Importance of Medical Documentation for Injury Claims

What is the importance of medical documentation for a personal injury case? Suppose a person slipped on a wet floor or fell on a loose step that the property owner should have repaired long ago. Now, they’re dealing with the consequences of an unexpected injury, including medical expenses, time away from work, and pain and suffering. How can they prove that the accident caused the injury and that the injury is as severe as they say it is?

Being able to show accurate medical records of the injury and the resulting treatment can go a long way toward successfully recovering compensation.

Why Medical Documentation Is Vital for Personal Injury Claims

Medical documentation is necessary for personal injury claims because an accurate and complete medical history makes it possible to prove two crucial points:

• The injuries are severe and are having a significant impact on your quality of life.
• The injuries were caused by the accident, not by a pre-existing condition or some other source.

In personal injury cases, the insurance company typically attempts to argue that the injuries were not caused by the accident or they are not that severe. Without comprehensive and accurate medical documentation, it may be challenging to prove them wrong.

Types of Medical Documentation Needed for Personal Injury Cases

The first thing you should do after an accident is seek medical treatment. The second thing you should do is contact a personal injury attorney from our law firm who can start preparing your compensation claim. They’ll begin by gathering your comprehensive medical records, including medical evidence such as:

• X-rays
• CT scans
• Lab results
• MRIs
• Doctors’ examination notes
• Diagnoses
• Treatment plans

Some of the most essential medical reports for injury claims specify the cause of an injury. If your medical history states clearly that the accident was the direct cause of the injury shown in an MRI or X-ray, you will have a strong personal injury case that the insurance company will not easily be able to refute.

Patient Rights and Access to Medical Documentation

Under Missouri law, all doctors and other medical professionals must provide detailed medical records upon the written request of the patient, their guardian, or their legal representative. Providers can charge for access to medical records, but these charges are nominal, limited by law, and subject to annual changes based on inflation.

How Our Lawyers Help with Obtaining Medical Records for a Personal Injury Claim

Even though medical providers are legally obligated to provide medical records on request, you may have to fill out forms to request the documentation you need. Our St. Louis personal injury lawyers can track down and obtain the necessary medical records for your personal injury case. The experienced personal injury attorneys at the law firm of Sumner Law Group, LLC, understand the crucial role of medical documentation in personal injury cases – and we know how to secure it.

Let us take the stress off your hands so you can focus on healing. Contact Sumner Law Group, LLC, today to get started with your claim. The consultation with a personal injury attorney is free, confidential, and comes without further obligations.