Despite your best efforts, you can have mishaps and bad luck. Sometimes, despite your best efforts to be careful, you can be on the wrong end of an incident that leaves you injured. Examples include car crashes, slip and fall incidents, falls from heights, falling objects, dog bites, and others.
Some injuries are simply due to being in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, other accidents lead to injuries because of another person’s actions. Another person may have even willfully caused the accident or acted out of negligence or disregard.
In such cases, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit. But after the accident, you’ll want to make sure you document not only the incident itself but any medical treatment you got. This crucial step will play a key role in your legal claims and any compensation you receive.
Get Pictures of Your Injuries
Injuries from accidents can take many forms and affect any area of the body. These injuries can include cuts, bruises, scrapes, burns, abrasions, misshapen limbs due to fractures, and more. As soon after your accident as possible, take pictures of these injuries.
Make sure you take high-quality pictures that capture the extent of the injuries. Use a high-resolution camera, and take photos from different angles. Do not use filters or edit the pictures in any way. Then make sure you back up the pictures on cloud storage or by other means.
Hang on to Hospital Bills
Medical treatment can be expensive. Even addressing moderate injuries could require various tests, assessments, and the use of equipment and supplies. If you plan on seeking compensation for your injuries, you’ll want to document how much medical providers charged you. Hang on to documents that detail how much you paid for co-pays, medical supplies, prescriptions, surgeries, and hospital stays.
Include X-rays
Along with your own photos, document your injuries by keeping any X-rays that medical professionals took. These can prove that you suffered injuries such as fractures or sprains. Ask your medical provider for copies of these X-rays.
Doctor’s Notes and Reports
Ordinarily, you may not ask a doctor for his or her notes when you visit the office. However, when legal matters are at stake, you have the right to obtain this information. Providing these notes as evidence in your lawsuit can help your case. The doctor’s report may show any special circumstances or other serious effects from your injuries.
The Emotional Impact
Serious accidents can do far more damage than physical injuries. Many people who suffer accidents and injuries experience emotional and mental effects. These may include anxiety, post-traumatic stress, depression, and other concerns. Make sure you document these as well. Include in your documentation any treatment you had for any emotional or mental ailments.
Don’t Put off Getting Help
Finally, a word of caution: don’t dismiss the need to seek medical treatment. You should let a doctor examine you even if you have suffered minor injuries or if you don’t think you are hurt at all. Failure to get medical treatment can be detrimental to your case. If medical professionals have advised you to return for other treatments or rehabilitation, follow these directions.
Accidents can cause life-altering injuries and even affect your mental and emotional state. You may struggle to return to work and enjoy life’s activities. If you have been injured in an accident, call the team at Friedman Law Offices at 1-800-876-1093. We have the experience to advise you on how to properly document your medical treatment.