The Importance of Medical Records in Your New Mexico Personal Injury Case
After being injured, you need to worry about many things, from getting the care you need to finding a personal injury lawyer. Getting fair compensation is essential when you’re injured in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. However, proving the extent of your injuries and the impact on your life can be complicated.
This is where medical records play a vital role in your personal injury claim. Your medical records provide the necessary documentation to support your claim and ensure you receive the compensation you deserve for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
What Are Medical Records in a Personal Injury Case?
Medical records are detailed accounts of your medical history, including doctor’s notes, test results, and treatment plans. After an accident, these records become crucial pieces of evidence in your personal injury case.
They show the extent of your injuries and help establish a clear treatment timeline, from the initial emergency care to follow-up visits, physical therapy, and ongoing care.
Why Are Medical Records Important?
In a New Mexico personal injury case, medical records can help in several ways:
1. Proving Your Injuries
Medical records provide a comprehensive account of your injuries, including any tests, X-rays, or diagnoses. These documents are essential to proving that your injuries were a direct result of the accident and not pre-existing conditions.
Without this documentation, insurance companies might question the severity of your injuries or attempt to deny your claim.
2. Establishing the Extent of Damages
Your medical records are vital in determining the compensation you should receive for your injuries. They show the treatments you’ve undergone and what future medical care might be required. For instance, if you’ve suffered a long-term injury like a spinal cord injury or traumatic brain injury, your medical records will outline the ongoing care you need, ensuring you’re compensated for future medical expenses.
3. Connecting Your Injuries to the Accident
Medical records can help directly link the accident and your injuries. This is particularly important if there’s any dispute about the cause of your injuries. By showing that you sought medical attention immediately after the accident and by providing details about the treatments you’ve received, your medical records offer crucial evidence that the incident in question caused your injuries.
What Happens If You Delay Medical Treatment?
If you don’t seek immediate medical treatment after an accident, it can weaken your personal injury case. Insurance companies might argue that your injuries weren’t serious or that they were unrelated to the accident. By getting prompt treatment and keeping accurate records, you help protect your claim.
How to Gather and Protect Your Medical Records
To ensure the success of your personal injury case, gathering all relevant medical records from the moment you’re injured is crucial. This includes hospital visits, doctor’s appointments, treatment plans, prescriptions, and rehabilitation reports. It’s also essential to safeguard these records and provide them to your attorney to build a strong case. Missing or incomplete records can weaken your claim and make it harder to prove the full extent of your injuries.
How Medical Records Support Compensation for Pain and Suffering
In addition to covering medical bills and lost wages, personal injury claims often include compensation for pain and suffering. Medical records play a role here, too. They provide insight into your injuries’ severity and long-term effects, which can help establish how the accident has impacted your quality of life. This information can significantly influence the amount of compensation you’re entitled to.
Contact The Law Giant for Expert Guidance on Filing Your Claim
If you’ve been injured in a New Mexico accident, your medical records are critical to the success of your personal injury claim. At The Law Giant Injury Lawyers, we understand how to use this information to build a strong case and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Contact us today at 505-900-0000 for a free consultation. Let our experienced attorneys guide you through the process so you can start rebuilding your life after an accident.