Key Highlights

• When it is reasonable, necessary, and properly documented, chiropractic treatment can assist with your car accident claim.
• North Carolina is an at-fault state, so the driver at fault for the accident is liable to pay for the medical expenses, including chiropractic treatments.
• Contributory negligence is very strict in North Carolina; if you are even 1% at fault, you may not recover compensation. This makes strong medical documentation important.
• Consistency and timing of treatment are important. Early treatment, adherence to the treatment plan, and no gaps in treatment will strengthen the claim.

Getting into a car accident causes more than just car damage. If involved in a collision, you might end up experiencing some common injuries like back pain, soft tissue strain, whiplash, and neck pain, which can show up days or weeks after. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, a quick internet search might have suggested that you visit a chiropractor for these injuries. Aside from helping you physically, you might also be asking yourself if chiropractic treatment helps in your car accident claim.

The simple answer is it can. If the treatment was reasonable, necessary, and well-documented, chiropractic care can strengthen the claim. Tatum & Atkinson, this guide covers how chiropractic care applies to North Carolina accident claims, which laws apply, and how it could affect your compensation.

If you have other questions on how medical treatments may affect your claim or your other legal options, our experienced lawyers will gladly help you.

Call (800) 529-0804 today for a free consultation. You don’t have to pay anything unless we win your case.

Why Chiropractic Care Matters After a Car Accident

The impact of a crash is typically absorbed by your body, which might cause a misalignment of the spine or some damage to your soft tissues. Symptoms of these types of injuries do not usually show up immediately because of adrenaline.

Chiropractic care usually treats these common car accident injuries:

• Whiplash
• Stiffness in the neck and back
• Lower back pain
• Shoulder injuries
• Herniated or bulging discs
• Headaches and migraines
• Strains on the muscle and ligament

Chiropractors focus on spinal alignment and musculoskeletal recovery, so their treatments are often used after car accidents.

How Chiropractic Treatment Supports a Car Accident Claim

While chiropractic treatment doesn’t automatically make your claim more valuable, it can improve and strengthen it in many other ways.

Function	What it includes	Why it matters in your claim
Medical documentation	Diagnosis records, treatment notes, progress reports, and billing statements	These official records establish the genuine nature of your injuries, their treatment, and their link to the accident. Generally, North Carolina courts accept chiropractors’ records as medical evidence when they are well-documented.
Injury causation	Timeline of symptoms, severity tracking, improvement or worsening over time	This will help to prove that you were injured during the accident rather than before. If treatments are provided early enough and continually, this connection will be stronger and reduce any insurance conflicts.
Medical necessity	Treatments plans, provider recommendations, and ongoing care for soft tissue injuries	This helps to demonstrate that treatment is necessary, reasonable, and a result of the accident, particularly where the injury is whiplash, neck strain, or back pain.
Settlement value impact	Medical bills, treatment duration, documented pain, and limitations	When well documented, it can be beneficial in determining the extent of compensation available for medical expenses and pain and suffering.

“We have some clients who wait too long to begin their chiro treatment after getting in a car accident. This can hurt both their physical recovery and their claim. In a past case that we handled, our client started experiencing neck pain after the crash. He didn’t think it was a big deal. Once he started treatment with a chiropractor, the X-ray revealed a bone abnormality protruding in his neck that was undetected earlier. Because the issue was identified through chiropractic evaluation and documented properly, he was able to receive the treatment that he needed before his condition got worse. Cases like this show how important medical evaluation and consistent treatments are after a car crash.” –  Robert Tatum, Co-Founder of Tatum & Atkinson, PLLC.

North Carolina Laws That Affect Chiropractic Injury Claims

Understanding North Carolina law is important because it affects your ability to recover damages in a personal injury claim.

At-Fault Insurance System

North Carolina is an at-fault state. This implies that the responsible party for the crash will be liable for the damages and must pay via their liability insurance coverage.

That means if another driver caused your collision, their insurance will be the one responsible for the following:

• Chiropractic treatment
• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering

Contributory Negligence Rule

North Carolina also follows a strict rule known as contributory negligence (N.C. Gen. Stat. §1-139). This means that if you are even 1% at fault, you may not be eligible for compensation.

Because of this, getting documentation from your chiropractor is extremely important so you can prove that you were not the one at fault and that your injuries were caused solely by the crash.

Medical Liens and Payment Rights

Medical liens can be used by chiropractors and other providers when treating their patients. In North Carolina, medical liens are legal claims that allow providers to recover costs of treatment from a personal injury settlement or judgment.

This simply means that:

• Providers agree to accept payment after the case is resolved
• Providers are paid directly out of your settlement
• No upfront payments required for treatment

Chiropractors as Expert Witnesses

As long as it’s documented, chiropractic treatment is widely accepted as a legitimate treatment for personal injury claims. Chiropractors are recognized as medical experts, as set forth in N.C. Gen. Stat. §90-157.2, and are permitted to testify as such in court under North Carolina law.

They can testify about:

• Injury diagnosis
• Cause of injury
• Treatment needs
• Disability or impairment

How Chiropractic Treatment Can Help or Hurt Your Case

Chiropractic treatments are very helpful for your case when used properly. If not, they can be harmful to your case as well.

Helpful:

• The treatment begins right after the accident
• You have a regular treatment schedule
• Your records explicitly relate the injury to the crash
• You go to all of the recommended appointments

Harmful:

• You delay treatment for weeks or months
• You stop treatment early without explanation
• Your records are inconsistent
• Treatment appears excessive or unrelated to the injury

Keep in mind that insurance companies frequently use gaps in your treatment to reduce the settlement value.

Best Practices to Protect Your Claim

If you are receiving chiropractic treatment after getting involved in a collision in North Carolina, here are some ways you can protect your claim:

• Get medical treatment right after the accident
• Inform the chiropractor that you were involved in a crash
• Follow the full treatment plan
• Save all the appointment records and bills
• Do not have gaps in care that are medically unjustified
• Seek the services of a personal injury attorney as soon as possible
• Do not exaggerate an injury or symptom

Call Tatum & Atkinson, PLLC, and Understand Your Legal Rights.

Our attorneys at Tatum & Atkinson, PLLC, have recovered over $100 million in compensation for our injured clients, and we’re available for a free consultation. When you are not sure whether to hire a lawyer, our attorneys will be able to consider the specifics of your accident, clarify your legal rights, and help you seek the compensation you need. If we accept your case, you would not owe us anything unless we win. Call (800) 529-0804 today to learn more.

Disclaimer: This article is informational, and it is not legal advice. Every case is different. A discussion with a lawyer may help you understand your individual legal options.

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon should you see a chiropractor after an accident?

It’s recommended that you see a chiropractor as soon as you can after a car crash. This will make it easier to identify the injuries, begin treatment immediately, and establish medical records that will support your personal injury claim in the future.

Does accident insurance cover chiropractic care?

Yes, accident-related insurance covers chiropractic treatments in many cases, but the coverage will depend on your policy and the details of your claim.

Do I need a referral to see a chiropractor after a car accident?

For most cases of chiropractic care, referral is not necessary. Typically, a direct appointment is possible. However, some insurance policies may need approval or have coverage restrictions.

How long does chiropractic treatment usually last after an accident?

This depends on your injuries. Some people can recover in a few weeks. Some may require several months of treatment. Your treatment plan will typically be modified based on your actual progress.

Can not seeing a chiropractor right away hurt my injury claim?

Yes, it can negatively impact your claim. The absence of treatment can complicate matters when proving the injuries were caused by the accident and can impact the overall case.