If you get hurt in an accident caused by someone else’s careless, reckless, or wrongful acts in Texas, you may be eligible for financial compensation through a Laredo personal injury claim. As the plaintiff or filing party, it is up to you to prove the existence of your injuries and related losses. Medical documentation is a critical type of evidence you can use to support your claim.
How Medical Records Help Prove a Personal Injury Claim
Without an injury, there is no reason to file a personal injury claim. When an insurance company receives a claim from a client, it will try its best to disprove the injury or refute liability to protect its own profits. It may try to argue that the injury was pre-existing, for example, or that the victim made the injury worse by failing to get prompt medical care.
Accurate medical documentation of your injury can make all the difference when it comes to proving your claim and receiving a fair settlement from an insurance provider in Texas. Hospital records, doctors’ notes, x-rays, diagnostic test results, treatment plans, receipts, and itemized medical bills can all help prove the presence and extent of your physical injuries.
Clear medical records can also help determine the value of your damages. Catastrophic injuries require more medical care than mild to moderate injuries. Medical paperwork proving the severity of your injuries could establish a baseline for the monetary value of your claim. The right records can prove ongoing or in-home care needs, as well, to establish future damages.
Poor Documentation Can Hurt Your Claim
If you wait to see a doctor, fail to have your injury officially diagnosed, skip follow-up doctor’s visits or don’t keep careful track of your medical records, this could have a negative impact on your Laredo accident claim.
An insurance company may reject your claim based on problems such as incomplete or missing medical records, inconsistencies between your statements and your medical records, and a lack of proper health care. Being honest, thorough, and on top of your health care is the best way to strengthen your case.
How to Document Your Injuries for Legal Purposes
You may be facing an uphill battle when going up against an insurance provider. Expect the insurer to protect its own best interests, not yours, every step of the way. You can fight for fair compensation by taking the right steps to obtain clear medical documentation:
- Get immediate medical care. Don’t delay treatment, as this could give an insurer a reason to deny coverage.
- Keep all of your medical records. Maintain careful copies of all relevant hospital, clinic, emergency room and specialist records.
- Follow up with your doctor. Follow your recommended treatment plan exactly, being careful not to miss any appointments.
- Start a pain and suffering journal. Document the intangible ways your injury has affected you by keeping a daily journal of how you’re feeling.
- Consider hiring a medical expert. Contact an attorney about potentially hiring a medical expert to testify regarding your injuries, as well as an economic expert to comment on related costs.
It is important to carefully document your other losses, as well, such as keeping employment records to prove lost wages. Keep a careful file with all documents related to your personal injury case in one place. When you’re ready to get help, bring the case file to a free consultation at Gonzalez Druker Law Firm, PLLC for an attorney’s personalized legal advice.