Short Answer

In a North Carolina personal injury case, you should send your lawyer a clear, dated update that shows (1) where you are treating, (2) what appointments you have had and what is scheduled next, and (3) whether any provider has released you from care or given work/activity restrictions. This helps your lawyer prove your medical damages, track your recovery, and avoid gaps in treatment that the insurance company may use to argue your injuries are not related or not serious. Keep it factual and consistent with what you tell your medical providers.

Understanding the Problem

If you are a North Carolina injury claimant and you are still going to medical appointments for the injury, what information should you send your lawyer so the firm can confirm whether you have completed treatment, especially when the firm asked you to respond with a treatment update by phone or text?

Apply the Law

In North Carolina, your medical treatment and appointment history matters because it connects your injuries to the incident and supports the amount and reasonableness of your medical charges. Your lawyer also needs accurate treatment status to decide when the claim is ready to be valued and presented, and to respond to insurance and litigation requests for medical records and bills. If a lawsuit is filed, the other side can use formal discovery tools (like requests for documents and subpoenas) to obtain relevant medical records, so your lawyer must know what providers exist and what treatment is ongoing.

Key Requirements

• Provider list: The name of each clinic/doctor/therapy office you have treated with for this injury and the city (or at least enough detail to identify the provider correctly).
• Appointment timeline: The date of your last visit and the date/time (or at least the week) of your next scheduled appointment.
• Treatment status: Whether you are still actively treating, on a “follow-up as needed” plan, or have been released/discharged from care.
• Type of care: What kind of visit it is (for example: follow-up, physical therapy session, imaging, injection, specialist consult), without guessing medical terms.
• Work/activity restrictions: Any written restrictions (no lifting, limited hours, no driving, etc.) and whether they are still in place.
• New referrals or changes: Any new referral, new provider, new diagnosis, or change in the plan (including missed/canceled appointments and why).
• Documents you have: Any new bills, visit summaries, work notes, or discharge paperwork you received (photos/scans are usually fine).

What the Statutes Say

• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8-58.1 (Medical charges at issue) - Addresses proof of medical charges and presumptions about reasonableness/necessity when medical expenses are part of a civil case.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1F-5 (Discovery rules apply to subpoenas) - Ties subpoenas for records to the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure, which is one reason your lawyer must know every treating provider.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1F-4 (Service of subpoena) - Provides that subpoenas issued under Chapter 1F must be served in compliance with Rule 45 procedures.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: Because you are receiving treatment related to an injury claim and the firm is checking whether you have completed treatment, your lawyer mainly needs a current snapshot: your last appointment, your next appointment, and whether any provider has discharged you. They also need the names of any providers involved so they can request records/bills and accurately document your ongoing care. A short, factual text update is usually enough to start, as long as it includes the key dates and providers.

Process & Timing

1. Who sends the update: You (the client). Where: To your law firm by the method requested (phone call or text). What: A dated treatment update message plus photos/scans of any new paperwork you received. When: Send it as soon as possible after the firm asks, and then after any major change (new provider, discharge, new restrictions).
2. Next step: The firm uses your update to request any missing records/bills, confirm whether treatment is ongoing, and decide whether to wait for completion/discharge paperwork before valuing the claim. Timeframes vary by provider and by how quickly records and billing departments respond.
3. Final step: Once treatment is complete (or stable), the firm typically confirms you have final records, final bills, and any discharge/restriction notes needed to present the claim or respond to litigation discovery.

Exceptions & Pitfalls

• Gaps in treatment: Long breaks between appointments (without a clear reason) can be used to argue you recovered or that something else caused your symptoms. If you miss an appointment, tell your lawyer why and when you rescheduled.
• New providers you “forgot” to mention: Urgent care, imaging centers, and therapy clinics often generate separate records and bills. If your lawyer does not know about them, the file can look incomplete.
• Mixing injuries: If you treat for unrelated conditions at the same time, be careful not to describe everything as accident-related in texts. Keep your update limited to the treatment connected to the injury claim.
• Over-sharing sensitive details by text: Text is convenient, but it is not the place for long narratives. Send the facts (who/when/what’s next) and let your lawyer ask follow-up questions by phone if needed.
• Assuming “I’m done” without a discharge: If you stopped going because you felt better, cost concerns, scheduling issues, or transportation problems, tell your lawyer. That context can matter.

Conclusion

In North Carolina, your lawyer needs a simple, factual treatment update to document your medical care and support your injury claim: the providers you are seeing, your last and next appointment dates, and whether you have been released or still have restrictions. The most helpful next step is to send a dated message listing your last visit, your next scheduled visit, and any new referrals or discharge paperwork as soon as the firm requests the update.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney

If you're dealing with an injury claim while still treating and attending appointments, our firm has experienced attorneys who can help you understand what information matters, how it affects your claim, and what timelines to watch. 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.