Medical Doctors, why important?
Posted on Friday, November 1st, 2019 at 3:30 pm
One of the most critical pieces of information in a personal injury case is treatment records of the accident. Such records establish a link between the accident and the injuries that the victim suffered. It is important to note that the treating doctors have much more credibility then a hired medical expert. Why? Hired medical experts may be viewed as being biased to provide the opinion that they are being paid for.
Where a victim doesn’t seek medical treatment immediately after the accident it is difficult to put accident and injuries together. It is in situations like this that the defense may attempt to argue that the victim had a pre-existing injury. And it is because of this pre-existing injury you needed medical help.
After a victim gets the initial treatment after the accident in most cases they continue treatment for some time. In some cases the victim may have to undergo rehabilitation treatment. In all this it is important to strictly follow the doctor’s orders with regards to follow up treatment and any instructions. Such instructions may include how long to wait to return to work or to participate in recreational activities. Failure to do so can raise issues that the victim was not as injured as they claim to have been.
Medical Records
In a personal injury case medical records are usually a key piece of evidence. Therefore, it is important that the medical records have thorough information about:
- the victim’s accident,
- injuries and
- treatment
The records must show that the patient started treatment after being involved in a specific accident. By showing this it clearly establishes the link between the accident and the injuries that will be recorded thereafter. Such a link can also help the victim’s claim for settlement with the insurance company.
It is important to note that some doctors are known for handling personal injury cases. As a result their records and testimony may not be deemed credible. Therefore, speak to a personal injury attorney with a good reputation to handle your case.