, DE and satellite locations extending our reach statewide.
What Happens at Your First Appointment After a Car Accident
Your first visit at Optimus is a comprehensive injury evaluation; not a quick adjustment. We take the time to understand exactly what happened to your body, identify injuries that imaging may have missed, and build a treatment plan that documents your recovery from day one.
No referral is needed. You can schedule directly after your accident.
Telehealth neuropsychological evaluations available statewide
How Your First Visit Works
Every new patient goes through the same structured evaluation process. Here's what to expect from the moment you arrive.
Intake Interview
Before any examination begins, we sit down with you and go through the full picture: how the accident happened, the forces involved, where your symptoms started, and how they've changed since the collision. This isn't paperwork; it's clinical information that shapes your entire evaluation.
Comprehensive Physical and Functional Examination
Dr. Buckley conducts a full physical and functional examination, assessing your spine, soft tissue, range of motion, and neurological reflexes. We're looking for the injuries that often go undetected at the ER; whiplash, soft tissue damage, nerve involvement, and functional deficits that don't show on standard imaging.
Neurological Screening and Concussion Inventory
If your accident involved any head impact, sudden deceleration, or symptoms like headache, brain fog, dizziness, or sensitivity to light or sound, we administer a concussion symptom inventory as part of your evaluation. Many patients arrive not knowing they may have sustained a traumatic brain injury. Identifying it early changes the course of treatment; and the strength of your case documentation.
Treatment Plan and Next Steps
Before you leave, we review our clinical findings with you, explain your diagnosis, and outline a treatment plan built around your specific injuries. We handle coordination with your PIP insurance, and if you're working with a personal injury attorney, we notify them of your evaluation findings and begin building the documentation record that supports your claim.
What You Don't Need to Worry About
- You do not need a referral to be seen. Any accident victim in Delaware can schedule directly.
- You do not need to navigate your own insurance. We coordinate with your PIP carrier and handle the administrative process.
- You do not need to have a diagnosis yet. That's what the evaluation is for.
- You do not need prior chiropractic experience. We explain everything before we do it.
- Cost is not a barrier. Auto accident treatment is covered under Delaware PIP insurance. We also work with workers' compensation carriers and lien-based arrangements for represented patients.
Why the First Visit Matters More Than Most Patients Realize
The documentation created at your first evaluation becomes the foundation of your injury record. Gaps between your accident date and your first clinical visit can be used to challenge the severity of your injuries in a legal or insurance proceeding. Seeing a qualified injury specialist quickly (and with a provider who generates litigation-ready reports) matters beyond your physical recovery.
At Optimus, every evaluation is structured to serve both your clinical needs and the documentation requirements of a personal injury claim. Our reports are built for attorneys and adjusters, not just your chart.
Answers to Common First-Visit Questions
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Bring your insurance card, any ER discharge paperwork or imaging reports from the accident, your attorney's contact information if you're represented, and a list of current symptoms, even ones that seem minor. The more detail you can provide, the more complete your evaluation will be.
How long does the first appointment take?
Plan for 60 to 90 minutes. A thorough injury evaluation takes time. We do not rush intake appointments.
What happens at my first chiropractic appointment after a car accident if I also hit my head?
If there's any possibility of head trauma, we add a neurological screening and concussion symptom inventory to your evaluation. If the findings indicate a traumatic brain injury, we can coordinate neuropsychological testing through Dr. Anthony Doran, Psy.D., our on-staff neuropsychologist. You won't need to be referred elsewhere.
Do I need to be in severe pain to come in?
No. Many serious injuries (including TBI, nerve involvement, and soft tissue damage) present with mild or delayed symptoms. If you were in an accident, an evaluation is appropriate regardless of how you feel right now.
What if I don't have a personal injury attorney yet?
You can still be seen. We work with unrepresented patients and can provide documentation that supports your claim whether or not you have legal representation at the time of your first visit.
What is a TBI screening and do I need one?
A TBI screening is a brief evaluation to determine whether a traumatic brain injury may have occurred and whether a full neuropsychological evaluation is warranted. If you experienced any head impact, loss of consciousness, or symptoms like headaches, brain fog, or memory issues after your accident, a screening is strongly recommended. We offer free community TBI screenings; contact us to schedule one.
Ready to Schedule Your Evaluation?
Your recovery starts with an accurate diagnosis. Call us or request an appointment online; we'll get you in quickly and walk you through everything before your visit.