If you’re injured because of another person’s negligence, you may feel like there’s a lot of red tape that you must get through. This often includes providing your medical records to the insurance company to help ensure that you receive a fair pay-out on your claim. But what type of medical records are usually needed? And what are they used for? You’ll learn the answers to those questions below thanks to a truck accident lawyer.
This blog post is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a replacement for legal advice. If you believe you have a personal injury claim, find an experienced attorney in your area to answer your questions.
What Type Of Medical Records Are Usually Needed?
When you’re involved in an accident, there’s often a large volume of medical records that may be requested by the insurance company. They will usually ask you to sign a release, so the records go straight to them as opposed to you having to get them together and forward them. Some of the medical records may include and not be limited to:
- Doctor’s summaries
- Treatment notes
- Surgical reports
- Full treatment reports
- Pharmacological treatments
However, these are just samples and are not a comprehensive list. As our friends at Herschensohn Law Firm, PLLC can share, an attorney knows what is needed and will work with you to get all the documentation necessary to support your case.
What Are Medical Records Used For If It Was An Accident?
The insurance company may use these and other medical reports to determine the payout amount for your claim. However, that’s not all they may use the reports to do. They may go over the reports with a fine-toothed comb to look for ways to reduce your claim amount. They will look for pre-existing conditions. They will also look for clues that you may not be following your doctor’s treatment plan to help you recover.
It is imperative that you follow your doctor’s orders so that you can get the compensation you need. It is important to note that your medical records play a pivotal role in your personal injury case, particularly if it is for medical malpractice. These records will be used to prove negligence on the medical provider’s end. Sometimes these records show a doctor did not do their job or a nurse chose to ignore something important.
Best practice is to just always ask for copies of your records as you move through the system. Even if you have not been injured, you should keep copies of your medical records in case of emergency.
How Do I Get Medical Records?
Because the records are yours, you are allowed to request them at any time. Contact your doctor’s office and ask for copies. Some offices will easily send them to you while others might have a more formal process in place. If you request your records and they refuse to give them, contact an attorney near you as they can help you get your records to pursue your case.