How Medical Records Can Impact a Car Accident Case
The average driver or passenger may not know what steps to immediately take after a car accident to ensure the strongest possible insurance claim – or how to gather the right medical records. It’s crucial to visit a hospital or doctor’s office without delay after an automobile accident, as your medical records can play an integral role in supporting your injury claim in LA.
Establishing a Timeline
A paper trail showing that you visited an emergency room or physician shortly after your automobile accident can help establish a clear timeline for your injuries. An insurance company needs evidence connecting the injuries you’re claiming to the car accident. Getting medical care right away creates a strong medical record that directly supports your story and correlates your diagnosed injuries with the vehicle collision.
Proving Injury Existence and Severity
An official injury diagnosis from a medical professional is imperative for a successful bodily injury claim. Most car insurance companies will reject claims that are filed without supporting medical evidence proving that an injury exists and is tied to the automobile accident. Clear medical records with a diagnosis, scans or x-rays, injury photographs, and a treatment plan can prove your injuries and establish their severity.
Documenting Medical Needs and Costs
If your injuries are serious or catastrophic, it’s crucial to have detailed medical records showing the extent of the harm you have suffered. Your medical records should indicate:
- The severity of your injury
- Your exact diagnosis and your prognosis
- How the injury has and will continue to impact your daily life
- Your estimated point of maximum medical improvement (MMI)
- Whether you are likely to have any permanent disability
- How your injury affects your ability to work
- What future care, if any, your injury will require
- The estimated lifetime costs of your injury
- If the injury has exacerbated any pre-existing injuries or conditions
Only with proper medical documentation can you hope to receive a fair settlement offer from an insurance company for serious car accident injuries in LA.
What Medical Records to Collect for Your Car Accident Case
Just as the right medical records can improve and strengthen your claim, failing to protect yourself by giving the wrong records to an insurer could hurt your claim. While you should always be honest about any pre-existing injuries or medical conditions, you should not sign a blanket Medical Authorization Release Form.
Instead, gather relevant medical evidence and submit it yourself, such as:
- X-rays
- Test results
- Treatment and hospitalization details
- Dates of appointments
- Surgical records
- Prescription history
- Billing records
Most car insurance companies send a blanket release form to claimants, but you shouldn’t sign it. This releases your complete medical history to the insurer – inviting issues such as the pre-existing injury defense. Instead, work with an attorney to only grant access to relevant and appropriate medical documents for your car accident claim.
How a Lawyer Can Use Medical Records to Your Advantage
Hiring a car accident lawyer to represent you can make it easier to collect and submit the correct medical records to support your injury claim. Your lawyer can build a compelling case around your medical records and other key evidence to fight for the best possible results on your behalf.
A skilled attorney can go beyond the paperwork and demonstrate to an insurance company or jury how significantly your injuries have impacted your daily life and well-being – helping you achieve a fair amount in financial compensation.