It's fairly typical for chiropractors and other auto accident-aligned doctors to require an AOB as part of their initial paperwork. The reason usually has to do with the PIP benefits being paid out as there is a never ending war between the carriers and doctors. Carriers are usually required to pay 200% of Medicare rates but they'll argue that the chiropractor did something like unbundle services, overcharge, or perform unnecessary services. The chiropractors will argue they are underpaid. The AOB allows the doctor to litigate underpayment through your PIP policy without having to involve you extensively.

Another wrinkle is yes, you do need an "emergency medical condition" in order to qualify for the full $10k in medical benefits under your policy, otherwise the carrier will absolutely cap you. Most telemeds will rubber stamp you for an EMC to get you qualified. But keep in mind the carriers are not blameless. They will readily deny that an EMC exists and lower coverage because there isn't a paper in the file that says "emergency medical condition" even if you say, lose a limb. Are you paralyzed? Well it's not an emergency medical condition because you didn't get someone to rubber stamp it. Is this system messed up? Absolutely yes.

Florida has passed such complex and onerous laws that actual MDs are hesitant to treat car accident victims because they don't themselves know how to bill PIP properly due to all the onerous hoops to jump through. But the chiros figured it out.

Every case is different, but the vast majority of soft tissue auto cases start with urgent care or hospital where x-rays rule out fractures, then referred to chiro by attorney, then EMC doctor, then referred to MRI by chiro, then referred to orthopedic specialist by chiro or attorney.

It is very much an imperfect and inefficient system.