When you have suffered from injuries resulting from an accident, you will often have questions about what documentation you will need to support your case. Insurance companies and defendants’ lawyers are notorious for refusing claims due to a lack of proper documentation.
If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident or an accident of another kind, it is absolutely necessary that you provide your medical records to your personal injury attorney. Without these records, your attorney will have a difficult time proving that your injuries are a result of that particular accident.
Medical records are comprised of a number of different components. One of the most important is the record from the paramedics or ambulance service. They can correctly assess whether your injuries were acute. Emergency room records are also crucial. You may have extensive records from your hospital stay. You may have X-rays, MRIs, and CAT scans to back up your credibility.
Finally, you will probably have several follow-up appointments to check on your healing process. These may include physical therapy records.
Here are eight reasons that you should prioritize getting your medical records looked at in the case.
1. Pre-Existing Conditions
You will want to prove that your injuries resulted from the accident and that they were not related to a pre-existing condition. This is one of the ways in which unscrupulous defense lawyers try to get out of paying the compensation to which you are due. Your personal doctor will be most useful in determining whether your injuries are new or pre-existing. Also, your own doctor will care whether you are treated properly and whether you have the right support in recovering from your injuries.
2. Possibility of Insurance Fraud
Insurance companies need proof of your injuries, or they are not motivated to pay personal injury claims. They are wary of injured parties who may falsify their injury claims in order to receive a payout. This is sadly common enough among personal injury plaintiffs that insurance companies are justified in their skepticism.
Having complete and detailed medical records available to the insurance company or defendant’s attorney provides an incontrovertible paper trail which they will not be able to question in court. If you do not provide your medical records, they may believe that you are filing your claim illegally.
3. Proper Treatment
If you do not submit your medical records as part of the case, it is possible that you will not receive the proper treatment for your injuries. Many personal injury lawsuits result in compensation for medical expenses. If you win your lawsuit thanks to your medical documentation, you will be better able to afford the highest-quality treatment for your injuries.
4. Court Case Support
Submitting your medical records to your personal injury attorney will help them a great deal when they have to go to court. With medical records that are signed off by a qualified physician, there will be fewer opportunities for the defendant’s attorney to question the veracity of your claim and the seriousness of your injuries.
5. Calculating the Cost of Injuries
When you submit your medical records, it is more likely that the judge in your case will be able to set a proper amount for your compensation. If your injuries are not documented, it will be difficult for you to receive any damages at all.
6. Credibility
Giving the insurance company or defendant’s attorney access to your pertinent medical records will communicate the message that you are not only serious about making a claim but that you are trustworthy. If your medical records are falsified or questionable in any way, you may lose your credibility and as a result, lose your case. Complete honesty is a must when dealing with medical records.
7. Special Concerns for Medical Malpractice
If you are filing a medical malpractice lawsuit, it is even more important that your medical records are comprehensive and complete. Fellow doctors will be scrutinizing your records to make sure that all of the information contained within is accurate and believable. Medical malpractice attorneys are trained to get the best possible compensation in these cases, and it is recommended that you deal with a firm that specializes in these cases.
8. Possible Privacy Concerns
When you allow your medical records to be used in a court case, you will be giving up some of your personal privacy. It may be disconcerting to know that the defendant and their representing attorneys will be able to see your records, but you should be reassured that full disclosure will help you get the compensation you deserve.
Helping You Win Your Case
Your personal injury attorney needs your medical records in order to win your case. With this information in hand, they will be able to go after the opposing side and get you the damages to which you are entitled.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.
