The Role of Medical Records in Personal Injury Cases

If you have been seriously injured as a result of someone’s negligence, you may already know that you have a potential lawsuit. But what you may not realize is how crucial it is to seek immediate medical care.

Consider the thoughts that cross your mind right after you’ve been in an accident. It’s probably something along the lines of, “What do I do now?” To answer that question, you should think about what will give you the best possible shot at recovering compensation. Medical records play a vital role in personal injury cases by serving as the primary evidence to verify claims. They provide a detailed account of injuries, diagnosis, treatment and their impact on daily activity. Overall, these records can establish that the injuries you sustained were caused by the accident and allow you to put your foot forward when pursuing a personal injury case.

Critical Medical Records for Proving Your Injuries

Critical to proving the nature and quality of your injuries are the following:

• Emergency Room and hospital records: Having proof that you sought out care following the accident shows that your injury was serious enough for immediate attention.
• Imaging results (x-rays or MRIs): Radiology records provide structure in these cases, eliminating subjectivity. Just as these scans indicate what happened as a result of the accident, they can also document what did not happen.
• Operative reports (if any surgeries or injections were done): If your treatment requires injections and/or surgeries, it is likely that you are enduring more pain and suffering. Furthermore, in these cases, medical expenses may be higher and recovery times may be longer. Because these factors contribute to the aforesaid, operative reports are significant.
• Physical therapy notes: Follow-up and recovery is important to note to see if you are receiving proper care or if better treatment is needed.
• Bills: We all know how expensive medical bills can be, which is why it is important to notify us at Grandelli & Eskenasi with any bills that you have received as a result of the accident. Typically, when you reach settlement in a personal injury case, part of the amount is allocated to cover any medical expenses. Additionally, healthcare providers and/or insurance companies may place liens—a legal claim that ensures reimbursement for any services they rendered—on your settlement.

Common Mistakes to Avoid After Sustaining Injuries

Some common mistakes people make after sustaining several injuries in an accident include:

• Delaying their medical treatment: Even if your injuries may not seem as serious initially, always get medical attention to avoid insurance companies from arguing that your injuries are unrelated to the accident.
• Failing to follow treatment plans: Skipping appointments, ignoring suggestions, and stopping treatment overall shows that you are not taking your recovery seriously, which is weakening your claim.
• Failing to follow up with legal professionals about your treatment: Without keeping handling legal staff in the loop about your medical treatment, there is not much we can do for your case. Keeping us updated helps the case move by smoother and quicker.