The Role of Medical Records in Strengthening Your Personal Injury Claim

Many types of evidence play unique roles in personal injury claims, from witness statements to photos. One of the most essential elements when it comes to strengthening your claim, however, is the presence of medical records. The importance of understanding the role of medical records in strengthening your personal injury claim cannot be overstated. These documents will detail the injuries you’ve suffered as a result of your accident, as well as what treatment options you will have to rely on and how much those might cost.

At Cava Law Firm, our team of Massachusetts personal injury lawyers provides the support you need throughout the claims process. We can help you gather the most essential evidence, including medical records, to give you the chance to receive the compensation you deserve.

After suffering an injury in an accident, contact our team by calling us at (413) 737-3430 or (413) 781-CAVA (2282).

Medical Records Show the Extent of Your Injuries

Demonstrating What the Accident Caused

One of the first things that our law firm always stresses to each of our clients is the importance of receiving immediate medical care after an accident. You need to start creating a record of the injuries you sustained as a direct result of the other party’s negligence as soon as possible. And that’s because it is common for insurance companies and the defendant to claim that you were not injured at all or that your wounds are not as severe as you say they are. By having medical records that you can point to, you can avoid that particular hurdle.

Medical records begin with an initial assessment from a medical professional, and they will provide a clear outline of the symptoms you experienced, how serious the injuries were at the time of getting medical care, and all manner of other details. As you continue to receive medical care, your subsequent records will show the exact treatments you need to obtain and how long your entire recovery process can take.

Medical Records Help Establish Causation

When dealing with personal injury claims, it is not enough to show that an injury occurred; you must also prove causation. In tort law, causation typically relies on the but-for test and proximate cause. The former requires that you show that but for the actions of the defendant, you would not have suffered your injuries; and the latter simply refers to showing that the defendant’s actions were the actual cause of your losses.

Medical records create a timeline of the injury, which can be used to prove that your injuries were the result of the defendant’s conduct. In a medical malpractice claim, for example, your medical records before receiving a specific treatment could quickly point to medical negligence if you suffer preventable adverse effects after getting care. In other words, they provide an airtight timeline.

Medical records might also contain notes from other medical experts who have assessed your injuries, leaving their professional opinion not only on what led to the wounds but what treatments will be needed. They can state whether the injuries you suffered are consistent with the accident you were in.

Medical Records Demonstrate Ongoing Treatment

Some of the most severe injuries you can suffer in accidents require ongoing medical care. Your medical records, in these cases, will document your need for things like physical therapy, medications, follow-up visits, and psychological treatment. With clear records, you can demonstrate that the injuries are persistent and that you may be experiencing chronic pain or a loss of function in some part of your body, leaving you unable to live your life as you used to.

Medical records also help show that the injuries you suffered are significant enough that you need to continue receiving treatment that interferes with your employment. If you are planning on asking for lost wages in the claim, this is important.

Medical Records Facilitate Expert Testimony

In personal injury claims, especially those dealing with medical malpractice, it’s common to need testimonies from medical professionals. By being able to hand them thorough records of the injuries and treatments you have had, they can offer more helpful testimonies. The process can progress much faster as well.

Medical Records Support Your Compensation Calculations

Receiving fair compensation means being able to prove both your economic and non-economic losses. Medical records present a clear breakdown of the various expenses you have encountered, including hospital stays, medications, ambulance fees, and rehabilitative sessions. In fact, most of the time, the bills for all of these treatments will be included in your medical records. Your records can also outline the expected future costs you may have, such as certain treatments for ongoing conditions.

Additionally, by showing how many treatments you have undergone, your chances of a full recovery, and how long the entire process has taken, your records can also help prove that you deserve compensation for pain and suffering. That is essential when determining your compensatory amount; otherwise, these damages are generally more subjective in nature.

Beginning a Claim After an Accident

Contact Cava Law Firm for Assistance

If another party’s conduct was what resulted in your injuries, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim to receive compensation. The stronger the evidence you have, the more robust your claim will be, thereby improving your chances of winning the settlement you need. Of all of the evidence available, though, your medical records are arguably the most crucial.

At Cava Law Firm, our Massachusetts lawyers can help you gather the necessary information to present a compelling case. We recognize how difficult the entire situation is in the aftermath of a traumatic accident, so we will aggressively negotiate with insurers to help you recover your losses as quickly as possible.

Contact Cava Law Firm at (413) 737-3430 or (413) 781-CAVA (2282) to speak with one of our experienced personal injury attorneys.

Attorney Jennifer L. Cava-Foreman

Attorney Jennifer L. Cava-Foreman would like to take the guesswork out of choosing a lawyer by letting the facts and her winning verdicts speak for themselves. Attorney Cava-Foreman is known in the local courts and has firsthand experience with many types of cases ranging from personal injury to criminal defense. Attorney Cava-Foreman understands that every case and every client is different. Whether a client is injured or mixed up in a criminal matter, she will provide the legal advice needed and stand up for her client in court. [ Attorney Bio ]