Case Preparation
Treatment gaps in personal injury claims
NORBU Demand editorial team · Updated 2026-08-01 · Reviewed by NORBU product counsel liaison
Short answer
A treatment gap is an interval between documented dates of service. Carriers use unexplained gaps to argue that symptoms resolved. Documenting the reason for the interruption inside the record set addresses the argument before it is made.
What counts as a gap
There is no universal threshold. What matters is whether the interval is large enough relative to the treatment plan that an adjuster will ask about it.
Common documented reasons
Reasons appear in the file more often than firms expect — they are simply buried in a note.
- ·Scheduling and provider availability
- ·Insurance authorization delays
- ·Cost or transportation barriers
- ·Prescribed rest between phases of care
- ·Unrelated illness or life events
FAQ
- Does a gap reduce the value of a claim?
- NORBU does not evaluate claim value. It surfaces the gap and its dates so counsel can decide how to address it.