Letters of Protection and Chiropractic Liens: What PI Attorneys Should Expect From a Chiropractor
Short answer: A letter of protection (LOP) is a written acknowledgment between the attorney and the provider that a represented patient is being seen while the case is pending. It lets your client get care without delay. For the attorney, what matters most is what comes with it: a measured baseline, a clear plan, regular updates and a record that supports the care. A chiropractor who works well with PI attorneys makes all of that easy to get. Here is what attorneys can expect when your client is seen at our Clive clinic.
How an LOP fits into your client's care
An LOP tells the provider that the patient is represented and that the attorney knows about the treatment. Its terms are set between your office and the clinic, and your own LOP language and your state's rules control. We are a clinic, not a law firm, and this is not legal advice. What follows is what we provide so your client can start care and your office stays informed.
What attorneys should ask a chiropractor for
Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
Written acknowledgment of the LOP | Confirms the arrangement before care begins |
Records that support medical necessity | Exam, measured findings, a plan, outcome scores and progress notes |
An initial report | Findings and plan after the first exam, so you know where your client stands early |
A narrative or report when requested | Causation, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment rationale in one document |
Prompt records release | Turnaround time affects demand timelines |
The record is what makes the care credible
Defense reviewers look for the same gaps repeatedly: no measured baseline, copied-forward notes, treatment frequency that never changes, no re-evaluation, and no reasoning for why care continued. We covered what a record has to contain in what a chiropractic record needs to hold up in a whiplash claim and how the documentation develops over the course of a case in the documentation timeline attorneys should expect.
Fast access for your client
Injured clients should not wait weeks to be examined. Call or text the office, mention that you are an attorney referral, and we work to get your client in quickly. The first visit includes a full history, a measured exam and a plan your client can understand, so the clinical picture starts building from day one. We also take the time to explain to your client what the process will look like, which means fewer surprises for them and fewer questions landing on your desk. If your client is not sure what coverage they have, our car accident insurance claim guide walks them through finding their declarations page and opening a claim.
Built to support your case from day one
We document with the case in mind: mechanism of injury, onset of symptoms, measured findings, imaging where it is warranted, and clear reasoning for the plan. Because the same measures are repeated at re-evaluation points, progress (or the lack of it) is shown with numbers instead of adjectives. That is the kind of record that reads well to adjusters, mediators and, if it comes to it, a jury.
What good communication looks like
Initial report: a summary after the first exam, with findings and plan.
Periodic updates: at re-evaluation points, with measured change.
Heads-up on referrals: if we send a patient for an MRI, neurology or pain management, you hear about it.
Honest, real-time records: everything is documented as it happens, which is what makes it credible later.
Discharge summary: the end of care, with maximum improvement or ongoing needs, and any impairment findings.
Questions worth asking any chiropractor before sending a client
Do you document measured findings, and can you show me a redacted sample?
How soon after the first visit do I get an initial report?
Will you provide a narrative, and what is the turnaround?
Are you comfortable with a deposition or testimony if the case requires it?
When do you refer out?
Frequently asked questions
Does treating under an LOP change the care?
It should not. Care follows the exam findings and the plan.
What if my client also has health insurance or MedPay?
That is a case-strategy decision for you and your client. We work with whichever route you choose and document the same way either way.
How quickly can you see a new client?
Call or text the office and mention that you are an attorney referral. We work to get injured clients in as soon as possible.
Referring a client to Champion Chiropractic & Spinal Injury
We are at 11050 Hickman Road in Clive and work with PI attorneys across the Des Moines metro. Call or text (515) 777-1014 and mention that you are an attorney referral. You can also see our public patient reviews and read about the clinic director's credentials.
Justin Luneburg, DC, FPSC(C), is clinic director at Champion Chiropractic & Spinal Injury in Clive, Iowa, and a Fellowship Candidate in Primary Spine Care. This article is general information for attorneys and is not medical or legal advice.
