WHAT YOU SAY TO YOUR DOCTOR AND THEIR STAFF MAY GO IN YOUR MEDICAL RECORDS
Our personal injury lawyers spend a great deal of time reading and studying our clients’ medical records. The medical records regarding your injury, and prior health before the accident, are very important in proving your accident injury case. Medical records show the doctors’ opinions about the cause and seriousness of your accident injury. Also, those opinions can influence other doctors and, later, an insurance company or a jury. The HIPAA Act prevents people from getting your medical records without your permission. However, you must turn them over to pursue an injury case.
Every time you go to a doctor’s office or clinic, a medical record/chart is created. In fact, be warned: Even when you think you are having a casual friendly conversation with your doctor or nurse, they will include parts of the conversation in their chart notes. Plus, it’s not always completely accurate.
Here’s a tip from our lawyers: When it comes to an accident injury case, avoid any discussion at the doctor’s office about the money you are hoping to get from your case.
But there are more subtle things to be aware of as well. For example, it is very important to also be completely honest with your doctor and the medical staff. Some people try to help their case by not telling the doctor about a preexisting condition. For example, prior neck or pack treatment when they have re-injured or worsened their symptoms in a new accident. This is a bad idea because it may interfere with getting a proper diagnosis and treatment. Also, the truth is always eventually discovered. Then, the doctor thinks the patient is a liar and will no longer support the case.
MEDICAL RECORDS USED IN ACCIDENT CASE – MN ATTORNEYS
There are other concerns from the medical records after an accident that our lawyers sometimes see. One problem our top accident lawyers see is when the client exaggerates their symptoms. If the doctors sense that, they will note it in your medical records. (Of course, it is just as important not to minimize your symptoms.) They also note when you make excuses for not following through with recommended treatment, and when you don’t show up for appointments.
If you do not show up for an appointment, the doctor’s office will lose the hour they booked for you, they will make less money. Also, other patients are delayed because they could have had your time slot. Therefore, the doctor or nurse may be less supportive of your case and what they write in the medical records.
PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER UNDERSTANDS MEDICAL RECORDS
If you have been injured in an accident, please call us and speak with a MN lawyer for a free consultation. Our injury accident attorneys are very experienced and will help guide you through the legal process. We will also give you suggestions about how to get the best treatment results with your doctors. Our lawyers do not direct our clients’ medical treatment or recommend specific doctors. However, we will guide you on questions to ask and things to consider. We will also encourage you to follow through with treatment and be completely honest with your doctors at all times.