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Dr. Johanna ColeOct 4, 2016 9:57:32 AM6 min read

Will Your Personal Injury Claim Cover Chiropractic Care?

Covering Chiropractic Care with a Personal Injury Claim

Finding a Rehabilitation and Chiropractic clinic that provides proper accident injury treatment and appropriate documentation for your injuries is detrimental to your claim.

Seeking chiropractic treatment after an auto accident or in sudden impact injuries is common and recommended for a fast and natural recovery.

In this blog, we discuss how to prove your medical expenses from a personal injury accident and going about treatment.

Table of contents:

If your neck, back, or spine was injured in a car accident and you have made a personal injury claim, the insurance companies of the responsible party are obligated to pay necessary medical costs--or, at least some of it.

If you can prove that your medical expenses were necessary to your recovery, then the insurance company will be responsible for covering your medical expenses, and that includes any chiropractic bills.

When you’re injured, you shouldn’t be worried about racking up debt or paying off medical bills.

When an injured victim files a personal injury claim against the liable party, the cost of the medical care and other necessary expenses is included on the plaintiff’s damage award.

Chiropractic doctors specialize in treating "soft tissue injuries" such as strains, contusions, whiplash, and strains.

Other side effects that follow car wreck injuries include chronic pain, neck pain, headaches, fatigue, shoulder pain, insomnia, vision problems, anxiety, and more.

Documentation should include detailed narratives and daily reports that the Insurance companies and Attorney’s need for proper resolution of your claim.


 

Proving Medical Expenses After Suffering Injuries

Typically, a losing defendant is reliable in paying all of the plaintiff’s reasonably necessary bills related to the accident.

As part of proving his or her losses in a case, the plaintiff will submit all of the bills they incurred as a result of the injury.

All the same, just because the plaintiff received treatment, including chiropractic care, doesn’t necessarily mean the jury will infer the treatment was necessary.


 

Two Aspects That Are Crucial in Protecting and Providing Your Injury Case

  1. Documentation of the specific symptoms, the treatment provided
  2. The Costs incurred for each treatment must be plainly laid out in the records and billing

Having unclear and incomplete records could lead to the denial of chiropractic treatment as not “reasonably necessary.”

Also, if you delay care for weeks or even several days after an accident, it will be harder to demonstrate that your injuries were a result of an automotive crash or sudden injury.

Quickly receiving medical treatment is not just the best thing for your health but it also strengthens your personal injury claim.

How to protect your Personal Injury Case

In cases that aren’t easily settled or are “challenged,” a plaintiff may need to obtain an expert to testify that the kind of medical treatment the plaintiff acquired was necessary to treat his or her injuries.

The defendant can, in turn, also hire an expert to testify the opposite.

Even if expert witnesses are not involved in a case, it is ultimately up to the jury to conclude how much of the plaintiff’s chiropractic expenses were “reasonably necessary.”

However, in some cases, a judge can revise an award if it does not fit the evidence shown in the case.

Sometimes chiropractic expenses are challenged because they can get quite high, particularly if the plaintiff is receiving numerous treatments a week over several months.

Now and then, depending on the details of your case, juries argue the efficacy of chiropractic care.

But it's important to keep in mind that chiropractic expenses are not prohibited as a source of therapy and are seen as acceptable medical expenses.

In particular cases, the jury may be persuaded that some chiropractic treatment was necessary, but only require the defendant to pay a portion of the total bill.

Although this is rarely the case, chiropractors are better recognized in helping accident victims heal quickly, safely, and more affordable than invasive procedures and costly surgeries. 

Chiropractic Health Clinics that specialize in personal injury are well versed in the intricacies of insurance claims and accident litigation and act as advocates in helping patients get fair compensation from their insurance company for necessary medical bills. 

Chiropractic Expenses and Negotiations

Your personal injury claim will likely be settled before ever going to trial. In the majority of cases chiropractic treatment, particularly car accidents, a defendant's insurance company will negotiate and pay the settlement or trial award. 

If a plaintiff is presumed to make a full recovery but has not yet done so, the case may not be fit for settlement until the chiropractor concludes the plaintiff has made the maximum potential recovery.

If you settle and your treatment is not finished, you may be faced with mounting chiropractic bills, and once you accept a settlement, you cannot go back and ask for additional compensation.

The plaintiff and their attorney will need to make the judgment call as to accept a settlement that does not cover some or all of the chiropractic care or to take their chances in a trial.


 

How Long Do You Have To Get Chiropractic Care After A Car Accident?

If you are experiencing any symptoms of a personal injury after a car accident, you should seek out a chiropractor as soon as possible after your accident.

Do not wait until you receive a settlement for your car accident before beginning chiropractic treatment.

Even if your health insurance does not cover chiropractic, and most insurers do, you will receive reimbursement for your chiropractic treatment in the settlement.

Ideally, visit a chiropractor within 72 hours of the accident if you've suffered an injury.

Even if you don't think you've suffered an injury, you should still see a chiropractor because some car accident injuries won't show symptoms until hours or days after the accident.

Chiropractic medicine is a holistic form of treatment that does not rely on medication, surgery, or other invasive procedures.

 

Get Treatment at Arrowhead Clinic

At Arrowhead Chiropractic Clinics we specialize in car accident injuries and physical and financial recovery.

Not only are we the leading experts in treating personal injury accidents, but we can also refer you to qualified personal injury attorneys that can help get you the money you deserve after suffering physical and financial loss.

We will contact the at-fault party's insurance company and handle all legal documentation relating to your accident case so you can focus on a full and fast recovery.

If you have questions regarding your insurance company or how to proceed with proper coverage, give your nearest clinic a call.

Our receptionists and medical staff are happy to assist with any questions or concerns. 

Walk-in today or click the button below and get a free no-cost consultation with one of our expert chiropractors so you can get the care you deserve.  

Did you know that chiropractic care can help with other conditions? Learn how to Fix Acid Reflux Disease with Chiropractic Care here!


Free Chiropractic Consultation | Arrowhead Clinic

 

Read our previous blog: How Chiropractic Care Can Benefit People Who Suffer from Asthma and Allergies

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Dr. Johanna Cole

Dr. Cole is of Dutch and Guyanese descendant and a native of Brooklyn, New York. She grew up in Nashville, TN where she earned her B.S. in biochemistry: applied/pre-med at Lipscomb University. Dr. Cole graduated from Life University in 2017 with her Doctorate of Chiropractic. She is certified by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners and licensed to practice in the state of Georgia. She has a soft touch when caring for her patients and specializes in a variety of techniques; Full-spine diversified, Thompson, Activator, SOT (Sacro-Occipital Technique), extremities, and Gonstead. She considers herself a “Mixer” of techniques. Dr. Cole gained experience in family practice and personal injury while interning at Collier Chiropractic and Back to Genesis Chiropractic in Austell, Ga, respectively. Prior to relocating to Brunswick, Ga, Dr. Cole trained intensively under the guidance and support of the Arrowhead Clinic doctors of Atlanta, Ga in the Gwinnett, Marietta, Decatur, Cascade, Riverdale, and McDonough locations. Dr. Cole is a great violinist and praise dancer. She finds value in going to church, family fellowship, and time with her precious pup CoCo.

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