On Behalf of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa | January 31, 2025 | Personal Injury
When you are seeking damages following a personal injury, you will want to show the severity of your condition, including if and how it interferes with daily activities. Medical imaging, medication records, and physician’s notes are all crucial pieces of evidence when determining the extent of a person’s injuries. Medical evidence combined with a physician’s testimony can strengthen your case, providing further proof of your losses.
If you have recently suffered an injury, our Port St. Lucie personal injury lawyers are available to help retrieve your medical records to increase your chances of recovering adequate compensation.
Types of Medical Records
The following types of medical records are most commonly used in personal injury cases:
- Medical imaging: X-rays, MRIs, MRAs, and CT scans provide visual representations inside the human body, allowing physicians to diagnose a wide range of conditions, such as traumatic brain injuries, abdominal bleeding, or a herniated disc, to name a few.
- Physician orders: Physician orders will include the patient’s medical history and any known allergies. The form typically summarizes the communications of a visit between a patient and doctor, detailing the diagnosis, as well as providing instructions for a treatment plan.
- Medication records: These notes detail prescribed and over-the-counter (OTC) medications taken by the patient, including the dosage, time of day, how many times per day the medication is administered, and the method of intake.
- Radiology reports: These reports summarize the findings of imaging studies.
- Discharge summary: This report is issued when a patient checks out of the hospital. It summarizes the reason for the visit, the treatments administered, and the treating physician’s medical advice.
Importance of Medical Records in a Personal Injury Claim
Medical records provide the following benefits in a personal injury case:
- Proof of how you were injured: By examining a fracture, a physician can determine the way you were injured. This will include the amount of pressure involved, the direction of force, and the manner in which it occurred.
- The extent of your injuries: Medical imaging may reveal if you suffered a spinal cord injury, pelvic fracture, soft tissue injury, or anything in between. Not all injuries are physical. Emotional injuries, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), may become apparent through a physician’s notes as well.
- Determining the worth of your personal injury claim: While you may have sustained physical and emotional injuries, you must demonstrate actual losses or damages, which may be economic or noneconomic in nature. Economic damages encompass any losses that have a financial impact, including lost wages, any bills for hospital stays, or rehab. Noneconomic damages, in contrast, are intangible losses that impact your emotional well-being, which may include pain and suffering, infliction of emotional distress, or mental anguish.
Statute of Limitations in a Personal Injury Case
Under Fla. Stat. §95.11 (5)(a), a personal injury victim has only two years following the incident to take action. However, there are exceptions to this rule that would delay the limitation period, such as “tolling” the statute of limitations. Even if you believe that you have missed the deadline, it is important that you speak with a Port St. Lucie personal injury lawyer to discuss your situation.
Role of a Personal Injury Attorney
The value of medical records cannot be overstated. However, you want to work with a personal injury lawyer who can help you use this information to your advantage. At Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa Attorneys at Law, our legal team is prepared to advise you every step of the way, from collecting evidence, adhering to court deadlines, and submitting the required court forms. When you work with our Port St. Lucie personal injury attorneys, you can rest easy knowing that you are in good hands.
Contact Our Port St. Lucie Personal Injury Attorneys Today
An accident or injury can leave you debilitated and unable to care for your most basic needs. At Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa Attorneys at Law, our legal professionals are prepared to fight for the compensation you deserve, never settling for minimal damages. If you are ready to learn more or to arrange your free case review, contact us online or by phone today.
Gerald A. Rosenthal
Retired
Since opening the firm now known as Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa more than 40 years ago, Gerald A. Rosenthal has been a dedicated champion of the everyday hero – police officers, firefighters, teachers, nurses, construction workers, farm workers, and more. Passionate about preserving the civil rights of laborers, he has fought tirelessly against giant insurance companies who deny the injured workers their benefits. It’s not just the lawsuit Rosenthal fights to win – he is driven by the opportunity to restore his client’s quality of life.
Author's Bio