How to Be Proactive in Your Personal Injury Case

Suffering an injury can be stressful. Waiting for relief can be harder still.

If you’re pursuing a personal injury claim, you might feel like the process takes a long time. Behind the scenes, however, your attorney is investigating and planning on how to best approach your case. 

You can help them by being proactive with documentation and evidence. Here are ways you can be proactive and help your attorney.

Document Medical Records

Keep your attorney updated on your medical care. They’ll only know as much as you tell them, and they’ll want to track all treatment options, tests, and diagnoses. Inform your attorney of any of the following updates to your condition:

• Any completed and upcoming appointments for injuries related to the claim, including visits with primary care providers and referrals to specialists
• Any completed and upcoming appointments for mental health services related to the claim, including visits with therapists or psychiatrists
• Any results from medical tests, including blood work, physical examinations, and radiological exams
• Any records from emergency room visits, whether from urgent, life-saving care or just as a precaution
• Any surgical records from procedures taken related to the claim
• Any medications recommended and prescribed
• Any other medical procedures or exams rendered

Your personal injury case relies on your treatment and how you progress over time. Make sure your attorney knows of any new information, so they can properly gather medical records to evaluate your case.

Document Out-of-Pocket Expenses

Personal injury claims aren’t just about physical challenges. As you may have encountered, your financial situation will likely change after an injury. You may have been out of work for a few weeks, or limited from your usual job duties. You might also need to pay out-of-pocket for necessary expenses, such as pain medication, doctor visits, co-payments, and even mileage to your doctor appointments.

Make sure to document any out-of-pocket expenses you incur, and provide this information to your attorney. Include any expenses incurred after your injury that you wouldn’t have paid without the injury, including (but not limited to) the following:

• Medical bills: Hospital fees, ambulance bills, emergency room bills, doctor's bills, and physical therapy costs
• Medical equipment: Crutches, wheelchairs, slings, respirators, and hospital beds
• Medical supplies: Bandages, alcohol swabs, and gauze
• Medications: Prescription and over-the-counter medications
• Transportation: Mileage to and from medical appointments, parking fees, public transportation, rideshare services, and rental cars
• Personal care: Assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, feeding, and dressing
• Child care: If you're unable to take care of your children while recovering from an injury, you may need to pay for professional care
• Housecleaning: If you're unable to clean your home due to your injury, you may need to pay someone else to do it

You may get reimbursed for these expenses as part of a claim. Make sure to keep receipts, statements, or an organized log of your out-of-pocket expenses so that your attorney can determine if you can be reimbursed and compensated.

If you have been injured, please call one of our experienced attorneys at 651-493-0426 for a free consultation.