Who Pays for Physical Therapy After a Car Accident​?

If you are involved in a car accident and sustain injuries that cause pain, limited range of motion, headaches, weakness, and difficulty with daily tasks, you may require physical therapy.

Physiotherapy reduces pain, improves mobility, restores strength, speeds up recovery, and prevents long-term issues.

However, who pays for physical therapy after a car accident? Since Nevada is an at-fault state, the at-fault driver is responsible for covering the injured victim’s medical expenses, including physical therapy. Thus, you will need to file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

However, while waiting for the car accident claim to be processed, you can handle immediate physical therapy costs using your own coverage, which can include personal injury protection (PIP) or medical payment (MedPay) coverage, if you have either. 

If your physical therapy expenses exceed your PIP or MedPay policy limit, or you don’t have any of these optional coverages, you can use your personal health insurance. With this option, you may be required to pay deductibles and co-payments each time you receive a service, even after meeting your deductible. 

Additionally, your health insurance company may seek reimbursement (subrogation) from the compensation you receive once your claim is settled.

What Is the Process of Getting Treatment Covered?

If you need physical therapy after a car accident, it’s vital to understand the process for getting your treatment covered. Firstly, you should contact your insurance provider to file a claim and get more information about the specific requirements for physical therapy coverage to start treatment. 

A physical therapy clinic can bill a PIP or MedPay insurer directly to receive payment. When the PIP or MedPay limit is reached, health insurance will cover the rest of the expenses. If you don’t have PIP or MedPay, your health insurance may be the primary payer for your immediate expenses before your auto accident claim is settled.

How Can ZKORC Help Patients Understand and Navigate Coverage?

ZK Physical Therapy & Chiropractic (ZKORC) helps patients review the terms of their policies and obtain more details about their coverage from insurers to know if physical therapy is covered. 

Furthermore, we will help you determine whether you need pre-authorization for coverage. If you do, you will get a referral from a doctor, and we will handle the pre-authorization process, confirming physical therapy is medically necessary. ZKROC will ensure you have detailed documentation throughout the process.

Learn more about the insurance we accept, and also check out our frequently asked questions for more information.

Why Is Physical Therapy Important After an Accident?

Physical therapy combines exercises and manual therapy to treat injuries. If you sustain an injury in an accident, a physical therapist can help you regain your ability to do daily tasks. 

Pain and limited mobility are common symptoms after being involved in a car accident. Including physical therapy in your treatment plan helps with recovery, pain management, strengthening muscles, restoring mobility and flexibility, and improving your quality of life.

What Types of Injuries From Car Accidents Typically Require Physical Therapy?

Various types of injuries from a car accident can be treated using physical therapy. 

This includes:

What Happens If Someone Delays or Avoids Treatment?

After being involved in a crash, it’s critical to seek immediate medical care, even if symptoms are minor at first. This is because the symptoms that seem minor may be hiding serious internal damage, such as internal bleeding and nerve damage.

In some cases, an injured victim may not notice symptoms at all. A car accident is a traumatic event, which means it triggers the body’s “fight or flight” response. During an adrenaline rush, the body experiences various changes, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, rapid breathing, high energy levels, and reduced pain perception. 

While these symptoms help someone get out of an immediate threat, they can be misleading. One may believe they are not injured, which can lead to a delay in seeking medical help, as the effects of an adrenaline rush can last a few hours. 

Delaying or avoiding treatment can lead to worsening of injuries and the development of serious complications. A doctor should examine you immediately after an accident to identify the location and extent of your injuries, allowing you to start treatment, including physical therapy, earlier.

How Does ZKORC Work With Personal Injury Attorneys and Coordinate With Insurance Companies?

ZKORC works closely with personal injury attorneys. For starters, we appreciate attorneys who refer their clients to us. We help law firms ensure their clients have visual proof of injury

and documentation, and receive treatment designed specifically for them. Moreover, if an attorney’s client wishes to receive treatment on a lien basis, we will help the attorney get lien pre-approval.

We also coordinate with insurance companies. We communicate efficiently with attorneys, adjusters, and case managers to ensure an injured victim receives the treatment they need without difficulties.

ZKORC has extensive experience helping people injured in car accidents. We offer reliable physical therapy services, and our payment options are manageable or covered by insurance. 

Sources:

King, L. (2024). What to Know About an Adrenaline Rush.

MedPay vs. PIP: What’s the Difference & When Do You Need Them? (2025).

NAC 689B.180.

Physical Therapy (Physiotherapy). (2024).