Not all forms of treatment are consider the same when it comes to auto accident injury claims. Even though the end result may be the same (you feeling better), some forms of treatment are worth more than others when it comes to compensation for your injury.

Look, this is your body and you should certainly treat with the medical care that you are most comfortable with, but if you have the choice, it may be wise to choose a form of therapy that is recognized in the medical community as a common form of therapy. This will help build a stronger case for your injury and will result in fewer arguments from the insurance company. The stronger your case, the easier it will be to get a larger compensation for your pain and suffering.

A simple rule of thumb to follow is, how much schooling does this type of therapy require? The more years it takes for the professional to become licensed, the higher the respect amongst insurance companies. Below are the most common types of therapy listed from least valued to most valued:

Acupuncture – Part of the new age movement of therapy. Unfortunately, this form of treatment is still highly debated amongst the medical community and therefore most adjusters and insurance companies offer the least amount of compensation for acupuncture.

Massage Therapy - Everyone loves a good massage. Heck, if I could get one everyday, I’d be all over that. We all know it makes you feel good, but massage therapy is not worth much more than acupuncture to insurance companies.

Chiropractic – Chiropractic care has come a long way since its humble beginnings. A lot of this has to do with the fact that most chiropractors include different types of therapy that are more in line with physical therapy than with chiropractic. Most chiropractors have some form of strength training to go along with adjustments to your spine. This combination of therapy has really gained traction in the medical community and is now widely accepted with insurance companies as a reasonable form of therapy for your injuries.

Physical Therapy – Good old physical therapy is the king of conservative care (non surgical therapy). Some physical therapy joints may have an actual MD on site that can write prescriptions. These types of credentials go a long way with insurance companies and juries.

Even though you may prefer one type of therapy over the others, it’s wise to stick to chiropractic or above. You will run into fewer problems with the insurance companies if you do. In addition, all things being equal, a person that has chiropractic/physical therapy treatment will get a larger settlement than the same person that only has acupuncture/massage therapy.