Personal injury claims are among the most common types of legal cases in Georgia. When you are the victim of an injury due to someone’s negligence, you have the right to seek compensation for your damages. The court relies on information to determine the existence, treatment, and recovery from an injury. Without medical documentation, you may not get fair compensation for your personal injury claim. An experienced personal injury attorney will guide the process and help you get the compensation you deserve.
The Importance of Medical Documentation
Medical documentation is one of the critical parts of any personal injury claim. In order to prove a personal injury case, you must prove that someone’s negligence resulted in your injuries. If you do not have any proveable injuries, you will not be entitled to compensation. Documentation of your injuries is essential in seeking payment for your damages. Documentation must be sufficient to prove your injuries. If documentation is lacking, the court may not have enough details to resolve the matter favorably to you.
Damages in a Personal Injury Claim
Damages in a personal injury claim may be economic, non-economic, or punitive. Economic damages are those that have a specific dollar amount. These include such things as ambulance charges, medical bills, medication costs, hospitalization charges, and lost wages, among others. Medical documentation is necessary to prove the economic damages associated with your injury.
What are the Main Elements of Medical Documentation?
Medical documentation is a term used to describe all information pertaining to an injury. The more detailed the information, the better. Documentation should consist of several important elements in order to make a successful claim.
- Medical Reports – Include all medical reports of the injury, which are typically created by the attending physicians and other medical professionals. If you visited the emergency room, be sure to provide a copy of the initial evaluation and testing. You will want to show exactly when the injury occurred so you can prove that it happened as a result of the accident. A compilation of medical reports will provide the court with a timeline and progress that you have made in treating your condition.
- Diagnostic Reports – Diagnostic reports are details of the treatment that you got for your injury. Tests can be expensive and you need to be sure that you have all the records that document the diagnostics. The reports should also indicate why the tests were necessary as part of the treatment of your injury.
- Progress and Current Evaluation – This is particularly critical when you have a serious injury with complicated treatments. You may need multiple types of treatments and you will want to provide a doctor’s evaluation of your current condition. Provide information that details the progress you have made and what the prognosis is for the future.
- Ongoing Treatment Plan – Many times, you will need to continue treatment for weeks, months, or even years following a serious injury. A doctor’s report establishes the need for ongoing care for your injury. It also should give information regarding the need for further treatment along with details of the course of treatment needed in your case.
Medical documentation following an injury in Marietta is of vital importance. Documentation is essential to every personal injury claim. It supports your claim and provides details that help others evaluate and understand your injury and treatment. Pay attention to this data throughout your care and keep it so you can provide it when proving your personal injury claim.