With the right tools and systems, DCs can increase referrals, receive significant insurance reimbursements and elevate their professional credibility in one of the fastest-growing chiropractic niches: personal injury.
With the right tools and systems, DCs can increase referrals, receive significant insurance reimbursements and elevate their professional credibility in one of the fastest-growing chiropractic niches: personal injury.Chiropractic evaluations and care have long played a central role in personal injury (PI) recovery. Yet many DCs miss out on the most profitable part of this market: objective, defensible data that drives legal outcomes and attorney referrals.
Attorneys and insurers increasingly expect evidence-based documentation, not just subjective progress notes and professional opinions, to justify treatment, prove injury severity and support fair settlements. DCs who meet these expectations become high-value partners who strengthen cases, shorten negotiations and increase settlement amounts.
This article explores why PI represents a major growth opportunity, what attorneys truly value and how DCs can leverage objective data and technology to dominate this market.1,2
The personal injury market
The US PI market exceeds $40 billion annually in settlements and judgments. Soft-tissue and musculoskeletal injuries, often resulting from vehicle accidents, are among the most common conditions treated by DCs.
However, many DCs remain underutilized by attorneys because their documentation fails to meet evidentiary standards. Handwritten or narrative-only notes can undermine a case, while quantified, reproducible data builds trust.
Learning point: DCs who present objective findings in standardized reports become the preferred referral choice for PI attorneys seeking credible, defensible evidence.
What attorneys want
Attorneys look for clinical partners who make their cases stronger, not more complicated. The following are the top three attorney expectations:
- Defensible, objective documentation that stands up in depositions and court.
- Consistent, professional reporting aligned with legal timelines.
- Understanding of medical necessity and the ability to explain it in plain language.
- As R. Jay Shetlin, DC, explains, “Objective findings are the key value driver increasing doctor credibility and adding legal leverage for attorneys to settle cases better.”
Why objective data wins
Objective data eliminates guesswork. It quantifies impairment, documents progress and links findings to injury mechanisms; all essential in legal contexts.
Technologies, such as digital dual inclinometers, muscle dynamometers, grip and pinch strength testers and pain algometers, allow you to document range of motion, strength deficits and pain thresholds with precision.
There are systems that automatically compile this data into clear, defensible narrative reports, saving hours of documentation time and elevating clinical credibility.
Business benefits of PI integration
When done correctly, PI work transforms a chiropractic practice from reactive care to proactive case management. Benefits include:
- Higher settlement values through evidence-backed impairment ratings.
- Extended care plans supported by measurable improvement data.
- Reliable reimbursement.
- Expanded referral networks through satisfied attorneys and patients.
For many practices, PI cases also lead to referrals for family members, new auto injury clients and opportunities in occupational medicine.
Build your personal injury practice
Success in PI requires a deliberate, system-driven approach.
Invest in the right tools. Objective testing devices, such as digital dual inclinometers, muscle and grip strength testers and algometers, create defensible reports that set you apart from competitors relying on subjective notes.
Train your team. Support staff can assist with assessments, data entry and documentation, allowing you to focus on patient care and expert testimony.
Market strategically. Share sample reports with local attorneys, highlighting how your documentation strengthens their cases. Host lunch-and-learn sessions or webinars to educate the legal community.
Create attorney partnerships. Build relationships with PI law firms by providing consistent communication, timely reports and reliable results. Attorneys remember providers who help them win cases.
Technology and credibility
Technology isn’t just a convenience; it’s your credibility engine. There are systems that combine inclinometry, dynamometry and algometry into one streamlined workflow.
Core advantages of this approach include:
- Accuracy: Digital measurement tools eliminate variability.
- Efficiency: Automated narrative reports reduce documentation time.
- Defensibility: Every finding is timestamped and data-backed.
- Tracking: Reporting shows patient progress compared to previous visits.
- By combining medical precision with automated reporting, you can quickly produce professional documentation that meets the standards of attorneys, insurers and courts.
Case in point
Consider a typical whiplash or low-back injury. Without objective data, the case rests on the patient’s subjective pain reports; easy for opposing counsel to challenge.
Add quantified range-of-motion limits, muscle weakness data and pain threshold measurements, and suddenly the injury is measurable, reproducible and legally defensible. That transforms both the doctor’s credibility and the attorney’s negotiating power.
“When assessments rely only on visual observation or patient self-reporting, the results are inconsistent at best, and misleading at worst,” explained Alan D. Newman, DC, of Leesburg Chiropractic Center. “Subjective measures open the door to error, exaggeration or even fraud. Objective testing with validated equipment eliminates those risks by producing reproducible data that accurately reflects a patient’s true functional capacity.”
Why now is the time
As healthcare reimbursement tightens, DCs need revenue streams that reward expertise rather than paperwork. PI offers exactly that: insurance reimbursements driven by objective evidence and professional credibility. For example, in Utah using CPT Code 97750 with the PIP adjustment: $52.83 per unit for up to $320 per exam and up to $1,000 per patient plus reimbursement for the patient care plan.
The demand for qualified PI providers is rising, especially as attorneys seek partners who understand impairment ratings, medical necessity and return-to-function documentation. DCs who invest now can position themselves as regional leaders in an expanding, sustainable niche.
Final thoughts
PI work is no longer just about treating pain; it’s about documenting recovery with the precision the legal system demands. By integrating objective assessment tools, standardized reporting and strategic attorney partnerships, you can strengthen your professional reputation, generate consistent, high-value cash revenue and become indispensable allies in the PI legal ecosystem. For DCs ready to elevate their practice, the PI market is not only open; it’s accelerating. The time to claim your share is now.
Dano Ybarra is CEO of JTECH Medical and author of “Guiding Your Raft: 17 Lessons in Leadership to Safely Guide Your Business Through Calm and Tumultuous Waters.”
Alan D. Newman, DC, is a doctor of chiropractic care and owner of Leesburg Chiropractic Center. He performs four to eight personal injury exams a day.
References
- From adjustments to attorney referrals: The hidden key to unlocking PI growth in your practice. 2025. JTECH Medical. https://jtechmedical.com. Accessed December 3, 2025.
- Tort Costs in America. Third Edition. November 2024. US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform. https://www.uschamber.com. Accessed December 3, 2025.
