Understanding the Problem

If you were injured in North Carolina and the insurance adjuster says you must send medical bills and records by a certain date, what happens if you do not send them and the adjuster closes the claim file—especially when you are still in treatment and the file is missing basic identifying information needed to move the claim forward?

Apply the Law

North Carolina law does not require you to “finish” an insurance claim by an adjuster’s internal deadline. But insurers can reasonably ask for documentation (like medical bills, records, and identifying details) before they evaluate or pay parts of a claim. Separately, North Carolina has firm court deadlines for filing a lawsuit. For most personal injury cases, the main clock is the three-year statute of limitations—and an insurer’s “file closed” status does not stop that clock.

Key Requirements

• Proof of damages: Medical bills and records are the basic proof an insurer uses to verify treatment, connect it to the incident, and value the claim.
• Claim cooperation and information: If the insurer lacks identifying information (for example, provider details, claim numbers, dates of service, or authorizations), it may not be able to order records or issue payment even for limited medical-pay coverage.
• Medical-pay coverage limits: Medical-pay coverage (often called “med pay”) is typically limited and may be applied first to early charges like EMS and emergency room bills if those are available.
• Insurer file status is administrative: “Closed” often means the adjuster is not actively working the file until new information arrives; it is not the same as a court dismissal.
• Statute of limitations controls your rights: If you do not settle and do not file suit on time, you can lose the right to recover—regardless of whether the insurer kept the file open.

What the Statutes Say

• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52 (Three years) - Sets a three-year limitations period for many civil claims, including most personal injury claims.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-38 (Prelitigation mediation of insurance claims) - Allows certain prelitigation mediation and provides tolling rules once a request is filed, in qualifying situations.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: Here, you are still treating (including ongoing physical therapy), but medical bills and records have not been ordered or submitted yet. If the adjuster does not have the documentation and identifying details needed to verify charges and connect them to the incident, the insurer may close the file administratively and stop moving the claim forward until you provide what it requested. That closure does not automatically erase the claim, but it can delay payment (including using limited med-pay on EMS and emergency room bills) and it can increase the risk you run into the three-year lawsuit deadline if the case does not settle.

Process & Timing

1. Who acts: The injured person (or their attorney). Where: With the insurance adjuster handling the claim in North Carolina. What: Provide the missing identifying information, then submit available itemized bills (often EMS/ER first) and request/authorize medical records as needed. When: As soon as possible—because delays can stall evaluation and payment.
2. Re-open or re-activate the file: After the insurer receives enough information to document treatment and charges, the adjuster typically re-activates the claim handling and can review med-pay and/or liability settlement issues. Timeframes vary by insurer and by how quickly providers produce records.
3. Protect the court deadline: If settlement is not reached, you generally must file a lawsuit before the three-year limitations period expires for most personal injury claims, even if treatment is ongoing.

Exceptions & Pitfalls

• Confusing an adjuster deadline with a legal deadline: The insurer’s “submit by X date” request is not the same as the court filing deadline, but missing it can still slow or stop claim progress.
• Waiting for “final” treatment before sending anything: If you hold everything until therapy ends, you may lose momentum on med-pay payments and delay liability evaluation. Submitting early bills (like EMS/ER) can keep things moving.
• Incomplete provider information: Missing provider names, dates of service, account numbers, or signed authorizations can prevent record retrieval and payment processing.
• Coverage exhaustion strategy: If med-pay is limited, how and when bills are submitted can affect whether early charges consume the available coverage before later treatment bills arrive.
• Assuming “closed” means “denied”: A closed file may be reopened with new documentation, but you should get clarity in writing about what the insurer needs and whether any part of the claim is being denied.

Conclusion

If you do not submit medical bills and records within an insurer’s requested timeframe, the adjuster may close the claim file and stop evaluating or paying the claim until you provide the missing information. In North Carolina, that administrative closure usually does not erase your injury claim, but it can create harmful delays—especially because most personal injury claims are controlled by a three-year statute of limitations. Next step: gather the identifying information and submit the available bills and record requests promptly so the insurer can re-activate the file.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney

If you’re dealing with an insurance claim that was closed because bills, records, or identifying details were not submitted fast enough, an attorney can help you organize the documentation, communicate with the adjuster, and protect your deadlines while you continue treatment. Reach out today.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about North Carolina law based on the single question stated above. It is not legal advice for your specific situation and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws, procedures, and local practice can change and may vary by county. If you have a deadline, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.