Quick Answer You should get an MRI within 1-2 weeks of a car accident if you have persistent pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness. MRI detects soft tissue injuries — herniated discs, ligament tears, nerve compression — that X-rays miss entirely. MAIC has on-site 1.5T and 3T MRI with same-day scheduling. No-Fault covers the full cost. Call (888) 991-5290.

What MRI Reveals That X-Ray Cannot

X-ray shows bone. MRI shows everything else — the soft tissue structures that sustain the most common and most significant car accident injuries: intervertebral disc herniations and annular tears, spinal cord and nerve root compression, ligament tears and joint capsule injuries, muscle and tendon tears, bone marrow edema (bone bruising), and meniscal and labral tears in the knee, shoulder, and hip.

When to Get an MRI After a Car Accident

MRI should be ordered at the initial injury evaluation for any patient with: neck or back pain following a car accident; radiating pain, numbness, or weakness in the arms or legs; shoulder, knee, or hip pain; or head injury with neurological symptoms. At MAIC, MRI is typically ordered at the first evaluation visit, with same-day scheduling available.

1.5T vs 3T MRI: What the Difference Means

MAIC has both 1.5T and 3T MRI scanners. The 3T scanner produces higher-resolution images with better tissue contrast, making it better at identifying subtle disc pathology, small meniscal tears, and nerve root impingement that may be equivocal on a 1.5T study. Our radiologists select the appropriate scanner based on the body part and clinical indication.

To schedule a same-day MRI at MAIC's Bronx facility, call (888) 991-5290.