Physiotherapist treating leg injury on a little boy lying down. African American child training with his therapist
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When a car crash happens, drivers usually get most of the attention. But passengers are just as likely to be injured—and sometimes even more severely. From soft tissue injuries to serious back and spinal trauma, passengers often experience pain that develops hours or days later. Without proper care, these injuries can become long-term problems.
At the El Paso Back Clinic, Dr. Alexander Jimenez provides expert care for passengers hurt in car accidents. With dual credentials in chiropractic and advanced practice nursing, Dr. Jimenez offers a unique approach that blends spinal care, functional medicine, and legal-medical documentation to help injured passengers heal safely and completely.
“Passenger injuries can be complex,” says Dr. Jimenez. “Our clinic focuses on diagnosing and treating the full spectrum of back and spine trauma, while also supporting patients legally and emotionally.”
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries among passengers, especially in rear-end crashes. It happens when the neck whips forward and back quickly, stretching muscles, ligaments, and spinal joints【Kirshenbaum, n.d.】. This can lead to:
At El Paso Back Clinic, Dr. Jimenez uses digital motion imaging to assess the cervical spine. His chiropractic treatment includes gentle adjustments, muscle therapy, and corrective stretching to ease symptoms and restore function.
Passengers often suffer from lower back pain after an accident, especially when seated in awkward positions during impact. The force can compress or twist the lumbar spine, leading to herniated or bulging discs that press against nearby nerves【Lowman Law Firm, n.d.】.
This may result in:
Dr. Jimenez’s approach includes spinal decompression therapy, core stabilization exercises, and chiropractic adjustments to relieve nerve pressure and reduce sciatica. His clinic also uses diagnostic imaging to track progress and detect hidden injuries.
Herniated discs are serious and can happen even in low-speed accidents. These discs push into the spinal canal and press on nerves, leading to chronic pain, muscle spasms, or burning sensations in the back, arms, or legs【NCBI, 2023】.
With his chiropractic and nurse practitioner training, Dr. Jimenez evaluates nerve function using orthopedic testing and neurological scans. At El Paso Back Clinic, treatment combines chiropractic spinal care, inflammation reduction, and physical rehab to protect long-term mobility.
🔗 NCBI
While airbags and seatbelts save lives, they can also cause injuries to the spine and chest. Passengers seated too close to the dashboard are more likely to suffer rib fractures, clavicle injuries, or mid-back sprains during airbag deployment【Dean Waite, n.d.】.
Seatbelt compression across the torso may also lead to lumbar bruising and spinal misalignment. Dr. Jimenez provides chiropractic realignment and soft tissue therapy to ease tension and restore normal posture following these injuries.
Passengers can suffer sprains, strains, and bruises in the back and spine. These injuries don’t always show up on X-rays but may cause lasting pain if untreated【Miller Weisbrod, n.d.】. Muscle tightness, inflammation, and fascial adhesions can develop days after the crash.
At the El Paso Back Clinic, treatment includes:
These strategies restore flexibility and reduce inflammation, helping passengers regain full mobility.
Though not always obvious, internal injuries may occur when seatbelts tighten during impact or when passengers hit the dashboard. These can include bruised organs, abdominal pain, or diaphragm strain【Attorney Guss, n.d.】.
As a nurse practitioner, Dr. Jimenez coordinates lab tests and imaging to evaluate internal health and rule out hidden complications. Functional nutrition and core therapy help support long-term recovery from internal trauma.
Car accidents don’t just cause physical injuries. Many passengers develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), especially after serious crashes. Symptoms may include:
Dr. Jimenez offers trauma-informed care, including chiropractic techniques that regulate the nervous system and reduce stress. His clinic also collaborates with mental health providers to address emotional trauma as part of the full recovery plan【Lowman Law Firm, n.d.】.
Data shows that passengers—especially in the rear seat—are sometimes more likely to be injured than drivers. Missing airbags, lack of seatbelt use, or being unprepared for impact all increase the risk【Poisson Law, n.d.】.
At El Paso Back Clinic, each patient receives a full accident history review. Dr. Jimenez documents injuries, identifies risk factors, and ensures that each treatment plan is customized based on the type of crash and seat position.
Dr. Alexander Jimenez, founder of the El Paso Back Clinic, combines chiropractic care with advanced nurse practitioner services to support accident victims from start to finish. His clinic offers:
His experience with legal-medical paperwork and his compassionate approach to integrative care make him a top choice for MVA passengers in El Paso.
“Healing after an accident involves more than just the bones. We address the nerves, muscles, mindset, and even legal needs of our patients,” says Dr. Jimenez.
Learn more:
🔗 dralexjimenez.com
🔗 elpasobackclinic.com
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Passenger injuries can be serious—even when they don’t seem obvious at first. With proper diagnosis, chiropractic care, and integrative rehab, long-term damage can be avoided. At El Paso Back Clinic, Dr. Alexander Jimenez and his team work hard to help every patient regain strength, reduce pain, and return to full function.
Attorney Guss. (n.d.). How much money can a passenger in a car accident get? https://attorneyguss.com/blog/how-much-money-can-a-passenger-in-a-car-accident-get/#:~:text=Abdominal%20Injuries
Dean Waite & Associates, LLC. (n.d.). Airbag injuries: Risks every driver should know. https://www.deanwaite.com/articles/airbag-injuries-risks-every-driver-should-know#:~:text=Common%20airbag%20injuries
Kirshenbaum & Kirshenbaum. (n.d.). Common injuries from car accidents. https://www.kirshenbaumri.com/library/injuries-from-car-accidents.cfm#:~:text=Whiplash%20can%20occur
Lowman Law Firm. (n.d.). The most common passenger injuries sustained in a car crash. https://www.lowmanlawfirm.com/blog/the-most-common-passenger-injuries-sustained-in-a-car-crash#:~:text=Neck%20and%20Back%20Injuries
Miller Weisbrod Olesky LLP. (n.d.). Passenger injuries in car accidents. https://www.millerweisbrod.com/passenger-injuries-in-car-accidents#:~:text=One%20common%20type%20of%20injury
National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2023). Concussion. In StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441955/
Poisson, Poisson & Bower, PLLC. (n.d.). Passengers vs. drivers in crash injuries. https://poissonlaw.com/blog/passengers-vs-drivers-in-crash-injuries/#:~:text=Factors%20Affecting%20Passenger%20Injury%20Rates
Professional Scope of Practice *
The information on "Car Accident Passenger Rehabilitation After Injury" is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
Blog Information & Scope Discussions
Welcome to the wellness blog of El Paso Back Clinic, where Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, FNP-C, a board-certified Family Practice Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C) and Chiropractor (DC), presents insights on how our team is dedicated to holistic healing and personalized care. Our practice aligns with evidence-based treatment protocols inspired by integrative medicine principles, similar to those found on dralexjimenez.com, focusing on restoring health naturally for patients of all ages.
Our areas of chiropractic practice include Wellness & Nutrition, Chronic Pain, Personal Injury, Auto Accident Care, Work Injuries, Back Injury, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Migraine Headaches, Sports Injuries, Severe Sciatica, Scoliosis, Complex Herniated Discs, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Complex Injuries, Stress Management, Functional Medicine Treatments, and in-scope care protocols.
Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicine, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somato-visceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.
We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*
Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research studies or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.
We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how they may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to discuss the subject matter above further, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.
We are here to help you and your family.
Blessings
Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, MSACP, APRN, FNP-BC*, CCST, IFMCP, CFMP, ATN
email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com
Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807
New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182
Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Texas & Multistate
Texas RN License # 1191402
ANCC FNP-BC: Board Certified Nurse Practitioner*
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Graduate with Honors: ICHS: MSN-FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
Degree Granted. Master's in Family Practice MSN Diploma (Cum Laude)
Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, APRN, FNP-BC*, CFMP, IFMCP, ATN, CCST
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