If you’re pursuing a personal injury claim, one of your critical steps is proving the extent of your injuries. Whether it’s a medical malpractice case or a lawsuit for a car accident, you will need to present medical documentation to establish your injuries, help explain their effects on your life, and prove how much they’ve cost you.
Medical records can shed light on what happened and demonstrate the amount of harm you have experienced. A common reason insurance companies deny personal injury claims is that the claimant did not provide enough medical evidence of their condition. If you plan to file a personal injury claim, it helps to know how to read and understand medical documentation. You can talk to a personal injury attorney to answer more questions about the role of medical documentation in legal claims.
What Medical Documents Do I Need?
Documentation refers to any records, reports, and documents providing information about your condition. The exact medical documentation you need depends on your specific injuries or medical condition. That being said, you will need the following documentation in most circumstances:
- Medical records, including medical history, progression notes, and history of examinations
- Diagnostic results, including all imaging results (x-rays), lab reports, and test results.
- Treatment plans and notes about the condition’s progress
- Lists of prescription medications
- Hospital discharge paperwork
- Therapy or counseling notes
- Expert opinions and medical professional testimony
- Medical bills
Your attorney can help you access, organize, and understand the specific documentation you’ll need for your personal injury claim.
The Importance of Medical Documentation in Personal Injury Claims
Medical records are a central piece of evidence in most personal injury claims, which is why it is so important to seek prompt medical care. The longer you delay care, the harder it will be to prove how you suffered your injuries.
Prove Injuries Exist
The main reason to have medical documentation is to prove your injuries exist and are as severe as you say. Documents express the severity of your injuries, which makes it harder for insurance adjusters to dismiss them or deny that they exist. Documents can corroborate claims of functional limitations and impairments.
Establish Causation
Medical documentation is also central in establishing causation and timelines for injury progression. Insurance companies might try to blame your injuries on your own actions or claim they are pre-existing and not related to the accident. Analysis of your injuries or condition can prove that the opposing party caused them via negligence or wrongdoing. Establishing causation is a necessary condition for demonstrating liability and financial culpability.
Demonstrate Need for Future Care
Your medical documents can also show that you need future care and may not be able to work at full capacity anymore. Accounting for the long-term consequences of injuries is necessary to recover compensation for losses in lifetime earning potential. This can prevent insurance companies from denying coverage for long-term care.
Calculate Compensation
Medical bills and documents are also used to calculate the total amount of compensation to demand. A personal injury claim can compensate you for the explicit cost of your medical treatment, such as emergency medical bills and prescription medication costs, as well as the noneconomic pain and suffering associated with your injuries.
Hale & Monico: Injury Attorneys in Chicago, IL
If you have sustained injuries due to another’s negligence or wrongdoing, you need legal representation that will work for you. Hale & Monico can pursue justice on your behalf with the goal of recovering the compensation you need to move forward in life. Contact us online or call today to speak to a personal injury attorney in Chicago.