When a person sustains an injury caused by the actions of another individual or entity, they will likely be able to recover compensation either through an insurance settlement or a civil personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault party. However, recovering compensation will be nearly impossible without extensive medical records documenting the injury and the recovery process.
Obtaining and Preserving Medical Records
Medical records offer proof. They offer proof of injuries and the recovery process to insurance carriers and personal injury juries.
Without medical records, an individual is unlikely to find success with their insurance or personal injury case. However, obtaining medical records can be challenging. Right after an injury occurs, an individual is unlikely to think about obtaining the records needed to help them win their case. These medical records need to be gathered in the days, weeks, and months that follow the incident.
The vast majority of medical providers have an official system for a person looking to obtain their medical records. In fact, many hospitals and healthcare systems have an official online process that individuals can use to obtain their medical records, which does simplify things a bit. It may also be necessary to submit written requests to hospitals or doctor’s offices in order to obtain the records needed for a personal injury claim.
Obtaining physical records may require individuals to pay a certain amount of money per document and other fees related to the process of locating, copying, and sending the records to the individual.
If you are in the middle of an ongoing insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit against an at-fault party, we encourage you to work with a skilled attorney who can help you through every aspect of this process. An attorney can help you recover the medical records needed from the various parties involved.
The Importance of Continuing Medical Care
No personal injury claim should be settled until a person has reached maximum medical improvement (MMI). Even though MMI is a term usually used concerning work injury claims, we can also use the term here. When a person reaches MMI, this means that their doctor does not think that their condition will improve any further. Sometimes, this means a person has fully recovered, but that is not always the case.
Regardless, individuals must continue medical care until their doctor recommends otherwise. If a person discontinues care or settles their claim before their medical care is complete, this could significantly jeopardize their overall settlement. After a person reaches a settlement with an insurance carrier or the at-fault party, it will be nearly impossible to return later and open the claim if additional medical treatment is needed.
As a person continues care, they should continue to obtain copies of their medical records and give them to their attorney or submit them to the insurance carrier.
Let an Attorney Help With the Settlement Process
We encourage you to reach out to a skilled personal injury lawyer in Michigan if you have sustained an injury caused by the negligent actions of another individual or entity. A Southfield personal injury attorney will help you obtain your medical records and negotiate a fair settlement for your losses.
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