Immediately after an auto accident you may not be sure if you are injured enough to seek medical attention. If there is any chance you have been injured, it would be in your best interest to see a doctor immediately. Many car accident-related injuries get worse over time if not properly treated. To receive compensation for the resulting medical bills, it will be necessary to properly document the injuries you have suffered and the treatment you have received for those injuries.
Your medical records will serve as official documentation of the injuries you have suffered. If you are filing for compensation for an injury suffered in a car accident, you may be asked to provide proof of the treatment you received. Under federal HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability) law, you have the right to obtain most medical records. You may either have to contact the doctor who treated you or the facility where you received treatment. It is also important to keep track of out-of-pocket expenses such as cost of physical therapy, medication, medical equipment or chiropractic care.
In addition to formal medical records, there are informal ways that you can document your injuries. Taking photos of your injuries as they heal is one way to show the extent of your injuries. Write down when each photo was taken and how your injury affected you that day. Keep a running journal of your struggles or suffering through the recovery process. This will help bolster your personal injury claim and help you obtain just compensation for all injuries, losses and damages you have sustained.
The skilled car crash injury lawyers at The Breyer Law Offices P.C. have a long history of protecting the rights of injured car accident victims. If you have been injured in a car accident, please contact our office for a no-cost consultation and comprehensive evaluation of your claim.