Understanding the Problem

If you are in North Carolina and you are finishing physical therapy but still have symptoms, what happens to your personal injury claim if your treatment “ends” even though you are not fully back to normal?

Apply the Law

North Carolina personal injury claims are built around proving (1) the other party was legally at fault, (2) that fault caused your injuries, and (3) your injuries caused losses (medical bills, lost time, and pain). When treatment ends but symptoms remain, the legal focus usually shifts to documenting your current condition, whether you have reached a stable point in recovery (often called maximum medical improvement in everyday terms), and whether future care is reasonably expected.

Two deadlines often drive strategy even when you are still not 100%: (1) the statute of limitations for filing suit, and (2) any insurance/claim deadlines that may apply in a specific case. For most North Carolina negligence-based personal injury cases, the filing deadline is generally three years, but the exact start date can depend on when the injury became apparent.

Key Requirements

• Clear end-of-treatment documentation: Your provider’s discharge notes should explain what improved, what did not, and why treatment is ending (for example, plateau, goals met, or transition to a different type of care).
• Ongoing symptoms and functional limits: Records should reflect what you still feel (tightness, pain, reduced range of motion) and how it affects daily activities, not just that you are “better.”
• Future care plan (if any): If your provider recommends follow-up visits, home exercises, periodic flare-up care, imaging, referrals, or medications, that should be stated plainly in the chart.
• Consistency across providers: When you transition from physical therapy to chiropractic care (or any other provider), consistent history and symptom reporting helps avoid arguments that the problem is unrelated.
• Reasonable timing and causation support: Your medical timeline should make sense from incident to symptoms to treatment, so the insurer cannot easily argue the remaining issues come from something else.
• Protecting your filing deadline: Even if you are still treating or still symptomatic, you may need to file suit before the statute of limitations expires to preserve your claim.

What the Statutes Say

• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52 (Three years) - Provides a three-year limitations period for many civil actions, including many personal injury claims, and includes an accrual rule tied to when bodily harm becomes apparent or should have become apparent.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-540.1 (Effect of release of original wrongdoer) - Addresses how a settlement/release with the original wrongdoer interacts with later claims against medical providers for negligent treatment, depending on the release language.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: Here, you report improvement but still have tightness and still use medication and topical patches as needed, and you are transitioning from physical therapy to chiropractic care because physical therapy did not fully address the problem areas. That fact pattern usually means your condition may not be fully resolved, and your records should clearly show (1) what symptoms remain, (2) why PT is ending, and (3) what the next provider is treating and why. From a claim standpoint, the biggest practical issue is avoiding a settlement that assumes you are “done” when your providers still expect ongoing symptoms or future care.

Process & Timing

1. Who files: The injured person (through an attorney, if represented). Where: If a lawsuit is needed, it is typically filed in the North Carolina state court system in the appropriate county (usually where the incident happened or where the defendant resides). What: A civil complaint and summons (court forms and formatting vary by county and case type). When: Generally, you must file before the three-year statute of limitations expires for many personal injury claims under North Carolina law.
2. Medical wrap-up: When treatment ends (or changes), request complete records and bills, including discharge summaries and any future-care recommendations. This is often when insurers push to “close” the claim, so documentation matters.
3. Settlement decision point: If you consider settlement while still symptomatic, you (and your attorney) typically evaluate whether the medical picture is stable enough to value the claim and whether future care should be included in negotiations. If you file suit to protect the deadline, settlement discussions can still continue.

Exceptions & Pitfalls

• Settling too early: A settlement usually includes a release. If you settle before you understand whether you will need future care, you may be stuck paying future costs yourself.
• “Gap in treatment” arguments: Long gaps, missed appointments, or switching providers without clear documentation can give an insurer room to argue your remaining symptoms are unrelated or minor.
• Discharge notes that undersell symptoms: If the chart says “resolved” or “no pain” when you still have tightness or need medication, that can reduce claim value and create credibility issues.
• Confusing “end of PT” with “end of injury”: PT ending can mean you plateaued, you met certain goals, or you are transitioning to another modality—not that you are fully healed.
• Deadline pressure: Waiting for “perfect recovery” can be risky if the statute of limitations is approaching. Sometimes the right move is to file suit to preserve the claim while you continue care.

Conclusion

If you feel better but not back to normal when treatment ends in North Carolina, your claim does not automatically end—but your documentation becomes critical. Your records should clearly show your remaining symptoms, why care is ending, and whether future treatment is expected. Because many personal injury claims must be filed within three years under North Carolina law, the safest next step is to calendar the limitations deadline and file a lawsuit if needed to preserve your rights before it expires.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney

If you're dealing with an injury that is improving but still not fully resolved as treatment winds down, a personal injury attorney can help you understand how your medical status affects timing, documentation, and settlement decisions. Our firm has experienced attorneys who can help you understand your options and timelines. Reach out today. Call [CONTACT NUMBER].

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.