The collision was a few days ago. At the scene you felt shaken but fine. Now your neck is stiff, turning to check your blind spot hurts, and there is a headache sitting at the base of your skull. You want to start physiotherapy, but you are not sure whether you can just book, what to bring, or who pays.
The short version: in Alberta you can book a physiotherapy assessment after a car accident without a doctor’s referral. Treatment for collision injuries is paid through Section B accident benefits on the vehicle’s auto policy, regardless of who was at fault, not through your extended health plan. Trust Care bills the auto insurer directly. Bring your claim details if you have them, and book early: the pre-approved treatment pathway for common collision injuries runs for 90 days after the accident.
General information only, not a diagnosis. Our physiotherapists, chiropractor and massage therapists assess every patient first.
Injured in a collision?
What to bring to your first appointment
- your auto insurer’s name and your claim number, if you have one
- your adjuster’s name and contact details, if one has been assigned
- the date, time and place of the collision, and a short note on how it happened
- a list of symptoms since the accident and when each one started (notes on your phone are fine)
- a copy of the police or collision report, if one was completed
- a list of current medications and any relevant health history
- comfortable clothing you can move in
Do I need a referral, a lawyer or a fault decision first?
No referral is needed to book physiotherapy in Alberta.
You do not need a fault decision either: Section B applies regardless of who caused the collision. Whether to speak with a lawyer about any claim beyond medical treatment is a separate personal decision, and it does not need to happen before you start treatment.
How Alberta’s injury protocols work
For the most common collision injuries, Alberta’s Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols Regulation sets out a pre-approved treatment pathway. In plain terms:
- it covers sprains, strains and whiplash-associated disorders (graded WAD I or WAD II)
- it includes one assessment visit, then up to 10 treatment visits for a WAD I injury or a first- or second-degree sprain or strain, or up to 21 for a WAD II injury or a third-degree sprain or strain
- those treatment visits are a combined total across physiotherapy, chiropractic and other covered therapies, not a separate allowance for each
- the pre-approved protocol pathway ends 90 days after the accident, or when the visits run out, whichever comes first
- further treatment can still be requested from your insurer if you need it
Starting sooner gives you more of the 90-day protocol window to use.
The 90 days is the limit of the pre-approved protocol pathway set by the regulation. It is not a deadline on all of your Section B accident benefits, and treatment after that point can still be requested from your insurer.
What changes in 2027
Alberta is moving to a new Care-First auto insurance system on January 1, 2027. According to the Government of Alberta, the current system limits treatment for common injuries to 10 to 21 visits depending on severity, while Care-First is set to provide treatment “as long as it supports recovery”. The government’s page does not say how collisions before 2027 will be handled, so if your accident happens before then, confirm with your insurer which rules apply to your claim.
Who pays, and what direct billing means
Trust Care bills the auto insurer directly for covered treatment under Section B, and the team handles the claim paperwork with you. Your extended health plan is not the payer for collision injuries, so there is no reason to use up your annual benefits on them.
Say it is a car accident when you book.
What happens at the first visit
Your physiotherapist takes a full history of the collision and your symptoms, then assesses neck and back movement, strength, sensation and reflexes, and anything else your symptoms point to, such as dizziness or headaches. You leave with a working diagnosis, a treatment plan, and a few things to do at home.
Whiplash symptoms often build over a day or two rather than appearing at the moment of impact. Feeling worse on day two or three than at the scene is common, which is one reason not to judge the injury by how you felt at the time. The whiplash treatment page explains what recovery usually involves.
See a doctor or go to emergency first if
MyHealth Alberta advises calling 911 after a crash, fall or blow to the spine if there are signs of spine damage, such as being unable to move part of the body, severe neck or back pain, or weakness, tingling or numbness in the arms or legs. Head injury symptoms that are getting worse also need medical assessment before physiotherapy. If a concussion is part of the picture, the concussion management page explains how Trust Care fits into care after medical assessment.
Important: This article is general information only. It is not medical advice and it cannot be used to diagnose or treat any condition. Every patient is assessed first by one of our registered physiotherapists, our chiropractor or our registered massage therapists before any treatment, and your care plan is based on that assessment. If you have symptoms, please book an assessment.
Booking at Trust Care in North Edmonton
Trust Care is at 14415 Miller Boulevard NW, a short drive from Clareview, Brintnell, McConachie and Hollick-Kenyon, with parking directly outside and a ground-level entrance. Hours are Monday to Friday 9 am to 7:30 pm and Saturday 9 am to 4 pm. More about MVA care is on the car accident physiotherapy page, and the three insurance routes (Section B, WCB and extended health) are explained on insurance and coverage.
Book your initial assessment or call (825) 525-2983 and say it is a car accident claim. Have your claim number ready if you have it. The booking form does not ask for any medical details.
Sources
- Government of Alberta. Diagnostic and Treatment Protocols Regulation, Alta Reg 116/2014 (King’s Printer consolidation current as of November 1, 2020).
- Government of Alberta. Care-First auto insurance (accessed October 1, 2026).
- MyHealth Alberta. Back Pain, Emergency or Urgent Symptoms: Care Instructions.
This article is general information. It is not legal, insurance or medical advice. Alberta’s auto insurance rules can change. For questions about your claim, contact your insurer. For questions about your injury, book an in-person assessment with a Registered Physiotherapist.
