The Importance of Medical Evidence in an Injury Claim
Accidents occur on a daily basis and can lead to minor or life-threatening injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Often times individuals think it is a hassle to go to the doctor and receive medical attention. The idea of a doctor running tests and potentially hearing bad news isn’t appealing to anyone, but it is crucial to have a doctor assess your injuries.
The first thing a doctor will do is assess your pain and try to determine what the cause is. Sometimes individuals have injuries without having any symptoms at all. It is very important to have a physician determine the problem because they can offer you the correct treatment to heal you as quickly as possible.
Seeking medical attention is not only important for your personal health, but it’s also a crucial piece of evidence in an injury claim. Any type of documentation from your doctor’s office will help you build a strong case to fight for the maximum amount of compensation. The highly trained personal injury attorneys at Los Angeles Injury Group can assist you with all aspects of filing a legal claim.
Medical Evidence
Any time you receive medical attention you have the opportunity to obtain documentation of the physical examination and any diagnostic tests conducted by doctors. This is very important when filing a claim because it proves to the insurance companies that your doctor diagnosed you with something and treated you for it. It is crucial to gather any medical documents you have to prove what injuries you sustained during your accident. Different types of useful medical documents include the following:
- Emergency department records
- Surgical notes
- Doctors individual notes in your patient charts
- X-rays, MRI’s, CT scans, or any other tests performed
- Laboratory analysis results
- All notes from physical therapists
- Blood test results
- Written notes on the victim’s medical condition at the scene of the accident
Medical Coverage
Every time you visit the doctor they write down notes on what occurred during the doctor visit. These notes are medical evidence that proves the continuous course of treatment from the first time you were seen by the doctor until the day treatment is over. The physician documents all of your injuries along the way and explain the treatment plan in order. These records can help you pursue different types of compensation that include the following:
- Physical therapy expenses
- Cost of all prescription medication
- All medical expenses such as X-rays, MRI’s, tests, and treatments
- Lost wages due to the inability to work after the accident
- Emotional distress
- Compensation for all of your losses
Medical records are an important piece of evidence to prove your entitlement to recover from all of your injuries and mental distress from the accident. Physician notes offer clear documentation of all your injuries and treatments. Reach out to a personal injury attorney at Los Angeles Injury group to receive guidance in fighting for the compensation you deserve.
What happens when you don’t have medical evidence?
No matter what type of injury you sustained during an accident, insurance companies are notorious for fighting to pay you the least amount of money possible. They will challenge your legal claim and the evidence if they see an opportunity to save money. Some common defense phrases insurance adjusters will try to utilize include the following:
- “Your injuries were not caused by the accident.”
- “You already had a pre-existing condition.”
- “The financial damages you are claiming are not related to your injury.”
- “You waited too long to seek medical attention.”
- “It was unnecessary to seek medical attention.”
- “You weren’t really injured from the accident.”
- “Without medical records, your evidence is not strong enough.”
These are some examples of the arguments insurance adjusters will pose to a jury. When they have an opportunity to save money and fight against your case, they will take the opportunity. Since they will look for any flaw in your evidence, it is crucial to have medical evidence to back up all of your injuries and treatments.
Affording Medical Evidence
A common reason individuals don’t seek medical attention is because they cannot afford it. According to the United States Census Bureau, 8.8 percent of individuals in 2017 did not have health insurance. Medical care can be very costly, but it might be more affordable than you realize. Consider the following points when determining whether to seek medical attention:
- Your health insurance might cover most doctor visits
- Your employer might be willing to compensate you for your time off
- If your injury isn’t an emergency, you can consider visiting an Urgent Care Center which can cost less than Emergency Rooms
It can be very expensive to see a doctor and receive medical care for your injuries, but your personal injury claim could be worth much more than those initial costs. You could potentially receive all of the money back that you spent to receive medical care. This is why medical evidence is important in an injury claim and the initial medical expense is worth it in the long run. Los Angeles Injury Group trains their personal injury attorneys to fight for the maximum amount of compensation so accident victims can receive the medical care they deserve without worrying about the cost.
Los Angeles Injury Group Personal Injury Attorney
The attorneys at Los Angeles Injury Group want to help you during this stressful time. Don’t settle for less than you deserve. We know accidents can cause long-term effects on your life and we want to help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Don’t try to deal with insurance companies or employers on your own.
Our personal injury attorneys at Los Angeles Injury Group will handle your entire legal claim, which allows you to focus on your personal recovery and not stress about your medical bills. Find out how our personal injury attorneys at Los Angeles Injury Group can assist you. Contact us at (310)-954-7248.
