Walking away from a crash might make you feel lucky, but days or weeks later, you may not be so sure. Are trips to the mailbox leaving you unsteady and sore? Have you developed a hitch in your stride?
If you need to rebuild your strength and control after a car accident, physical therapy might be a great place to begin. In this guide, the team from Injured Call Today shares how physical therapy may help restore your mobility after an accident.
According to Statista, some 12.15 million vehicles were involved in accidents in the United States in 2019. These collisions can injure several of the body’s systems at once, and walking depends on all of them working together. Your legs may even be fine while the real problem sits in your back or in nerves that signal your muscles to move.
The World Health Organization estimates that 20 to 50 million people worldwide survive road crashes with nonfatal injuries each year, though many are left with a disability. Pain changes how you move, after all. A limp you adopt to protect one side can quietly strain everything else, and the effects can linger until treatment addresses the underlying problem.
Several injuries tend to show up in people who struggle to walk after a wreck:
A trained clinician understands what to look for after a car accident. Physical therapy can help sort out which of these issues is driving your symptoms and build a treatment plan around getting you mobile again.
Physical therapy tests your range of motion and stability. Early sessions may focus on gentle, pain-free motion to help you avoid the stiffness that comes from sitting still too long. As your pain settles, the work will shift toward muscle strengthening for your core, hips, and legs.
According to the National Safety Council’s Injury Facts, medically consulted injuries relating to motor-vehicle incidents totaled 4.9 million in 2024. When you visit a physical therapist after a crash, your first visit is usually an evaluation. Expect questions about the crash and the professional assessing how you reach, stand, bend, climb a step, and walk.
A plan built around walking problems often includes:
Mobility restoration takes patience, and gains are typically measured in weeks rather than days. A provider experienced with crash injuries may also help with documentation for your no-fault and PIP claims.
If you have been in a car accident, physical therapy can offer a structured path forward. Our directory lists board-certified physicians and clinics throughout New York and New Jersey who can help you with mobility and delayed pain after car accidents.
Call (800) 897-8440 to connect with a physical therapist near you from the Injured Call Today network. Doctors listed in our directory accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available.
Below are questions people ask about auto accident recovery and physical therapy.
Yes, you can have trouble walking without a broken bone. After a car accident, soft-tissue injuries, nerve irritation, stiffness, and dizziness may all affect your stride.
You may not need a referral to see a physical therapist, though some insurance plans require one to cover the costs involved. In New York, a physical therapist with at least three years of experience can provide treatment without a referral for up to 10 visits or 30 days, whichever comes first.
After a car accident, physical therapy plans often start with two or three visits a week. Your therapist may scale that back as your recovery progresses.
