Short Answer

In North Carolina, once your medical treatment is finished (or you reach a stable point), your claim usually moves from the “treatment” phase to the “proof and negotiation” phase. Your attorney typically orders and reviews all medical records and bills, confirms any medical-payment claims or liens, and then prepares a settlement demand to the insurance company. If the insurer does not make a fair offer, the next step may be filing a lawsuit before the statute of limitations runs.

Understanding the Problem

In North Carolina, you are asking what you can expect your attorney to do after you finish treatment for an injury case, especially where you have been improving and your chiropractic visits have been reduced to weekly care. This question matters because the steps taken after treatment ends often determine how your damages are documented, how negotiations start, and whether a lawsuit must be filed before a deadline expires.

Apply the Law

North Carolina personal injury cases are usually resolved through an insurance claim settlement or, if needed, a lawsuit filed in the North Carolina trial courts (typically the Superior Court or District Court in the county where the defendant lives or where the incident happened). After treatment ends, the legal focus shifts to proving damages (especially medical expenses and the nature and extent of the injury) and addressing any reimbursement rights (often called “liens”) that may attach to settlement funds. A key timing rule is that most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within three years, so case preparation and negotiations must be managed with that deadline in mind.

Key Requirements

• Complete documentation of treatment: Your claim needs the provider notes and records that connect the incident to your diagnosis, treatment plan, progress, and discharge or plateau.
• Complete accounting of charges: Your attorney typically gathers itemized bills and payment information so the claim reflects the full medical expense picture.
• Proof of causation: The records must support that the incident caused the injuries that required the treatment (not a separate event or unrelated condition).
• Verification of liens and reimbursement claims: Some providers and payors may have legal rights to be repaid from any settlement, which must be identified and handled before funds are distributed.
• Timely settlement demand and negotiation: Once the file is complete, your attorney typically submits a demand package and negotiates with the insurer using the documented damages.
• Protecting the filing deadline: If negotiations stall, a lawsuit may need to be filed before the statute of limitations expires, even if settlement talks continue.

What the Statutes Say

• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52 (Three-year limitations period) - Sets a three-year statute of limitations for many civil claims, including most personal injury claims.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 44-49 (Medical provider liens) - Creates a lien right in favor of certain medical providers and others for services related to the injury, with specific requirements for the lien to be valid.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 44-50.1 (Accounting when paying liens) - Requires certain information to be provided to lienholders when distributions are made for less than the amount claimed.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: Because you are still treating but improving and down to weekly chiropractic visits, your case is nearing the point where your attorney can lock in the final set of records and bills that show the full course of care. Once treatment ends, the next legal step is usually to obtain every provider’s notes and itemized charges, review them for completeness and consistency, and then use that documentation to value and present the claim to the insurance company. Your attorney will also check for any medical provider lien notices or other reimbursement claims that could affect how a settlement is paid out.

Process & Timing

1. Who files: Usually no court filing happens immediately after treatment ends; your attorney (on your behalf) gathers records and prepares the claim. Where: Records and bills are requested from your medical providers; if a lawsuit becomes necessary, it is filed with the Clerk of Superior Court (or District Court, depending on the case) in the appropriate North Carolina county. What: Medical record and billing requests/authorizations, then a written settlement demand package to the insurer. When: Typically after you are discharged from care or reach a stable point where future treatment needs can be reasonably addressed.
2. Demand and negotiation: After the file is complete, the insurer reviews the demand and responds. Negotiations often involve follow-up questions, additional documentation, and discussion of liability and damages. Timing varies by insurer and the complexity of the medical care.
3. Resolution or lawsuit: If the insurer makes an acceptable offer, the case resolves with a written settlement agreement and release. If not, your attorney may recommend filing a lawsuit to protect your rights before the deadline, and the case proceeds through litigation steps (service of process, discovery, mediation, and possibly trial).

Exceptions & Pitfalls

• Stopping treatment too early: If you end care before you are truly stable, the insurer may argue your injuries were minor or that later symptoms are unrelated.
• Gaps or inconsistencies in records: Missed appointments, long gaps in care, or unclear provider notes can make it harder to prove the injury and the reasonableness of treatment.
• Unresolved liens or reimbursement claims: Medical providers and certain payors may assert rights against settlement funds; failing to identify and address them can delay settlement distribution or create disputes after settlement.
• Waiting too long to package the claim: Even if you are still negotiating, you may need to file suit to avoid losing the claim to the statute of limitations.
• Signing a release too soon: A settlement release can end the claim even if future symptoms appear, so timing and documentation matter.

Conclusion

Once your medical treatment is finished in North Carolina, your case usually moves into the documentation and negotiation stage: your attorney gathers and reviews all medical records, bills, and provider notes, checks for any lien or reimbursement issues, and then submits a settlement demand to the insurance company. If the insurer will not resolve the claim on reasonable terms, the next step may be filing a lawsuit in the proper North Carolina court. The key deadline to protect is the three-year statute of limitations.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney

If you’re dealing with a North Carolina injury claim and you’re nearing the end of treatment, an attorney can help you understand what records matter, how liens can affect a settlement, and how to protect the statute of limitations while negotiations are ongoing. 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.