If you’re injured in a vehicle accident caused by someone else in South Dakota, you’re entitled to file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company for your damages: property damage, lost income, pain and suffering, and medical expenses for necessary treatment. If you’ve suffered whiplash, spinal damage, or joint issues in the wreck, some of your medical expenses could include ongoing chiropractic care, which can get expensive over time. For this reason, the defendant’s insurer might resist paying a chiropractor’s fees and argue that such charges are not real or necessary medical expenses. If chiropractic charges are not included as necessary treatment in your settlement with the insurer, they can end up being billed directly to you.
Chiropractic Treatment
A chiropractor can provide some of the same diagnostic services that a medical doctor provides: X-rays, physical exams, MRIs, and CT scans. Unlike a medical doctor, a chiropractor does not usually prescribe synthetic pain medication or perform surgery. Chiropractic care is based instead upon more natural healing techniques, including:
- Spinal manipulation
- Massage
- Resistance-based stretching
- Ultrasound procedures
- Manual therapy
- Electrical stimulation
Chiropractic treatment is usually administered over a number of regular visits stretching out for weeks or months, so fees can get relatively high. That’s why it’s important to be sure your chiropractic care is covered by your settlement agreement or your award from the court.
Proving Necessary Medical Treatment
Although South Dakota courts generally recognize chiropractic care as potentially necessary treatment, you must prove that it was necessary in your case by providing detailed records of:
- Your symptoms
- All treatments received
- Dates of treatment sessions
- The cost of each treatment
- Receipts or other records of payment for treatments
A car accident lawyer can organize your medical evidence and present it persuasively to the defendant’s insurer or to a jury if your case goes to trial. Your attorney can also call in an expert witness, if necessary, to testify to the necessity of chiropractic treatment in your case. Getting your chiropractic care covered depends on convincing an insurer or a jury that it’s necessary to your recovery.
Do You Have Chiropractic Care Expenses After an Accident in South Dakota?
An experienced car accident lawyer can organize and present your medical evidence to help you seek coverage for all treatment. Contact us online or call us at 605-644-5003 to schedule a free consultation. We serve clients throughout South Dakota and northwest Iowa. You pay no attorney fees until we win your case.