The Importance of Medical Records in a Personal Injury Claim
When a person suffers an injury and seeks to recover damages, he or she must prove his claim, says Fort Lauderdale accident lawyer Andrew Alitowski. This is true regardless of the type of claim – slip and fall, trip and fall, swimming pool accidents, and especially motor vehicle accidents. The person or entity responsible for your injuries will be unwilling to pay monetary damages without proof that you are actually injured.
One way this issue might present itself as a driver who suffers a torn rotator cuff in a car accident. The rotator cuff is a collection of important tendons and muscles grouped together on the shoulder. The rotator cuff is extremely important for mobility and, if damaged, it can be exceptionally painful, says Broward car accident lawyer Alitowski. However, the driver of the other vehicle, or his insurance company, may claim that you had that injury before the car accident. Their assertion may stick if there is other evidence that you previously sought treatment for neck or shoulder ailments. This is why your medical records can be important. If you have never had treatment for any injuries in that area, or better yet, if you have had an MRI or x-ray of that part of your body (showing it healthy) on an earlier occasion, the insurance company may abandon its efforts to claim that you were injured in some other way.
Medical records are also of the utmost importance in proving the type and severity of your injuries, as well as the kind of treatment that is indicated. The emergency room physician’s notes or the x-ray taken when you went to see the doctor can provide valuable evidence that serves as a timeline to link your injuries to the accident. They will also show what kind of injuries your doctor has diagnosed and how severe they are. Your doctor’s recommended treatment, including pain management, is relevant, as well.
Fort Lauderdale accident attorney Alitowski says that seeing a doctor as soon as possible after the accident or after you show symptoms of your injury is important. If you need assistance locating a doctor, contact Alitowski & Moore, P.A. for guidance.
Andrew Alitowski and William Moore are experienced Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys who provide legal representation for numerous types of claims, such as slip and fall accidents and wrongful death cases. If you or a loved one have been injured in the Fort Lauderdale-Miami-West Palm Beach area, contact a south Florida personal injury attorney at 1-888-ASK-ANDREW to find out if you could be eligible to receive monetary damages. Broward personal injury lawyers Alitowski & Moore have provided outstanding legal representation to thousands of injured clients. Offices are located in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties.
Article contributed by Mallory Shipman, Esq.
