What a Letter of Protection Means for Accident Victims

You Were in an Accident. You're Hurting. And You're Worried About the Bill.

That worry is one of the most common things I hear from people who call our office after a car accident. They know something doesn't feel right — the neck stiffness, the low-back ache, the headaches that started two days after the crash — but they don't have the money to pay for chiropractic care out of pocket, and they're not sure how insurance works when someone else caused the accident.

So they wait. And waiting is almost always the worst thing you can do.

Here's what I want you to know: if you have an active personal-injury claim and an attorney representing you, there's a very good chance you can begin care at Mansfield Spinal Care right now, with no money due at the time of your visits. The tool that makes that possible is called a Letter of Protection.

What Exactly Is a Letter of Protection?

A Letter of Protection — often shortened to LOP — is a written agreement among three parties: you (the patient), your personal-injury attorney, and our clinic. In plain English, it works like this:

• Your attorney sends our office a letter promising that when your case settles, a portion of the settlement funds will be used to pay for the care you received.
• Our clinic agrees to defer — that means delay — billing you until that settlement occurs.
• You receive the care you need now, without having to write a check or hand over a credit card at every visit.

Nothing about an LOP is a loan. You are not borrowing money from us. We are simply agreeing to wait for payment until your case reaches its conclusion, because we understand that the at-fault party — not you — is ultimately responsible for your medical costs. You can learn more about how we handle this on our Letter of Protection page.

How Does the Process Work, Step by Step?

If you're wondering what actually happens from the moment you call us to the day your case closes, here's a straightforward walkthrough.

Step 1: You Contact Our Office

Call or reach out to Mansfield Spinal Care and let us know you were in an accident and that you have an attorney. That single piece of information — that you have legal representation on an active claim — is the starting point for everything.

Step 2: We Confirm the LOP with Your Attorney

We communicate directly with your attorney's office to confirm the details of your case and receive the Letter of Protection. Most personal-injury attorneys in the DFW area are very familiar with this process. Over the years, I've worked with many attorneys across the Metroplex to help their clients get the care they need, so this coordination tends to go smoothly.

Step 3: Your Care Begins

Once the LOP is in place, we get to work. We'll do a thorough evaluation, identify exactly what's going on with your spine and surrounding structures, and build a care plan aimed at helping your body heal from the trauma of the accident. Our focus is always on getting you back to feeling like yourself as quickly and completely as possible.

Step 4: We Document Everything

Proper documentation is critical in a personal-injury case. We keep detailed records of your condition, your progress, and the treatment provided. This paperwork supports your attorney's case and helps ensure your medical costs are properly accounted for in any settlement.

Step 5: Your Case Settles

When your attorney reaches a settlement with the at-fault party's insurance company, your medical bills — including what you owe our clinic — are paid from the settlement proceeds before the remaining funds come to you. You never have to chase us down with a payment; it's all coordinated through your attorney.

Who Qualifies for a Letter of Protection?

The two most important requirements are simple:

• You have an active personal-injury claim. This most commonly means a car accident where another driver was at fault, but it can also apply to other injury situations. If you're unsure whether your situation qualifies, just call us and we'll help you figure it out.
• You have an attorney representing you. The LOP is a legal document, and it requires an attorney to sign on your behalf. If you were in an accident and don't yet have an attorney, we can point you in the right direction — we're not a law firm, but we've worked alongside many good ones and are happy to share information.

If you meet those two criteria, there's a strong likelihood we can begin care under a Letter of Protection. Our auto accident care page has additional details about the types of injuries we treat and how we approach recovery.

Why Waiting Is the Worst Option

I want to take a moment to address something directly, because I see it cost people dearly: the choice to wait on care because of money concerns.

After a car accident, your body has experienced a sudden, violent force. Even crashes that feel minor can cause significant strain on the muscles, ligaments, and joints of the spine — especially the cervical spine in the neck. Symptoms like stiffness, headaches, and radiating discomfort often show up days after the impact, not immediately. That delay fools a lot of people into thinking they're fine.

When you delay care, a few things happen that work against you:

• The injured tissues don't receive the attention they need to heal properly, which can lead to longer recovery times and chronic problems down the road.
• Insurance adjusters and defense attorneys use gaps in treatment as evidence that you weren't really hurt — or that something other than the accident caused your symptoms. A gap in your care timeline can significantly reduce what you recover in a settlement.
• The connection between your symptoms and the accident becomes harder to establish the longer you wait.

Starting care promptly — ideally within days of the accident — protects both your health and your legal case. The Letter of Protection exists precisely so that cost is never the reason someone puts off the care they need.

A Few Things an LOP Is Not

Because I want to be straightforward with you, here are a few important clarifications:

• An LOP is not a guarantee of a settlement. If your case does not settle or is resolved in a way that doesn't cover your medical costs, the specifics of your financial responsibility will be outlined in the agreement itself. This is something to discuss carefully with your attorney before signing.
• We are not your legal team. Our role is to get you well and document your condition thoroughly. Your attorney handles the legal strategy. We work together, but we stay in our lane.
• This newsletter is not legal or financial advice. It's educational information to help you understand your options. Any specific questions about your case should go to a licensed attorney.

You Deserve to Heal — Without Fighting the Billing System First

If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident anywhere in the Mansfield, Arlington, Midlothian, or broader DFW area, please don't let uncertainty about payment keep you from getting care. The Letter of Protection process has helped many of my patients walk through our doors, get the treatment they needed, and come out the other side feeling better — both physically and legally.

I've spent years building relationships with personal-injury attorneys across the Metroplex precisely because I believe in a team approach to helping accident victims recover fully and fairly. We know how to work within this system, and we're here to make it as simple as possible for you.

If you've been searching for a letter of protection chiropractor in Mansfield, or wondering if you can treat now and pay later after a car accident, the answer is: yes, you very likely can — and we'd love to help you get started.

At Mansfield Spinal Care, we genuinely care about the people who walk through our doors — whether they come to us for routine wellness, a nagging old injury, or in the aftermath of something as disorienting as a collision. Dr. Jensen and the entire team are here to help you move better, feel better, and get your life back on track. If you were hurt in a car accident, a household fall, or any other type of injury, please reach out. We'll take the time to understand your situation, walk you through your options, and make sure you have everything you need to start healing today.