Yes. In North Carolina, an insurance carrier often argues that a gap in treatment means your later symptoms (and later bills) were not caused by the crash, or that something else happened in between. A treatment gap does not automatically defeat your claim, but it can make causation harder to prove—especially if a provider note suggests you reached “maximum medical improvement” and then you restart care later.
If you were hurt in a North Carolina motor vehicle crash and you stop treating for a period of time, can the insurer treat that gap as a reason to refuse paying for later medical bills even though you later return to care for the same body part?
In a North Carolina injury claim, the key issue is usually causation: whether the crash caused the condition that led to the later treatment. A treatment gap is not a legal “bar” by itself. Instead, it is a fact the insurer uses to argue that your later treatment was not caused by the collision (or that your condition would have happened anyway because of a pre-existing problem). The more time that passes without documented complaints or care, the more the insurer will push for a “break in the chain” between the crash and the later bills.
North Carolina also draws an important line between (1) whether medical services were reasonably necessary and (2) whether those services were necessary because of injuries caused by the crash. Even if the treatment itself was reasonable, you still must connect it to the wreck to recover it as damages.
Apply the Rule to the Facts: Here, the carrier is pointing to a treatment gap and a note suggesting you reached maximum medical improvement, and it is offering a settlement that includes only part of the medical expenses. That is a common causation argument: the insurer claims the later physical therapy/specialist care (and any flare-up of a pre-existing condition) is not tied to the crash. The way to push back is to use records to show a consistent injury story (even if symptoms waxed and waned), explain the gap, and obtain a clear medical link between the collision and the later treatment.
If you want more background on common reasons carriers dispute treatment, you may find this helpful: Why is the insurance company refusing to pay for some of my medical treatment after a car accident?. If the dispute centers on an MMI note, see: Can the insurance company rely on a doctor’s note about maximum medical improvement to cut off coverage for later treatment?.
In North Carolina, an insurer can use a gap in treatment to argue your later medical bills are not crash-related, especially when the records include an MMI note and later care restarts after a break. A gap does not automatically defeat your claim, but it raises a causation issue you must address with clear medical records and a coherent timeline. Next step: gather updated records and a provider explanation tying the later treatment to the collision before you sign any settlement release.
If you’re dealing with a treatment gap dispute and the insurer is refusing to include later medical bills in a North Carolina car accident claim, our firm has experienced attorneys who can help you understand your options and timelines. Reach out today. Call (800) 555-1234.
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.
