Auto injury claimants in California are more likely to seek treatment from chiropractors, while those in Illinois trust emergency room physicians, a recent Insurance Research Council study revealed. An analysis of auto injury insurance claims from four states with either traditional tort or add-on auto insurance regulations shows that, although accident victims in all four states suffered similar injuries, they sought different types of medical treatment.

In each of the four states, neck or back sprains were the most serious injury for at least seven in 10 bodily injury claimants, and at least three-quarters suffered no disability from the accident. In California, 57 percent of BI claimants went to chiropractors, compared with 28 percent in Illinois, 43 percent in Texas, and 46 percent in Washington. More than half (53 percent) of California BI claimants' medical fees came from chiropractors, compared with 26 percent in Illinois, and 44 percent in both Texas and Washington.

The study also found that, between 1997 and 2002, per-claimant medical expenses increased the most in Texas, compared with the other three states. During that time, average claimed medical expenses increased by 39 percent in Texas, compared with 25 percent in California, 24 percent in Illinois, and 9 percent in Washington. Over the same time period, medical cost inflation was 22 percent, according to the Consumer Price Indexes. Similar patterns emerged in first-party medical payment claims in California and Illinois, along with personal injury protection claims in Texas and Washington, the IRC noted.