Medical documentation is incredibly important in personal injury claims, so much so that insufficient records or documentation of an injury could seriously compromise your recovery.
You need medical documentation to help prove when and why you sustained a specific injury. Never delay medical evaluation, as that could complicate aspects of your case. Medical bills and other documentation are necessary to prove your total medical expenses. Our lawyers can retrieve and use emergency room records, ongoing care records, and any other documentation related to your recent injury to give you the best chance of a fair recovery.
Schedule your free case assessment with our New Jersey personal injury lawyers by calling Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C. at (551) 525-6465.
Why Do You Need Medical Documentation in a New Jersey Personal Injury Claim?
Medical records and other documentation are essential to the foundation of a strong personal injury case, and you should not file a compensation claim without them.
To Prove Your Injuries
Medical documentation is essential in proving injuries in personal injury cases. Doctors’ notes, surgical reports, diagnostic imaging results, and pharmacy logs all help establish the fact that you sustained a particular injury or injuries, such as a broken bone or a traumatic brain injury.
For personal injury claims arising from auto accidents, New Jersey victims often must meet the serious injury threshold to sue and recover non-economic damages, rather than only recover some compensation from their personal injury protection insurance. Detailed medical records can establish that you sustained a serious injury after a car crash.
To Prove When You Were Injured
In addition to proving that you sustained injuries, medical documentation can help us prove when and why you were injured. Go straight to the hospital from the accident location if you notice painful or visible injuries after an incident. Your medical records related to the accident should be initiated as soon as possible so that they align with the accident’s date and general time.
Medical documentation also helps us prove why you are injured, as physicians may be able to deduce the likely cause of certain injuries by examining them and based on their previous experience.
To Prove the Cost of Your Injuries
Medical documentation lets us demonstrate the financial cost of your injuries in court. We can gather and add up all medical bills and invoices for your treatment as you receive them. Personal injury plaintiffs must request specific amounts in compensation for medical bills and other expenses, and our Hackensack, NJ personal injury lawyers need documentation to support those requests.
What Kind of Medical Documentation Do You Need for a New Jersey Personal Injury Claim?
There is a wide array of medical records and documents you may need for your compensation claim, all of which our attorneys can gather on your behalf.
Emergency Room Records
You need all relevant records and documentation from your time in the emergency room after an accident. This is when you might receive trauma care and other urgent treatment to stabilize your injuries until you can see a specialist or surgeon.
Emergency room records can paint an accurate picture of your condition upon arrival, what physicians had to do to stabilize you, and other important information about your initial treatment and injuries.
If you were taken to the hospital by emergency medical services, we can also obtain records documenting treatment at the scene and during transport.
Ongoing Care Records
Personal injury plaintiffs also need copies of medical records for any ongoing or follow-up care they receive. These records help us show how injuries continue to affect your life, both financially and physically.
Medical documentation of your ongoing medical care is extremely important in any personal injury case. Skipping doctor appointments or neglecting your physical recovery could lead to incomplete and insufficient medical records, which could seriously jeopardize your compensation claim.
Past Medical Records
If you have a pre-existing injury or condition that the defense might argue contributed to your current injuries, we can present your past medical records to confirm the extent of a pre-existing injury or condition and how it is unrelated to the injuries caused by the defendant.
Along with past medical records, medical expert witness testimony can use their expertise to clarify such matters for jurors.
Medical Bills
Plaintiffs pursuing personal injury compensation claims need proof of the damages they wish to recover. This makes medical bills incredibly important evidence in your case, and something to keep close track of throughout your physical recovery after an accident.
You might not have incurred all medical bills by the time you file your lawsuit if your injuries are especially serious or permanent. To obtain compensation for future medical treatment you have not yet received, such as physical therapy, we can involve medical experts who can testify to the additional medical care you will need and its typical cost.
What if You Lack Medical Documentation in a New Jersey Personal Injury Claim?
Lacking medical documentation can seriously jeopardize your financial recovery during a compensation claim, whether because you failed to seek the appropriate treatment or struggle to obtain documentation from providers.
You might be unable to prove your injuries without sufficient medical documentation. This is why prioritizing your health and injuries is one of, if not the most important, things you can do after an accident.
Without sufficient medical documentation, you may not have enough leverage to secure a large enough settlement outside of the courtroom. Many personal injury claims settle, and clear, detailed medical records may compel the defense to offer a larger settlement to avoid a trial, where a jury might find them liable for even more damages, particularly non-economic damages.
Call Us About Your New Jersey Personal Injury Claim
For help from our Union City, NJ personal injury lawyers, call Agrapidis & Maroules, P.C. at (551) 525-6465.