After a crash, injured victims may often feel overwhelmed and unsure about what to do next. Many may be unable to work for some time while in recovery. The costs of medical care can quickly add up during this time. If a victim’s injuries are severe enough, they could require future care, which could lead to ongoing medical expenses.
These are just a few reasons why it is important to carefully track your medical records and expenses after a crash. While it may seem like a daunting task, every invoice, receipt or other relevant documentation can help to link your injuries to the crash. This evidence will make it harder for the insurance company to discredit you in an effort to devalue or deny your claim.
Our legal team is prepared to review your situation and discuss your available options for pursuing compensation from the negligent party. This free initial consultation comes with no obligation to retain our services, but if you do, we charge zero upfront fees. We only get paid if you do.
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How Medical Records Can Help Support a Claim
The thorough and accurate documentation of an accident victim’s medical records can make or break a car crash claim. Your medical records, for instance, prove you sought medical care from a trained and licensed medical professional. In addition to providing evidence of the appointment, your records will include your doctor’s medical prognosis and any diagnostic test results (i.e. X-rays, MRIs, CT scans).
Throughout your treatment, your doctor will be adding his or her statements, observations or opinions to your medical records. This ongoing documentation provides further details about the extent of your injuries, including how they may limit you from working or performing day-to-day tasks.
If another person’s negligence caused the crash and your injuries, you may be eligible to seek compensation for your damages. Your medical records can help to prove how the at-fault party’s negligence has impacted you physically, emotionally and financially.
Will the Liable Insurance Company Ask to See My Medical Records?
Insurance companies frequently request medical records when evaluating car crash claims. This documentation helps them to corroborate your records with the medical bills you submitted for compensation. However, you should only provide access to the records that are relevant and needed to validate your claim. Disclosing unnecessary medical records could hurt the value of your claim and your ability to obtain fair and just compensation.
Medical Expenses to Document After a Crash
Maintaining consistent and accurate records of your medical expenses can help to protect and support your claim for compensation. These records will help your lawyer to determine the medical expenses you have incurred since the crash.
The types of medical expenses you should document include, but are not limited to:
- Ambulance services
- Emergency room visits
- Hospitalization
- Surgical procedures
- Diagnostic and imaging tests
- Specialist visits
- Prescribed or over-the-counter medications
- Rehabilitation and/or physical therapy
- Medical equipment (i.e. wheelchair, crutches)
- Medical devices (i.e. hearing aid, arm braces)
- Mental health counseling
- Travel costs to and from medical appointments
- Caregiver services
- Home modifications
As long as your medical expenses are reasonable and necessary, the insurance company will have a hard time trying to argue against paying out compensation.
An experienced lawyer at our firm is prepared to guide you through the entire claims process to help you get the compensation you need. This includes making sure that the injuries you sustained in the crash are well documented by medical records and reports. It also includes making sure you have followed through with any medical or insurance company exams.
How Do I Track My Medical Records and Expenses After a Crash?
Keeping track of your medical records and expenses after a crash can help you to later recall the treatments you received. It can also help you to easily organize them in chronological order.
Seeing multiple doctors or specialists throughout your recovery can make it challenging to track your medical care from memory. Recording these visits, appointments and physicians can help you when you need to accurately recall this information later.
The details could be critical to the outcome of your claim, especially if you are asked to testify at a deposition or at trial. You do not want to lose any important documentation related to your car crash, your injuries or anything else relevant to your claim.
Some ways to stay organized after a crash include:
- Keep a journal detailing your medical and treatment information, pain and discomfort levels, time missed from work, and how your injuries have impacted your quality of life.
- Maintain hard copies of any receipts issued for paid medical expenses. You may want to have a digital spreadsheet of all these receipts organized by date, purpose and total cost.
- Create an electronic folder for claim-related correspondence regarding your emails and bills.
- File your medical expenses in one designated place so that an important piece of documentation does not happen to get misplaced or accidentally thrown away.
- Take written notes any time a medical professional or an insurance company reaches out by phone. You may want to record these conversations and note the date and time of the calls.
- Have another file of your pay stubs and other documents provided by your employer so that you can keep track of how your injuries have kept you from returning to work or working at all.
Injured in a Crash? Contact Our Firm for a Free Consultation
Greg Monforton & Partners has helped many car crash victims over the last four decades pursue maximum compensation for their injuries. To date, we have successfully recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients. An initial consultation with a Windsor-based auto accident lawyer is free of charge, so there is no risk to you. Our firm only receives payment for our services if we help you win.
Get started today. 866-320-4770