Auto Injury Massage Therapy in Seattle
Recovering from a car accident? We treat whiplash and soft-tissue injuries, and we bill your auto insurance (PIP) directly. In most cases it costs you nothing out of pocket.
Injured in a car accident? We handle the insurance.
- We bill your PIP / auto insurance directly. In most cases you pay nothing out of pocket.
- No referral needed. Book and start treatment right away.
- We work with your attorney's office and provide the documentation your claim needs.
- Covered no matter who was at fault. PIP is no-fault, so it pays for your care either way.
How massage helps after a car accident
When your car gets hit, your body takes the impact whether or not you feel it at the time. Whiplash is what happens when your head snaps forward and back faster than your neck can keep up. The soft tissue stretches past its normal range, and some of those fibers tear. Then your body does exactly what it's supposed to: it clamps down to protect the area. That guarding keeps you safe for a few days. Left alone, it turns into the thing that's actually holding you back.
Massage works on that damage directly. Early on we keep it gentle, enough to ease the spasm and get blood moving, but not so much that it stirs up inflamed tissue. As you heal, the work goes deeper to break down the scar tissue that builds along the torn fibers, before it hardens into a permanent limit on how far you can turn your head. We also get those clamped-down muscles to let go and settle back to their normal length.
Why early treatment matters
A lot of people wait it out, figuring it'll loosen up on its own. With whiplash, waiting is usually the thing that makes it drag on for months instead of weeks. The sooner you start, the less scar tissue you build and the sooner your body lets go of the guarding. Leave it too long and the stiff, protected position starts to feel normal to your body, which makes the road back longer. We usually say start within the first two weeks. Most people need a run of sessions over a few weeks to a few months, depending on how bad it is.
Auto injuries we treat
- Low-back pain and sciatica-type symptoms
- Nerve pain and radiating symptoms
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
- General soft-tissue and muscle-guarding injuries
We treat these with deep tissue massage, myofascial release, and neuromuscular therapy, depending on where you are in recovery. If your injury wasn't a car accident, see our personal injury massage page for work injuries and other accident claims.
How auto insurance billing works in Washington
In Washington, every auto insurer has to offer Personal Injury Protection (PIP), with at least $10,000 of coverage. PIP is no-fault. That means it pays for your medical care, massage included, no matter who caused the crash. If the other driver was at fault, your care can be billed to their insurance instead.
We take care of that billing for you. We submit directly to your PIP or auto insurance (or the at-fault driver's), so in most cases you pay nothing out of pocket and never have to touch the paperwork while you're trying to heal. You don't need a referral to start. And if an attorney is handling your claim, we work with their office directly and give them the treatment records your case needs.
What to do after a car accident
- Get evaluated. You can feel fine at the scene and wake up two days later barely able to turn your head. Don't wait for the pain to peak.
- Open a PIP claim. Call your auto insurer and get your claim number. That's what we bill to. Not sure how? Call us and we'll walk you through it.
- Start soft-tissue treatment early. The first two weeks matter most for keeping scar tissue and muscle guarding down.
- Keep your care coordinated. We document your treatment for your medical team and your attorney, so nothing gets lost between your providers.
What our injury clients say
"I can't say enough positive things about the massage treatment I have been receiving from Maxwell after getting injured in a car accident. The front desk staff is incredibly nice and accommodating, and my massage therapist Lauren is amazing."
—A.H.
"I have seen Alison Post for years for a neck injury from a car accident as well as for work-related injuries. I've seen many massage therapists over the decades since the accident, and Alison is one of the best."
—S.M.
"Maxwell Massage has been instrumental with my recovery process from a workplace neck injury. Their team offers outstanding care and support."
—T.S.
"Went here for some body work after getting injured. Olivia gave me an assessment and then the best massage ever. I will be back!"
—S.R.
Therapists who treat auto and injury cases
Everyone on our team comes from a clinical background, so injury work is what we do:
Frequently asked questions
Q: Does insurance cover massage after a car accident in Washington?
Yes. If you have PIP on your auto policy (Washington insurers have to offer at least $10,000), it covers massage therapy no matter who was at fault. We bill your auto insurance directly, and in most cases you pay nothing out of pocket.
Q: How soon after a car accident should I start massage?
Within the first two weeks if you can. Starting early keeps scar tissue down and gets your body to release the muscle guarding before it settles in.
Q: Do I need a doctor's referral?
No. You can book directly and start right away. We coordinate with your medical team when it makes sense to.
Q: What if an attorney is handling my claim?
We work with your attorney's office directly and give them the treatment records your claim needs.
Q: Do you treat work injuries too?
Yes. We also treat work injuries and accept Washington L&I and self-insured workers' compensation claims. For self-insured claims, we get authorization in place before treatment starts.
Q: Which auto insurers do you bill?
All of the major ones. We bill PIP and auto claims directly to Progressive, State Farm, GEICO, Allstate, USAA, Safeco, Farmers, Liberty Mutual, and others. Bring your claim number and we'll take it from there.
Q: What if I don't have PIP on my policy?
You still have options. Depending on your situation we can look at billing the at-fault driver's insurance, using your health insurance, or setting up self-pay. Call us and we'll walk through what fits.
Q: What if the accident was my fault?
You're still covered. PIP is no-fault, so your own PIP pays for your care whether or not you caused the accident.
Q: What happens if my PIP runs out?
If your PIP coverage is used up, we can move your care to your health insurance or a self-pay plan, and coordinate with your attorney if there's a claim in progress.
Q: It's been a while since my accident. Is it too late to start?
Not necessarily. Earlier is better, but massage still helps with the muscle guarding and scar tissue that hang around for months after a crash. If you're still having symptoms, it's worth coming in.
Q: What should I bring to my first appointment?
Your auto claim number, your insurance details, and your adjuster's or attorney's contact info if you have one. That's what we need to start billing for you.
Start your recovery
We're at 100 Wall St in Seattle. We bill your PIP directly, so in most cases you pay nothing out of pocket.