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Most people know that the best way to build a solid compensation claim in Florida is through ample evidence. While photos and videos of the accident scene, accident reports, and witness statements are valuable, many accident victims miss another piece of the evidentiary puzzle: their medical records.
Medical records can be essential to personal injury cases in Florida and may make or break your case. Why are your medical records so vital? How can you get the information you need to build a compelling personal injury case? It’s time to explore why your medical information matters.
Following an accident, an individual needs money to help stabilize their financial situation. After all, they’re dealing with lost wages, emotional distress, and pain and suffering. However, one of the most crucial expenses victims incur after a Florida accident is medical expenses. Medical expenses associated with severe injuries can be astronomical and cause stress, frustration, and financial uncertainty. Recovering money to cover current and future accident-related medical expenses is crucial.
That’s why medical records matter in personal injury cases. You cannot prove the extent of your injuries without medical documentation outlining the severity of your injuries, your need for medical treatment or rehabilitation services, and information showing how these injuries impact your daily life. Medical records provide valuable insight into injuries, and medical bills help demonstrate the measurable value of your injuries and losses.
Unfortunately, the high cost of medical care may prevent some accident victims from seeking the medical treatment they need following an incident. Yet, without official medical documentation, it can be challenging to prove the existence of a person’s injuries or connect them directly to the accident. This can limit the compensation an individual may recover from a lawsuit or even call into question their credibility.
Medical records are a broad term. The type of information needed to build a compelling personal injury case depends on the type and severity of a person’s injuries. Some of the medical records that may be useful for establishing the extent and severity of a victim’s accident-related injuries include:
An often overlooked medical report that can also help build a solid compensation case is psychological or mental health records. These types of medical records can help you and your attorney establish the presence of “invisible” injuries like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and emotional distress, which you may be entitled to compensation for.
Expert witness testimony from additional medical experts can also help bolster an individual’s personal injury case by explaining how the medical evidence shows the accident caused a person’s significant injuries and the need for current medical treatment. These experts can also help establish how and why future medical care is necessary to improve a patient’s prognosis and quality of life or how their injuries may impact them long-term.
Immediately seeking medical attention following an accident is essential. Records from initial ER, urgent care, or doctor’s office visits can help establish that an injury exists and indicate that an accident was likely the cause of those injuries. Getting medical care as soon as possible is critical for your health and personal injury. Delaying care can lead an insurer or an opposing attorney to question whether your injuries were serious or existed after the accident.
Proving an injury exists and that it was caused by the accident is crucial to a case, but so is calculating a person’s measurable losses. Medical records, bills, and lists of expenses can help your personal injury attorney calculate the value of your current medical expenses, allowing them to pursue fair compensation for your injuries.
Medical records can also help establish a person’s need for rehabilitation or long-term medical care and treatment, allowing an attorney to argue for compensation that covers a person’s future medical expenses associated with their injuries. Future medical compensation is vital for individuals with permanent or disabling injuries like traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, or amputations.
Documentation and records from medical professionals that establish the nature of your accident-related injuries and how they impact your quality of life also help negate the arguments of insurers or opposing attorneys who may attempt to minimize your injuries and suffering or attempt to attribute your injuries to pre-existing conditions to limit their liability and your payout.
Serious injuries can make it challenging for patients to organize and collect necessary medical documentation. Often, hospitals have a separate billing and filing system for doctors, anesthesiologists, and other healthcare professionals. Gathering and preserving all the information you need to support your case can take time and effort. These are two things that may be in short supply when you are significantly injured. A skilled personal injury attorney can help you gather the information required to support your lawsuit. They can also help you understand HIPAA law, which ensures healthcare providers do not disclose your private health information without your consent.
At Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia, our personal injury lawyers know your injuries are more than words on a document. We understand how medical records impact your personal injury case and how they affect you as a person. We provide exceptional service that aims to treat you with the respect you deserve and increase your chances of obtaining maximum compensation for your injuries. Our team will take a comprehensive and compassionate approach to your legal situation. If you need help following a personal injury accident, contact our office or call us today at 800-320-4537 to arrange a free case evaluation.
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Adam Werner is a partner and practicing attorney at WHG. He specializes in personal injury cases, workers’ compensation claims, and veteran disability benefits. He routinely writes about personal injury and workers comp topics for the Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia blog
