What Kind Of Medical Records Should I Keep?

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You should obtain copies of all of your doctor’s bills, hospital bills, prescription bills, physical therapy bills, chiropractor bills, and radiology bills. You should also keep a record of your mileage records so that you can receive reimbursement for the mileage spent going to and from the medical offices. You should keep records of all over-the-counter purchases for medications and supplies. All of these things are important for building the value of your claim. You should keep a record of various things that you can or cannot do after the accident. They may be relevant. For example, if you were in so much pain one morning that you had to miss a visit to the doctor or a day of work, then you should document that. A better way of keeping these records is by keeping what we call a “medical diary” of your daily aches and pains, doctor visits and complaints, and wage loss. My law firm offers a personal medical and expense diary on our website to anyone who requests it.

Should I Provide The Other Driver’s Insurance Company With Those Medical Records?

You should provide the other driver’s insurance company with your medical records. You should not sign or give to the at-fault driver’s insurance company a general comprehensive release of medical records, because some insurance companies may find something in your medical records that could diminish the value of your current claim. For example, they might say, “Well, this injury is not related to this particular accident, because it looks like you have been having similar problems for 10 years.” This is another reason why you should not try to settle your claim on your own without an attorney. A good, experienced personal injury attorney such as Gordon R. Crawford and Associates will know which information to give the other side. Many times, for one reason or another, you may want to hold onto something until there is a subpoena issued for you to release it. Your attorney will know when and when not to furnish the records.

Should I Allow My Own Health Insurance To Cover My Medical Bills?

You should allow your own health insurance to cover your medical bills, and exert every effort to have your medical bills paid by any type of insurance coverage that is available to you. Doing so will protect your credit rating because some doctors and hospitals do not wait very long before they will report your unpaid bill to the credit bureau. Additional medical insurers such as Medicaid, Medicare or BlueCross generally receive substantial discounts when they pay your medical bills, thus saving you money. For example, on a $10,000 hospital bill, Medicare may pay only $3,000. So, that is definitely to your benefit.

At the time that your claim is settled, a good personal injury attorney may negotiate a reduction of the amount that the health insurer actually pays to the doctor or to the hospital. Medicare will get a reduction in the amount of bill that they will pay. Then, when your attorney shows them that you have only a certain amount available to pay them, they may give you a break and reduce the bill even further due to your lack of funds. A good personal injury attorney will have the knowledge and incentive to obtain these reductions for their clients.

For more information on Keeping Medical Records After A Car Accident, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (225) 228-3450.