The Medical Documentation You May Need Before Filing a Personal Injury Claim
Obtaining proper medical documentation is critical to the success of a personal injury suit. This is because recovering damages from the at-fault party that caused an accident hinges on whether a person can demonstrate the existence, cause, and severity of his or her injuries. Unfortunately, collecting adequate documentation can be difficult, especially for those who are struggling with recovery, so if you were recently involved in an accident and are seeking compensation for your injuries, it is critical to speak with an experienced Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney who can help you begin building your case.
Why is Medical Documentation Important?
Medical records help provide a solid foundation for personal injury claims, as they can be used to definitively establish the existence of an injury, as well as its severity and cause. This link between the injury and its cause is critical to holding the person who caused an accident accountable for his or her actions. Plaintiffs who cannot establish this link will have failed to fulfill all of the elements of a negligence claim, leaving them without access to damages compensating them for their injuries. Medical records can also be used to help provide proof or proof of a lack of preexisting conditions, which can also play a role in recovering damages.
What Types of Medical Records Will I Need to Produce?
There are a wide range of medical records of which accident victims should obtain copies, including:
- Documents detailing a doctor’s diagnosis;
- Detailed notes from medical charts; and
- Line item medical bills.
Records related to prescription medications, treatment, and therapy plans should also be collected, as they can help substantiate that a person’s injuries manifested as a result of an accident. Diagnosis-related documentation should also include the results of lab tests and exams, including x-rays and MRI results. Finally, some of the most important records that personal injury plaintiffs should continue collecting are medical bills that reveal the costs of treatment and diagnosis, which could include:
- Ambulance fees;
- Surgery costs;
- The cost of blood work or scans;
- Doctor appointment fees;
- Physical rehabilitation expenses;
- Prescription medication costs; and
- Fees related to diagnostic imaging.
Receipts recording all out-of-pocket expenses should also be collected, including the cost of transportation to and from appointments, the cost of medical supplies, and healthcare service expenses.
Photographing Injuries
Photos of a person’s injuries can also go a long way towards convincing a judge or a jury of the severity and cause of an injury, both of which are crucial when demonstrating negligence. Documenting the injury as soon as possible after an accident, as well as throughout the healing stages of treatment is critical when demonstrating the severity of an injury and the length of the treatment process. Keeping a personal record noting symptoms is also important, as it can play a crucial role when attempting to collect non-economic damages compensating a victim for chronic pain and emotional distress.
Contact an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
When it comes to personal injury claims, medical documentation encompasses all of a person’s accident-related medical records from his or her initial doctor’s visit onward. Collecting this much documentation can be a daunting task, so if you or a loved one were injured in an accident, please contact one of the dedicated personal injury lawyers at Boone & Davis by calling 954-566-9919 today for assistance.
https://www.booneanddavislaw.com/serious-injuries-caused-by-boating-accidents/
