Short Answer

In North Carolina, an insurer’s letter saying they “don’t see” medical treatment usually means they do not yet have records that connect your injuries to the crash. You should (1) get medically evaluated as soon as you reasonably can, (2) gather and send proof of your efforts to obtain care and any available records, and (3) be careful about signing broad medical authorizations or releases without understanding what they allow. Even if treatment is delayed due to referral or records-transfer issues, you can still document the delay and protect your claim.

Understanding the Problem

If you were hurt in a North Carolina car wreck and the insurance company says they do not see that you went to the doctor, you are really asking what you can do now to show you took your injuries seriously and to keep the claim moving, especially where you have not started treatment yet.

Apply the Law

In a North Carolina injury claim, you generally must prove that the crash caused your injuries and that you have damages (including medical expenses and other losses). Insurance adjusters often use “no treatment” or “gap in treatment” as a reason to question whether the wreck caused your symptoms or whether the symptoms are as serious as claimed. The main legal backstop is the deadline to file a lawsuit: most personal injury claims must be filed within three years, and waiting too long can bar the case even if you are still negotiating with the insurer.

Key Requirements

• Medical evaluation: You need a documented medical assessment that ties your complaints (like back and hip pain) to the collision history you report.
• Causation documentation: Your records should reflect when symptoms started, how they changed, and what providers found on exam and imaging.
• Proof the insurer can verify: The insurer typically wants itemized bills, visit notes, imaging reports, and sometimes work-status notes—not just your description of pain.
• Consistent timeline: If there is a delay because providers require a referral or records transfer, document that delay so it does not look like you simply chose not to treat.
• Careful information sharing: You can provide relevant records, but you should be cautious about broad authorizations or releases that allow fishing through unrelated history.
• File-before-it-expires deadline: Settlement talks do not automatically extend the time to file suit, so you must track the statute of limitations.

What the Statutes Say

• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52 (Three-year statute of limitations) - Sets a three-year deadline for many personal injury actions.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-540.2 (Property damage settlement not automatically a full release) - Explains that settling vehicle property damage does not, by itself, release injury claims unless the written settlement terms say so.
• N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-21 (Disclosure of medical information in certain situations) - Addresses when medical information may be disclosed in specific contexts and reflects that medical information is generally controlled and not automatically shared with insurers.

Analysis

Apply the Rule to the Facts: Here, you have significant back and hip pain after a car accident, but you have not started treatment yet because local providers require a hospital referral and transfer of imaging/records. That delay can make an insurer claim they see “no treatment,” but you can still protect the claim by getting evaluated as soon as possible and creating a paper trail showing you tried to obtain care promptly. Once you have records (even from an urgent care, ER, primary care, or an orthopedics/physical therapy referral visit), you can provide the insurer with proof that treatment started and that the complaints are documented.

Process & Timing

1. Who acts: You (or your attorney, if you hire one). Where: With the insurance adjuster handling the claim and with your medical providers in North Carolina. What: Schedule an evaluation (primary care, urgent care, or ER if symptoms are severe), request referrals, and request copies of visit notes/imaging reports; then send the adjuster a short written update with supporting documents. When: As soon as you reasonably can—do not wait for the insurer to “approve” care in a liability claim.
2. Document the delay: Keep a simple timeline (dates you called providers, what they required, and any appointment dates offered). If a provider requires a hospital referral or records transfer, ask for that requirement in writing or capture it in a portal message.
3. Send targeted proof: Provide the adjuster with (a) the date of your first visit, (b) the provider name and location, and (c) the records you have (discharge instructions, visit summary, imaging report, and bills). If the insurer asks for a medical authorization, read it carefully and consider limiting it to relevant providers and dates.

Exceptions & Pitfalls

• Gaps in treatment: A long delay can let the insurer argue your pain came from something else. If the delay was caused by referral requirements or records transfer, document that and start care as soon as you can.
• Signing a broad release: Some forms are not just “medical records requests.” They can be broad authorizations or even settlement releases. Do not sign anything you do not understand, and do not sign a full release if you are still treating.
• Property-damage paperwork confusion: Be careful that a vehicle-damage settlement document does not also release injury claims unless you intend that result. North Carolina law recognizes that property damage settlement is not automatically a full injury release unless the written terms clearly say so.
• Assuming the insurer already has your records: In many situations, insurers do not automatically receive your medical records. You usually must provide them or sign a limited authorization.
• Waiting too long to talk to counsel: If you are having trouble accessing care, or the insurer is pressuring you about “no treatment,” an attorney can help coordinate record collection and communications while you focus on getting evaluated.

Conclusion

If the insurance company says it does not see that you went to the doctor after a North Carolina car accident, treat that as a warning that your claim lacks medical documentation—not necessarily that it is over. The practical fix is to get evaluated as soon as you reasonably can and send the adjuster written proof of treatment (or proof of referral/records-transfer delays). Keep the bigger deadline in mind: many injury lawsuits must be filed within three years. Next step: request and send your first visit records and bills to the adjuster promptly.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney

If you're dealing with an insurer who is questioning your injuries because they do not see medical treatment yet, our firm has experienced attorneys who can help you understand your options, gather the right documentation, and track important 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.