Car Accident Physical Therapy Settlement

A car accident physical therapy settlement can help you recover compensation not just for the immediate aftermath of a crash but for the long and often painful rehabilitation process that follows.

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Chicago and required physical therapy as part of your recovery, it’s essential to understand how treatment can significantly impact your settlement value.

Whether you’re dealing with spinal cord injuries such as whiplash or herniated discs, or a torn rotator cuff, physical therapy isn’t just part of your recovery—it’s a vital piece of evidence that can strengthen your car accident settlement.

Average Settlement for a Physical Therapy Claim

While every case is different, here are example settlements we’ve recovered for clients who underwent physical therapy following motor vehicle accidents:

• $1,400,000 for a mother and daughter who were hit while stopped at a red light by a fatigued commercial truck driver. Both suffered herniated discs. The daughter underwent several months of physical therapy and pain management injections. The mother required spinal fusion surgery.
• $805,500 for a teacher who was struck by a truck turning into his bike lane. He sustained a compound clavicle fracture and a torn rotator cuff. After multiple surgeries and extensive physical therapy, he returned to work after a year of recovery.
• $175,000 for a young couple hit by a distracted teen driver. They suffered soft tissue injuries and abrasions and completed a three-month course of physical therapy after initial ER care.

These settlement amounts reflect the value that documented treatment adds to a claim, particularly when physical therapy plays a central role in recovery.

The Importance of Physical Therapy After a Car Accident

Physical therapy (PT) is more than just rehab—it’s a medically prescribed form of treatment that restores function, eases pain, and helps car accident victims regain control of their lives. It’s often required after severe injuries to avoid long-term complications or permanent impairment.

From a legal standpoint, physical therapy sessions and treatment records also serve as powerful documentation in personal injury cases.

They offer a timeline of recovery, provide a professional evaluation of your limitations, and back up your claim for both economic damages (like medical bills) and non-economic damages (like loss of enjoyment of life).

Common Injuries Requiring Physical Therapy Following a Car Accident

Some car accident injuries almost always result in a doctor prescribing physical therapy as part of the recovery plan. These include:

• Whiplash and Neck Injuries: Often caused by rear-end accidents, whiplash requires PT to restore mobility and reduce pain.
• Back and Spinal Cord Injuries (Herniated Discs, Strains): PT strengthens the core, improves posture, and prevents future injury.
• Shoulder Injuries (Rotator Cuff Tears): Therapy is essential after surgery or trauma to regain strength and range of motion.
• Knee Injuries (Ligament Tears): Common in side-impact collisions; PT supports healing and stability.
• Fractures Requiring Rehabilitation: Broken bones often need follow-up PT to regain full function.
• Soft Tissue Injuries: Stretching, strength-building, and massage techniques can benefit muscles and ligaments damaged in therapy.

These often severe injuries may not always show up on initial X-rays, but the pain, limited mobility, and lasting effects—including permanent disability—can be significant. You deserve to recover damages fully accounted for in any physical therapy claim.

Does Physical Therapy Increase Settlement Value?

Your physical therapy claim can significantly increase your overall car accident settlement value in a few key ways:

• Objective Evidence: Therapy records, progress reports, and therapist notes provide detailed, professional evidence of your injury’s severity, your limitations, and your recovery trajectory.
• Proof of Ongoing Needs: The duration and intensity of your therapy show how serious your injuries are and help justify claims for future medical expenses.
• Pain and Suffering Documentation: Therapists often document your physical discomfort during sessions, supporting your claim for non-economic damages like physical pain and emotional distress.

The more comprehensive and consistent your treatment, the stronger your physical therapy claim.

Paying for Physical Therapy Sessions After a Chicago Car Accident

Paying for physical therapy sessions before a settlement is reached can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, there are several options available:

• Health Insurance: Your health plan may initially cover therapy, though you’ll need to reimburse them from your settlement under Illinois subrogation laws.
• Medical Payments Coverage (Med Pay): If you carry Med Pay on your auto policy, it can cover physical therapy costs up to your limit.
• Out-of-Pocket with Reimbursement: Some victims pay upfront and are reimbursed through their car accident settlement.
• Letter of Protection (LOP): Our law firm can arrange for therapy providers to treat you on a lien, meaning you pay nothing until your case is resolved.

Dealing with Insurance Companies Regarding Physical Therapy

Insurance companies are often quick to question physical therapy expenses to reduce settlements. Common tactics include:

• Challenging Necessity: They may claim your therapy wasn’t medically necessary or that you were over-treated.
• Blaming Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurers might argue your pain existed before the accident and isn’t compensable.
• Ordering IMEs: Independent Medical Exams (IMEs) can be used to discredit your treatment plan.
• Surveillance: Insurers sometimes monitor your activities to find evidence contradicting your injury claim.

We fight back by presenting strong, well-organized medical records and collaborating with your insurance adjusters to prove the validity of your treatment.

Steps to Take to Ensure Physical Therapy Supports Your Settlement

To make the most of your physical therapy claim, follow these best practices:

• Attend Every Appointment: Missed sessions can be used to argue your injury wasn’t serious.
• Be Honest About Your Pain: Communicate clearly with your therapist about limitations, discomfort, and progress.
• Follow Your Home Exercise Plan: This shows you’re committed to recovery and taking your treatment seriously.
• Keep Detailed Records: Save all bills, receipts, and scheduling documents.
• Keep Your Lawyer Informed: We use your treatment updates to adjust the value of your claim and fight for every dollar you deserve.

How an Experienced Lawyer Helps Maximize Your Settlement

Hiring a skilled Chicago car accident lawyer ensures you recover compensation for your physical therapy costs and other damages arising from the accident. Our team helps by:

• Gathering medical records and PT documentation;
• Demonstrating medical necessity with expert support;
• Calculating full past and future physical therapy costs;
• Negotiating aggressively with the insurance company;
• Challenging denials and low offers;
• Filing a lawsuit when negotiation isn’t enough.

You focus on your therapy and recovery—we’ll focus on getting you paid.

Recoverable Damages in Physical Therapy Settlements

Your physical therapy claim may include both economic damages and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages

Physical therapy expenses

Other medical bills

Lost wages

Future medical expenses

Transportation costs to therapy

Medical equipment

Non-Economic Damages

Physical pain and suffering

Emotional distress

Loss of enjoyment of daily life

Permanent limitations or disfigurement

FAQs About Car Crash Settlements Involving Physical Therapy in Chicago

How Long After Physical Therapy Do You Get a Settlement?

It varies, but most cases settle shortly after therapy ends, so the full extent of recovery and future care needs are known.

How Much Are Most Car Accident Settlements?

They range widely, from $10,000 for soft tissue injuries to hundreds of thousands or more for severe injuries requiring long-term treatment.

How Much Can You Get for Pain and Suffering?

Your compensation depends on how the injury affected your life. Extensive therapy, pain during treatment, and disruption to work or hobbies all increase the value.

Do You Get More Compensation if You Have Physio?

Yes—physical therapy helps prove ongoing injury, which can increase both non-economic and economic damages.

Can You Be Compensated for Lost Wages?

Yes, you can recover lost wages if your injuries caused you to miss work or reduced your ability to earn income.

Consult an Experienced Attorney to Help You Recover Compensation!

At Rosenfeld Injury Law, we help car accident victims throughout Chicago and Illinois secure full and fair compensation through physical therapy settlements. If you’re undergoing therapy after a car accident, don’t settle for less. Let our Chicago personal injury attorneys handle the legal process while you focus on healing.

Call (888) 424-5757 or fill out our online form to book a free consultation.

All content undergoes thorough legal review by experienced attorneys, including Jonathan Rosenfeld. With 25 years of experience in personal injury law and over 100 years of combined legal expertise within our team, we ensure that every article is legally accurate, compliant, and reflects current legal standards.