Going to the doctor for routine checkups is an everyday part of life. From flu treatments to prescription medications, each medical record or documentation serves as key evidence in personal injury matters and can have an effect on the outcome of your case. Help Your Personal Injury Attorney Obtain Your Medical Records with a Release Whether you were involved in a car accident or slip and fall, your personal injury attorney will eventually ask for copies of your medical records. He or she will provide a medical release or authorization that you must sign in order for the law firm to obtain a copy of your medical records. Your medical records tell a story of your medical history and help your personal injury attorney plan strategies to provide for the best representation. The medical release is a document that authorizes your personal injury attorney to receive a copy of your records from the medical facilities that you frequent. Each request must be provided in writing in order to comply with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) laws. Most attorneys like to obtain records from the past 5 to 7 years. This timeframe helps to establish a clear timeline of the progress of your medical history. Information Medical Records Contain Medical records contain personal information about your medical history and must be handled with care. One way your personal injury attorney will use your medical records is to show evidence of the extent of your pain the injury causes. The information that will help build your personal injury case is as follows:
- Treatment plans
- Prescription Medications
- Diagnosis
- Complaints
- Referrals for therapy, physical therapy, for example
- Dates of service
- X-rays
- Radiology
- Physician notes
- Medical billing
- Insurance information
- ER visits
- Follow-ups