What This Question Is Really Asking
Most people ask this because they’ve finished physical therapy (and may be ending chiropractic care) and want to know when the “settlement part” happens. In practice, finishing treatment is usually a key milestone, but it is not the only step. The claim still needs complete documentation and a clear picture of your injury outcome before meaningful negotiations can happen.
A Practical Step-by-Step Path
- Immediate priorities: Make sure the claim file has the basics documented (what happened, when it happened, and the injuries reported). Keep copies of any photos and any written work restrictions you received (if any). Avoid guessing about medical details in writing—stick to what is in the records.
- Short-term tasks: After treatment ends, the next practical step is usually collecting the complete set of medical records and final itemized bills from each provider involved. If you missed work or had job limits, it also helps to gather wage-loss proof (for example, pay stubs and a simple employer note confirming dates missed or restrictions).
- Later-stage steps: Once the file is complete, your attorney typically prepares a demand package that summarizes the incident, explains why the other party is legally responsible, and documents damages (medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering). Negotiations may follow. If the other side disputes fault or the value of the claim, the next phase may involve filing a lawsuit and using formal discovery to obtain evidence.
Timing: What Can Speed Things Up or Slow Things Down
- Records and billing lag: Even after you stop treating, providers may take time to finalize notes, discharge summaries, and billing ledgers. Negotiations often stall until the “last bill” and complete records arrive.
- Unclear end point: If you stop care but still have symptoms, the insurer may argue your condition was not fully documented or that you ended treatment early. Clear documentation about why care ended (for example, improvement, plateau, scheduling, or cost concerns) can matter.
- Liens/reimbursement issues: Some medical charges may involve reimbursement claims that must be identified and handled before a case can fully wrap up. This can affect timing even when liability is not disputed.
- Fault disputes (and NC defenses): If the other side argues you were even partly at fault, that can slow negotiations. North Carolina’s contributory negligence rule can be a major pressure point in settlement talks because it can bar recovery if a claimant is found to have contributed to the incident.
- Multiple parties or coverage layers: More than one potentially responsible party or more than one insurance layer can add steps and time.
- County-by-county variability: If a lawsuit becomes necessary, scheduling and court pace can vary by county and case type.
How This Applies
Apply to your facts: Because you’ve completed physical therapy and plan to end chiropractic care, your claim is likely approaching the point where your attorney can request final records and bills and then prepare a demand. A practical next move is to make sure your file clearly shows (1) the full treatment timeline, (2) your current symptoms and functional limits (if any), and (3) that all providers have been asked for final records and itemized billing so the demand is complete.
What the Statutes Say (Optional)
- N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52 – Sets a three-year limitations period for many negligence-based personal injury actions in North Carolina.
Conclusion
After treatment ends, an injury claim usually moves into the “document and negotiate” phase, but the timeline depends on how quickly final records, bills, and wage documentation can be gathered and whether fault or damages are disputed. Ending care can help clarify the value of the claim, but it can also raise questions if the file does not clearly show your outcome. One practical next step is to confirm that all providers have been asked for complete records and final itemized bills.
