Short Answer

In a North Carolina personal injury case, your lawyer will usually request a complete set of medical records (what happened medically) and medical bills (what was charged and paid) for every provider who treated you for accident-related injuries. That typically includes the emergency visit, imaging, specialists, therapy, and any follow-up care, plus itemized statements and payment/insurance information. The goal is to prove what treatment you needed, connect it to the accident, and document the medical expenses that may be part of your claim.

Understanding the Problem

If you are pursuing a North Carolina personal injury claim, you may be asking what your lawyer can request from your doctors and hospitals after your treatment ends, especially since you are about to sign a medical-records authorization and you have photos from the accident scene to share.

Apply the Law

In North Carolina, medical records and bills are commonly used to prove the nature of your injuries, the treatment you received, and the medical expenses tied to the incident. Your lawyer typically gathers these documents in two ways: (1) by using your written authorization to request records directly from providers, and (2) if a lawsuit is filed, through formal discovery tools (including subpoenas) under the North Carolina Rules of Civil Procedure. Providers and insurers may also assert reimbursement rights (often called liens or subrogation), which is another reason your lawyer requests itemized billing and payment information before settlement.

Key Requirements

• Complete provider list: Your lawyer needs the names of every place that treated you for the injuries (including follow-up care), because missing one provider can leave gaps in the story and the billing.
• Records (clinical proof): Notes, diagnoses, test results, and treatment plans help show what was wrong, what care was reasonable, and whether the accident caused or worsened the condition.
• Bills (financial proof): Itemized statements and account ledgers show what was charged, what adjustments were taken, and what remains owed.
• Payment sources: Explanation of Benefits (EOBs) and payment histories help separate “billed” amounts from “paid” amounts and identify who may claim reimbursement.
• Accident-related time window: Requests usually cover a defined period (often starting at the accident date and extending through discharge from care), and sometimes limited prior records if a provider links your symptoms to a preexisting condition.
• Proper delivery/certification when needed: If a case goes to court, records may need to be obtained and presented in a way the court rules allow.

What the Statutes Say

• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 44-49 (Medical provider liens; itemized statement requirement) - Creates a lien for certain medical-related charges tied to an injury recovery and requires an itemized statement/records and notice to the attorney for the lien to be valid.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 108A-57 (Medicaid subrogation) - Gives the State subrogation rights for Medicaid payments and sets notice and timing rules tied to settlement proceeds.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 8-44.1 (Hospital medical records in court) - Addresses how hospital medical records may be received as evidence when obtained through proper procedures.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 135-48.37 (State Health Plan subrogation) - Provides subrogation and lien rights for the State Health Plan in certain situations.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: Because you are working with a law firm after an accident and the firm is sending intake paperwork plus a medical-records authorization, the next step is usually for your lawyer to request records and bills from each provider involved in your care once treatment is complete. Your accident-scene photos can help your lawyer frame the timeline and mechanism of injury, while the medical records and billing documents supply the medical and financial proof needed to evaluate and present the claim. Your lawyer will also look for billing and payment documents that reveal whether any provider or payer may assert a lien or reimbursement claim that must be addressed before settlement funds are distributed.

Process & Timing

1. Who files: Your attorney (or a medical-records vendor working for the attorney). Where: With each treating provider’s medical records department/billing office in North Carolina (and any out-of-state providers if you treated elsewhere). What: A signed medical-records authorization plus targeted requests for records and billing (often including an itemized statement and ledger). When: Commonly after you finish active treatment or reach a stable point in care, but sometimes earlier for ongoing case evaluation.
2. Collection and follow-up: Providers often send records and bills separately. Your lawyer may need to follow up for missing components (for example, imaging reports without the radiology images, or a bill without an itemized breakdown).
3. Settlement preparation: Your lawyer organizes the records into a timeline, summarizes the treatment, totals the charges, and confirms who paid what (health insurance, Medicaid/Medicare, or you). If a lawsuit is filed, your lawyer may also obtain records through subpoenas and other discovery tools consistent with court rules.

Exceptions & Pitfalls

• “Records” are not the same as “bills”: Many people assume a provider will send everything in one packet. Often, clinical records come from one department and billing/ledger documents come from another, so you may need separate requests.
• Itemization matters: A one-page balance due may not be enough for negotiation or for confirming a lien amount. North Carolina’s medical lien statute ties lien validity to providing an itemized statement/records and notice to the attorney when requested.
• Gaps in treatment create arguments: Long delays between the accident and care, or long breaks in treatment, can lead to disputes about whether the accident caused the condition. Your lawyer may request records that explain the reason for any gap.
• Preexisting conditions and “prior records”: If you had similar symptoms before the accident, the defense may seek earlier records. Your lawyer may also request limited prior records to address causation fairly and avoid surprises later.
• Subrogation and reimbursement: Health insurers, Medicaid, and certain plans may claim reimbursement from a settlement. If those claims are not identified and handled correctly, they can delay settlement distribution or create disputes later.
• Privacy and scope: A medical authorization should be limited to what is reasonably needed for the claim. Overbroad requests can create unnecessary privacy concerns and increase costs and delays.

Conclusion

After your treatment ends, a North Carolina personal injury lawyer will typically request a complete set of accident-related medical records and medical bills from every provider involved, including itemized statements and payment information. Those documents help prove your injuries, connect them to the accident, and document medical expenses, while also identifying any liens or reimbursement claims that must be resolved. Next step: return the firm’s signed medical-records authorization promptly so requests can be sent and the file can be updated without delay.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney

If you’re dealing with an accident claim and you’re unsure what records, bills, and payment documents matter (or how liens and reimbursement can affect settlement), 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.