How to Document Your Injuries for a Personal Injury Claim

A personal injury claim is an opportunity to recover financial compensation for an injury that was caused by someone else’s negligence or lack of proper care in California. To receive a fair settlement from an insurance company when you file a personal injury claim in Los Angeles, you need to properly and thoroughly document your injuries.

Get Professional Medical Care Without Delay

See a doctor right away after getting involved in a harmful accident. Delays in professional medical care can give an insurance company a reason to reject your claim. You might initially feel fine in the minutes after your accident, but your adrenaline may be masking pain. Going to the hospital promptly can diagnose hidden injuries and show an insurance company the connection between your injury and the incident.

Keep Copies of Your Medical Records

Medical records are the most important type of injury documentation for a personal injury claim. You need clear documents from a hospital, urgent care center, doctor’s office or other health care provider that prove your diagnosis. This may include:

• Electronic health records
• Personal health records
• Diagnostic tests and reports
• Test results
• X-rays and imaging scans (CT, MRI, etc.)
• Medical charts
• Your treatment plan
• Prescriptions
• Referrals to specialists
• Letters from your doctor

Contact your hospital or physician to request the appropriate medical records. If the insurance company sends you a Medical Authorization Release Form in the meantime, don’t sign. This would grant them access to your full medical history. Instead, send in only those records relevant to the case.

Take Photographs As You Heal

Pictures can provide compelling evidence when it comes to proving your injuries and establishing their severity. If you can, take pictures of your injuries right away, while you’re still at the scene of the accident. Then, continue to photograph your injuries as you recover. Pictures can help prove a scarring or disfigurement claim, as well as pain and suffering.

Document Your Care Costs

The goal of a personal injury case is to make you whole again by issuing financial compensation for all related economic and non-economic losses. To achieve a fair settlement or judgment, you need to provide proof of all the damages you suffered because of the accident and injury.

Evidence to collect can include:

• Medical bills with itemized breakdowns
• Emergency room or ambulance bills
• Receipts for out-of-pocket costs
• Disability documentation
• Employment documentation and lost wage statements
• Property repair estimates
• A personal journal showing pain and suffering
• Proof of missed hobbies or activities (lost enjoyment of life)

In a case involving a permanent injury or disability, it is critical to obtain a comprehensive Life Care Plan. This document can establish the future foreseeable costs associated with your long-term injury. 

Other Evidence Needed for a Personal Injury Claim in Los Angeles, CA

Proving your injuries and losses is just one aspect of a personal injury case in California. You also need evidence that shows that the accused party or defendant caused the harmful accident. This may include a police report, witness statements, video footage, cell phone records or testimony from relevant experts.

For professional assistance with your personal injury case in Los Angeles, contact an attorney. A lawyer can clearly and thoroughly document your injuries and demonstrate their connection to an accident, as well as prove the negligence of another party. Your lawyer will know exactly what evidence to preserve to support your side of the case and maximize your results.