How Important Are My Medical Records to My Settlement?

After a car accident, your primary focus should be on your recovery. But as you navigate the legal and insurance process, you’ll find that the details of that recovery—every doctor’s visit, every physical therapy session, every prescription—are documented in your medical records. You might wonder just how closely the insurance company is looking at these files.

So, how important are your medical records to your settlement? To put it simply, they are the single most important piece of evidence in your entire personal injury claim.

Without comprehensive medical records, your claim is just a story. With them, it becomes a documented, verifiable case. They are the foundation upon which every aspect of your settlement is built. They transform your subjective experience of pain into an objective, credible claim that an insurance company must take seriously. Understanding the specific role these documents play is key to understanding the value of your case.

Useful Information for You: In a Nutshell

• They are the Foundation of Your Claim: Your medical records are the most critical evidence you have. Without them, it is nearly impossible to have a successful personal injury claim.
• They Prove Your Injury is Real: Medical records provide an official, third-party diagnosis of your injuries, moving your claim from a simple assertion to a documented fact.
• They Establish “Causation”: Your doctor’s notes linking your injuries to the “motor vehicle accident” are the key to proving the crash caused your medical condition.
• They Document Your Economic Damages: Every bill from a hospital, clinic, and pharmacy becomes a line item in your claim for economic damages.
• They Justify Your Pain and Suffering: The nature, duration, and intensity of your medical treatment described in your records are the primary evidence used to calculate your non-economic damages (pain and suffering).

Role #1: Proving the Existence and Severity of Your Injuries

The first thing your medical records do is provide objective proof of your injuries. An insurance adjuster will not compensate you for injuries you simply claim to have. They need a formal diagnosis from a licensed medical professional. Your records provide this crucial information, detailing things like:

• A diagnosis of a “cervical strain” (whiplash).
• The results of an MRI showing a “herniated disc.”
• A neuropsychologist’s report diagnosing a “mild traumatic brain injury” (concussion).

Role #2: Establishing Causation (Linking the Injury to the Accident)

This is a critical legal hurdle. It’s not enough to prove you have an injury; you must prove the car accident caused that injury. This is why it is so important to seek medical attention immediately after a crash and to tell your doctor exactly how you were hurt.

Your doctor’s notes will state things like, “Patient is a 35-year-old male who presents for evaluation following a motor vehicle accident yesterday.” This simple sentence, written by a medical professional, creates a powerful, time-stamped link that is very difficult for an insurance company to dispute.

Role #3: Documenting Your Economic Damages (Your Medical Bills)

This is the most straightforward role. Your settlement will include a claim for the full cost of all reasonable and necessary medical treatment. Your medical records and the corresponding bills are the direct evidence of these costs. This includes everything from the initial ambulance ride to the final physical therapy session.

Role #4: Justifying Your Pain and Suffering Damages

How do you put a dollar value on pain? The answer is by looking at your medical records. The records tell the story of your suffering. An experienced attorney and an insurance adjuster will look for clues to the severity of your experience, such as:

• The duration of your treatment: A person who needs six months of physical therapy has suffered more than someone who only needed two visits.
• The intensity of your treatment: Records showing injections, powerful prescription painkillers, or a recommendation for surgery are evidence of significant pain.
• Your doctor’s notes: Descriptions of your reported pain levels (e.g., “Patient reports pain at an 8/10”), physical limitations, and emotional state are powerful testaments to your suffering.

In short, every page of your medical file is a piece of evidence. Every doctor’s note, physical therapy report, and prescription record helps to build a comprehensive picture of your losses, which is then translated into a settlement demand.

Given the immense importance of these documents, it is crucial to have a professional who knows how to read, interpret, and present them effectively. If you’ve been injured in a car accident in the Tacoma area, search the Car Accident Lawyer Directory Tacoma. Compare profiles and reviews of trusted local attorneys who can manage the collection of your medical records and build the strongest possible case for the full compensation you deserve.

References

• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services – Your Medical Records:Official information on your rights under HIPAA to access and obtain copies of your own medical records, which is a necessary step in a personal injury claim.

  https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals/your-medical-records/index.html

• Washington State Pattern Jury Instructions (WPI) – Chapter 30 – Damages:The official instructions for juries, which detail how damages for past and future medical expenses and non-economic damages (pain and suffering) are to be determined, underscoring the need for evidence like medical records.

  https://www.courts.wa.gov/superiori/pattern_jury_instructions/browse_WPI.cfm?title=30