Short Answer

Your personal injury lawyer sends the letter to tell your chiropractor that the lawyer represents you in the injury claim and should receive case-related communications. The letter may also request records, itemized bills, payment information, and notice of any claimed lien or assignment. It does not direct your medical care, guarantee payment, or by itself authorize the release of protected health information.

What the Letter Tells Your Chiropractor

A letter of representation identifies the patient, the date or type of incident, and the law firm handling the related personal injury claim. It gives the chiropractic office a reliable address, phone number, or email for administrative communications about the case.

The letter commonly asks the office to place the lawyer’s contact information in the patient’s account. It may also ask the provider to send:

• Chiropractic treatment records connected to the incident;
• An itemized statement showing services, dates, and charges;
• Insurance adjustments and payment information when relevant;
• Any signed assignment, payment agreement, or other account document; and
• Written notice of any claim the provider may make against injury proceeds.

This helps the lawyer organize the medical evidence and understand whether an unpaid balance may need attention before injury proceeds are distributed.

The Letter Is Different From a Medical Authorization

A representation letter and a medical records authorization serve different purposes. The letter confirms who represents you. A properly completed authorization generally gives the provider permission to release protected records and billing information to the law firm.

For that reason, the lawyer may send both documents together. A chiropractic office may still require its own release form, proof of identity, or another administrative document before producing records. The provider also may charge an allowed records fee in circumstances governed by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-411, which sets rules for reasonable medical-record copying charges.

The representation letter does not allow the lawyer to make treatment decisions. You remain responsible for communicating with your providers about appointments, symptoms, treatment choices, and medical questions.

Why Chiropractic Records Matter to an Injury Claim

When chiropractic care is connected to a Durham accident claim, the records may help document when care began, what symptoms you reported, what services were provided, and how often you attended. Itemized bills identify the charges associated with those visits.

These documents do not automatically prove that another person caused the incident or that every charge is recoverable. The lawyer must compare them with the accident facts, other medical records, prior health history when relevant, insurance information, and the provider’s documentation. Gaps, incorrect dates, duplicate charges, or records that refer to a different condition may require clarification.

Obtaining complete records also helps prevent avoidable confusion. For example, a summary balance alone may not show the dates or types of services. An itemized bill may be needed to match each charge with the corresponding treatment note.

Does the Letter Create a Lien?

Not necessarily. A letter from your lawyer generally gives notice of the representation; it does not automatically create a provider lien or promise that the provider will be paid from a settlement.

North Carolina has rules concerning certain medical-provider claims against personal injury recoveries. For providers covered by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 44-49, a valid statutory lien requires steps that include providing requested records or an itemized statement without charge within the statutory period and giving the attorney written notice of the claimed lien. Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 44-50, a person distributing injury proceeds may have duties concerning properly noticed and valid claims before disbursement.

A chiropractic provider also may rely on an assignment or payment agreement signed by the patient. Whether a statutory lien, assignment, or other claim is enforceable depends on the documents, the provider’s status, the services involved, and North Carolina law. Sending the representation letter allows counsel to request the relevant paperwork rather than learning about a claimed balance only near the end of the case.

What If the Chiropractor’s Phone Number and Website Are Inactive?

An inactive phone number or website can prevent counsel from delivering the letter, requesting records, or confirming who maintains the account. It does not necessarily mean the records no longer exist. The practice may have moved, changed names, closed, transferred its records, or hired a records custodian.

Counsel may need updated contact information for the actual provider, practice entity, billing office, or records custodian. Useful information can include:

• The exact practice name shown on receipts or intake forms;
• The chiropractor’s full name;
• The former street address;
• Appointment reminders, emails, or text messages;
• Receipts, account statements, or insurance explanations of benefits;
• The name of any company that handled billing or records; and
• Any notice stating that the practice moved or transferred patient files.

A patient should preserve these materials and give copies to counsel. Avoid sending original documents unless requested. Counsel can then try to verify the correct recipient and document reasonable efforts to obtain the file.

How This Applies When Counsel Cannot Reach the Provider

When chiropractic care is part of the injury claim but the listed phone number and website no longer work, the immediate purpose of locating the provider is administrative. Counsel needs a valid delivery method for the representation letter and any authorization, records request, or billing inquiry.

Until the correct contact is found, the lawyer may be unable to confirm the treatment dates, obtain complete notes, verify the outstanding balance, or determine whether the office claims an interest in possible proceeds. Providing old receipts, emails, appointment messages, payment records, or the provider’s full legal name may help identify the current office or records custodian.

You should continue to communicate accurately with your lawyer about the care you received. Do not assume that an unreachable office means its bills or records can be ignored. At the same time, the existence and enforceability of any claimed balance must be evaluated from the actual documents and applicable law.

What the Letter Does Not Mean

Receiving chiropractic care and sending a representation letter do not ensure that an insurer will accept the treatment as related to the incident. The letter also does not:

• Guarantee that a claim will settle;
• Promise payment of every chiropractic charge;
• Require you to continue or stop treatment;
• Replace a signed records authorization when one is required;
• Resolve a disputed bill; or
• Authorize the provider to discuss unrelated medical information beyond the permitted scope.

The letter is mainly a communication and documentation tool. Its precise wording may vary based on the provider, the status of treatment, and the needs of the claim.

When Wallace Pierce Law May Be Able to Help

Wallace Pierce Law may help identify the correct chiropractic office or records custodian, send the representation and authorization documents, request treatment records and itemized bills, and compare those materials with the rest of a North Carolina personal injury claim.

The firm may also review notices of claimed liens, assignments, or outstanding balances and communicate with the provider about missing or inconsistent account information. This process cannot guarantee that records will be available or that a disputed provider claim will be resolved in a particular way, but it can clarify what information is missing and what steps may be appropriate.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney in Durham

If your question involves injuries, insurance, fault, medical documentation, settlement paperwork, or a possible deadline, speaking with a licensed North Carolina attorney can help clarify your options. Call 919-313-2737 to discuss what happened and what steps may make sense next.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about North Carolina personal injury law based on the single question stated above. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. It is not medical advice, tax advice, or insurance policy interpretation. Laws, procedures, and local practice can change and may vary by county. If there may be a deadline, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.