Why Physical Therapists Should Embrace Personal Injury—And Claim the Throne of PI Rehab

For many Doctors of Physical Therapy, the idea of accepting personal injury (PI) patients stirs up frustration or skepticism.

Attorneys? Letters of protection and lien agreements? MedPay or PIP? Low-ball offers and delayed settlements? If you’ve had even one bad experience, it’s easy to write PI off as too much hassle.

But here’s the reality: PTs who crack the personal injury code don’t just do well—they thrive: financially, professionally, and as essential players in trauma recovery. Personal injury isn’t a niche to avoid—it’s a profit and purpose accelerator.

And it’s one that physical therapists are uniquely qualified to dominate. PI is WOW for PT.

Why PT and Why Now?

Chiropractic currently sits on the rehab throne of PI, largely because the chiropractic industry has better embraced PI. In fact, it’s the only medical segment nationally where chiropractic is the #1 referred medical specialty. While chiropractic is the current king of PI rehab, PT can overtake the throne. it will.

Two primary reasons give PT the advantage:

1. 1. PT is the medically recognized gold standard for post-surgical rehabilitation, respected by surgeons and physicians alike. That’s a business advantage for the PT industry.
   2. Insurance adjusters and defense attorneys tend to accept physical therapy as more medically conventional than chiropractic — right or wrong, that’s the perception. That’s a PI advantage for patients and PI attorneys.

This gives PT an open lane to lead in PI — on volume, reputation, and clinical value.

So Why Has PT Ignored and Even Shunned PI?

With the two advantages listed above, you’d think the PT industry would recognize and capitalize on them, right? Wrong.

The PT profession has so far failed to claim the crown. Heck, they’ve left the kingdom, for the most part.

National and state PT associations have largely ignored PI—many never mentioning it in their education, publications, conferences, guidance, or advocacy. That silence likely stems from the belief that PI is “less than” as a practice segment. Some members have expressed sour experiences—getting burned by attorneys slashing bills or delaying payment—so PT leadership has turned its back on PI.

That’s a huge error in judgment from those who truly care and want to help PTs succeed.

PT leaders need to wake up. If they do, a sleeping giant will emerge. A new king of rehab in PI will rise. And who benefits most? PT clinics and the doctors who own and run them. The teams who support them. The PT profession as a whole.

Let’s be real: the fact that PT leadership hasn’t embraced PI as a viable practice segment has caused PT clinics to lose patients. If you don’t accept PI patients on a lien or letter of protection (the contractual currency of PI), you can’t get those patients. They go elsewhere. You lose. The industry loses. The patient loses. And the PI system misses a critical medical specialty uniquely positioned to heal pain and restore function in the communities you serve.

Back to You

You don’t have to wait for your industry leadership to lead. Lead from the front. Once you’re educated and equipped, success with a personal injury segment is not just doable—it’s a PT practice game-changer.

The WOW Factor for Doctors of Physical Therapy

PI gives you patients who follow treatment plans which leads to healthier patient outcomes. These aren’t just “compliant” patients—they’re committed, because they have a financial and functional stake in the outcome. WOW!

You avoid the endless headaches of insurance denials and pre-authorization rejections. Instead, you and your patient decide what’s best—not the insurer. WOW again!

You gain access to powerful referral networks with like-minded providers—orthopedic surgeons, pain physicians, imaging centers—who all work within the PI system. If you’re not in the PI game, you’re invisible to these referrals. WOW, tell me more!

And best of all? You can often get paid at or near full out-of-network rates in a healthcare economy where reimbursements are lowering and profit margins are shrinking. PI, when done right, doesn’t just supplement your practice and your profits—it strengthens and improves it.

W.O.W. = WORTH. OPPORTUNITY. WISDOM.

WORTH – You must know, define, and defend the value of your care. That starts with setting reasonable, defensible fees. There are simple ways to do that—and support it. You just need to learn how. Document medical necessity with precision. A PI practice segment pays the best in today’s medicine. Know your worth—and back it up—then get it.

OPPORTUNITY – PI is its own language and system. Learn it. Master it. Train your team—from front desk to billing—on how to manage PI workflows and nuances. Understand the storytelling power of documentation that’s unique to PI. The reviewers—attorneys, judges, juries, even your own patients—must understand the impact. Speak the language of the PI ocean so you can navigate calm or stormy seas. And a strong PI segment fuels more than itself—it boosts maintenance care, post-operative, sports recovery, and more. PI is a gateway for new patients from your community.

WISDOM – Smart practices know when to act. Which patients to accept. Which cases to avoid. Which attorneys respect your work—and which don’t. Learn how to position your clinic as a value-driver. Learn how to out-negotiate even difficult attorneys. Attend webinars. And yes—get coaching. Learn, apply and improve. The right expert guidance can take your practice from passive to powerhouse—faster and with fewer missteps.

Bottom Line: PT Can and Should Lead in Personal Injury

Most PT practices think they must choose between volume and value, between outcomes and reimbursement, between productivity and purpose. That’s simply not true. A personal injury segment—done right—offers both. Purpose and profit. Medical legitimacy and business growth.

So, if you’re a DPT ready to stand out, stop standing on the sidelines. Claim your seat at the table. Better yet—grab the crown. PT can become the king of the rehabilitation sector of PI.

PI isn’t just profitable—it’s powerful.
PI is patient-centered.
PI is W.O.W. for PT.

Let this article be your starting point—not the finish line. Learn, apply and improve your profits, seize the opportunity, and transform your practice—for your patients, your staff, and yourself.