Lighthouse Point, FL · Broward and Palm Beach counties
Injured in a car accident? See a doctor who treats crash injuries every day, within your 14-day window.
Dr. Carol McNamara-Krauss, DC, has practiced on Federal Highway in Lighthouse Point for 30 years. One doctor for your whole case, every treatment in one office, and records your attorney can use.
- 30 years in practice
- FL DC license CH5281
- 5.0 on Google (8 reviews)
- Florida PIP accepted
- Phone answered 24/7
- Saturday appointments by request
- Se habla español
Last updated September 2026 · Reviewed by Dr. Carol McNamara-Krauss, DC
What a car accident doctor does
A car accident doctor is a clinician who examines, treats and documents the musculoskeletal injuries a collision causes: whiplash, disc injuries, sprains and strains, nerve irritation and joint trauma. At Car Accident Doctors Group that clinician is Dr. Carol McNamara-Krauss, a Florida-licensed chiropractic physician (DC, license CH5281) who has treated crash injuries in Lighthouse Point for 30 years.
The job has two halves. The first is clinical: find the injuries adrenaline hid at the scene, start treatment before they set, and refer out for imaging or an emergency medical condition determination when the exam calls for it. The second is procedural: record the exam, every visit and the discharge in a form that a Florida PIP carrier and a personal injury attorney can rely on. Most clinics do one half. This office is built to do both, which is why the next section is about the deadline that ties them together.
Why people wait, and what it costs them
You feel fine today. That is the problem.
Day 1
Adrenaline hides it
You walk away, decline the ambulance, and feel stiff by bedtime.
Day 3
The neck and back lock up
Whiplash and soft-tissue injuries usually peak two to three days after impact.
Day 10
The adjuster calls
Without an exam on record, "I was fine at the scene" becomes the insurer's story.
Day 14
The PIP window closes
Florida PIP pays for care only if you were seen within 14 days of the crash.
30
Years in practice
Dr. Carol McNamara-Krauss, DC, chiropractic physician, FL license CH5281.
8
Treatments in one office
Chiropractic Adjustments · Spinal Decompression (Antalgic-Trac) · Class IV Laser Therapy (LightForce Class IV) · Shockwave Therapy (Chattanooga ESWT) · Massage Therapy · Therapeutic Ultrasound (Chattanooga) · Electrical Stimulation (Chattanooga) · Nutritional Counseling
“Doctor is ALWAYS on time, never a wait. Quick, efficient, and Dawn and Vic are most kind, patient and professional. They go above and beyond just a well-organized visit at the Chiropractor. I have sent my clients to her and they are all very happy. They treat everyone like family, and always nail what we go in for. Highly recommend”
The named process
The Same-Day Evaluation
- 01
Call or send the form, any hour
The line is answered answered 24/7. We check your crash date against the 14-day PIP window on the spot and book the first open slot, Saturdays by request.
- 02
Examination with Dr. McNamara-Krauss
Orthopedic and neurological testing, range-of-motion measurements, and an imaging referral when the exam calls for one. Documented the same day.
- 03
Treatment starts the same visit
Adjustments, decompression, laser, ultrasound, stimulation or massage, depending on what the exam shows. Not a protocol applied to everyone.
- 04
Records that hold up
Visit notes on every encounter and narrative reports on request, kept in a case documentation system built with personal injury attorneys. Sent as one PDF.
Every treatment in one office
Treatments used after a crash
Chosen from the examination, not applied as a package. Every machine is in this suite.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Restoring joint motion after whiplash and low-back strain.
Antalgic-Trac
Spinal Decompression
Disc injuries, sciatica and nerve pressure after a crash.
LightForce Class IV
Class IV Laser Therapy
Inflammation and soft-tissue repair in the neck, back, shoulders and knees.
Chattanooga ESWT
Shockwave Therapy
Chronic tendon and soft-tissue pain in the extremities (never applied to the spine).
Massage Therapy
Muscle spasm and guarding in the first weeks after a collision. Dawn Marie Teufel, LMT.
Chattanooga
Therapeutic Ultrasound
Deep-tissue heating for strains and scar tissue.
Chattanooga
Electrical Stimulation
Muscle spasm and pain control in the acute phase after a collision.
Nutritional Counseling
Anti-inflammatory nutrition and supplementation to support tissue healing.
Imaging and Specialist Referrals
X-ray and MRI referrals, and referral to orthopedic, neurology, pain-management and EMC physicians.
Delayed onset is normal
Injuries we treat, and when they show up
- Whiplashshows up: 2 to 3 days
- Back Injuriesshows up: hours to days
- Neck Injuriesshows up: 1 to 3 days
- Shoulder Injuriesshows up: days
- Knee and Leg Injuriesshows up: hours
- Head and Concussion Injuriesshows up: hours to days
- Nerve Injuriesshows up: days to weeks
- Soft Tissue Injuriesshows up: 1 to 3 days
- Joint Injuriesshows up: days
- Seat Belt Injuriesshows up: hours
- Airbag Injuriesshows up: immediate
Crash injuries on Federal Highway, Sample Road and I-95
Lighthouse Point sits on US-1 between Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach, on the Broward side of the Palm Beach County line. The office at 3320 N Federal Hwy #107 is between Copans Road and Sample Road, the two east-west arteries that feed I-95 and Florida's Turnpike. Rear-end collisions at the Federal Highway lights, side impacts at the Sample Road and Dixie Highway intersections, and highway-speed crashes on I-95 between Atlantic Boulevard and Hillsboro Boulevard are the injuries that come through the door.
Patients drive in from Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Hillsboro Beach and Lauderdale-by-the-Sea in five to ten minutes, from Fort Lauderdale, Coconut Creek and Coral Springs in fifteen to twenty, and from Boca Raton, Highland Beach and Delray Beach across the county line in fifteen to twenty-five. The nearest emergency departments are Broward Health North on Sample Road and Broward Health Imperial Point on Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale. If you have a head injury, chest pain, numbness that is spreading, or you lost consciousness, go there first and come here after. Everything else starts with a call to (754) 342-6479, which brings us to the rule that decides who pays.
The Florida 14-day rule, in one paragraph
Florida is a no-fault state. Your own Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage pays 80% of reasonable medical expenses up to $10,000, but only if you receive initial treatment within 14 days of the crash. Without an emergency medical condition (EMC) determination the benefit is capped at $2,500. Chiropractic care is covered. A chiropractic physician cannot make the EMC determination, so this office refers you to an MD, DO, PA or APRN for it when the exam suggests one is warranted, which keeps the full benefit available. The statute is section 627.736, Florida Statutes. This is general information, not legal advice, and the full explanation is on the Florida PIP 14-day rule page. What happens once you are inside the window is the process below.
For attorneys and case managers
Where to place a client for treatment in North Broward
- · Attorney-patient case coordinator: Janelle Deal, 30 years in Florida PIP claims
- · Same-day exam with orthopedic and neurological testing, documented that day
- · Visit notes on every encounter, narrative reports on request, one PDF
- · EMC referral handled so the full $10,000 PIP benefit stays available
- · English and Spanish, phone answered 24/7
Real reviews from the practitioner listing
What patients say on Google
★★★★★
“Dr. McNamara is a great Chiropractor. The office is very personable and quaint. The doctor is very well informed, and knowledgeable. I went to her while pregnant and dealing with sciatic pain and leg numbness. She had great recommendations.”
★★★★★
“Dr. McNamara and her staff Dawn and Danielle are some of the most caring people I've ever met. They truly care about the patients' well-being, are always friendly and most importantly honest. The office is always clean and tidy.”
★★★★★
“Doctor is ALWAYS on time, never a wait. Quick, efficient, and Dawn and Vic are most kind, patient and professional. They go above and beyond just a well-organized visit at the Chiropractor. I have sent my clients to her and they are all very happy. They treat everyone like family, and always nail what we go in for. Highly recommend”
Rated 5.0 from 8 Google reviews. Read all reviews on Google Maps or see the reviews page.
The people you will meet
One doctor, one coordinator, one office
Janelle Deal
Attorney-Patient Case Coordinator
Se habla español
30 years of experience in Florida PIP claims. One point of contact for scheduling, records requests and attorney updates.
Elizabeth Celestin, APRN
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Se habla español
Dawn Marie Teufel, LMT
Licensed Massage Therapist
The rooms, not stock photos
Inside 3320 N Federal Hwy #107
Newly decorated treatment rooms, a recovery room with therapy recliners, and the Antalgic-Trac, LightForce and Chattanooga systems all in one suite. More on the about page.
One office, two counties
Serving Broward and Palm Beach counties
All locations and directionsNeighborhoods we see patients from
From Coral Key to West Boca
- Coral Key
- Harbor Village
- Lighthouse Point Estates
- Venetian Isles
- Lake Placid
- Hillsboro Shores
- Cresthaven
- Palm Aire
- Collier City
- Crystal Lake
- Old Pompano
- Pompano Beach Highlands
- The Cove
- Deer Creek
- Century Village
- Boca Pointe
- Deerfield Beach Island
- Imperial Point
- Coral Ridge
- Wynmoor
- Township
- Heron Bay
- Boca Del Mar
- West Boca
- Tropic Isle
Is a chiropractic physician the right doctor for your crash injuries?
For neck, back, shoulder, hip, knee and soft-tissue injuries after a collision, a chiropractic physician is a primary treating doctor under Florida PIP, and the modalities in this office (adjustments, spinal decompression, Class IV laser, shockwave, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, massage and nutritional counseling) are the conservative care those injuries call for. For fractures, head injuries, internal injuries or anything that needs surgery, you need an emergency department or a specialist first, and Dr. McNamara-Krauss will tell you so at the exam and refer you. If you are not sure which you are, call. The phone is answered 24/7 and the first question we ask is the date of the crash.
Dr. Carol McNamara-Krauss is a Florida-licensed chiropractic physician (DC), license CH5281. Medical content on this page is reviewed by Dr. McNamara-Krauss. It is general information, not legal advice.
Car accident doctor questions, answered for Lighthouse Point
How soon after a car accident should I see a doctor in Florida?
Within 14 days of the crash, and ideally within the first two or three days. Florida PIP requires initial treatment inside 14 days or the benefit is lost. Whiplash and soft-tissue injuries usually peak on day two or three, so an exam that week also catches injuries that were masked at the scene on Federal Highway or I-95.
Do you accept Florida PIP insurance?
Yes. Florida PIP covers chiropractic care, and this office bills your PIP carrier directly for treatment that begins within the 14-day window. PIP pays 80% of reasonable medical expenses up to $10,000, or $2,500 without an emergency medical condition determination. Janelle Deal, our case coordinator, handles the paperwork with the carrier and your attorney.
Should I go to the emergency room or to your office first?
The emergency room comes first for head injuries, loss of consciousness, chest or abdominal pain, spreading numbness, or any suspected fracture. Broward Health North on Sample Road and Broward Health Imperial Point on Federal Highway are the closest. For neck, back, shoulder and joint pain without those signs, call this office and you will be seen the same day when a slot is open.
What happens at the first visit?
The first visit is an examination with Dr. McNamara-Krauss: orthopedic and neurological testing, range-of-motion measurements, a review of the crash, and an imaging referral when the exam calls for one. Treatment starts the same visit. Everything is documented that day in a case documentation system built with personal injury attorneys, so the record exists from the first hour.
Can I be treated if I feel fine right now?
Yes, and feeling fine is the most common reason people miss the 14-day window. Adrenaline masks pain for a day or more. An examination inside the window puts an exam on record and starts PIP coverage, so that if stiffness shows up on day three, as it usually does with whiplash, the claim and the care are already in motion.
Do I need a lawyer before I see you?
No. Anyone can call and be seen. Many patients come in first and retain an attorney later, and many are sent by an attorney who has already opened the claim. If you have counsel, tell Janelle Deal at the first call and she will coordinate records and updates with that office from day one.
What if my car accident was in Palm Beach County?
The office is on US-1 just south of the Broward and Palm Beach County line, so Boca Raton, Highland Beach and Delray Beach patients drive 15 to 25 minutes down Federal Highway or I-95. Florida PIP is statewide; the 14-day rule and the $10,000 benefit are identical whether the crash happened on Glades Road or Atlantic Boulevard.
Is Dr. McNamara-Krauss a medical doctor?
Dr. Carol McNamara-Krauss is a Florida-licensed chiropractic physician, DC, license CH5281, in practice for 30 years. A chiropractic physician is a primary treating doctor for musculoskeletal crash injuries under Florida PIP. She does not make emergency medical condition determinations; those are referred to an MD, DO, PA or APRN so your full PIP benefit stays available.
What treatments do you have in the office?
Nine, all at 3320 N Federal Hwy #107: chiropractic adjustments, spinal decompression on the Antalgic-Trac system, Class IV laser therapy on a LightForce system, shockwave therapy on a Chattanooga system, therapeutic ultrasound, electrical stimulation, massage therapy with Dawn Marie Teufel, LMT, nutritional counseling, and imaging and specialist referrals. You are not sent across town for any of them.
How is this office different from an accident clinic chain?
One doctor sees you at every visit, the same doctor whose name is on the door, and one coordinator, Janelle Deal, handles your case from the first call to the final records request. The office has been at one address in Lighthouse Point for 30 years. Treatment is chosen from the exam, not applied as a package to everyone who walks in.
Do you work with personal injury attorneys?
Yes. Attorneys and case managers refer clients through the referral page or by calling and asking for Janelle Deal, who has 30 years of experience in Florida PIP claims. Every attorney-referred patient gets a same-day exam, visit notes on every encounter, and narrative reports on request, sent as one PDF.
Do you speak Spanish?
Yes. Janelle Deal, our case coordinator, and Elizabeth Celestin, APRN, both speak Spanish. Intake, scheduling and treatment explanations are available in Spanish for patients from Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach and anywhere else in Broward or Palm Beach County.
Are Saturday appointments available?
Saturday appointments are available by request. Regular appointment hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm, and Tuesday from 2pm to 6pm. The phone is answered 24/7, so a Saturday crash on I-95 can be booked the same night.
How long does treatment usually take after a car accident?
Treatment length depends on the injury found at the exam and how it responds, so there is no fixed number of visits. Whiplash and soft-tissue strains generally improve over several weeks; disc injuries treated with decompression take longer. Progress is measured and documented at each visit, and discharge is a clinical decision, not a calendar date.
Will I get a doctor's note for work?
Yes. Work-status notes are part of the documentation produced at the examination and updated as your condition changes. If your job in Pompano Beach or Fort Lauderdale requires restrictions, those restrictions are written into the record so both your employer and your PIP carrier have the same information.
Where do I park and what should I bring?
Park in the lot in front of the building at 3320 N Federal Hwy, between Copans Road and Sample Road, and come to suite 107. Bring your driver's license, your auto insurance card, the crash report or exchange-of-information slip if you have it, any ER discharge papers, and your attorney's contact details if you have retained one.
When is this office not the right place to go?
This office is not the right first stop for fractures, head injuries with loss of consciousness, chest or abdominal trauma, or wounds that need closing. Those belong in an emergency department. It is also not a law office, and nothing here is legal advice. Once the emergency care is done, musculoskeletal follow-up and documentation are what this office is for.
Injured this week? The 14-day clock is running.
Call (754) 342-6479, any hour, or send the short form. You will see Dr. McNamara-Krauss, not a rotating provider, and your first treatment happens the same visit.
Phone answered 24/7 · Florida PIP accepted · Saturdays by request · Se habla español
Attorney or case manager? Refer a client and Janelle Deal will call your office.