What Records Should I Keep About My Accident Or Injury In DC?

If you have been injured and are considering bringing a claim, if you are ever in doubt about whether or not to keep your records, keep them. Your paper and digital records will help keep track of the extent of your damages and cost of your injuries. It may be important to keep your records in order to maintain a full picture of what happened to you, and how much it has cost you in time, suffering, and money.

Anyone who has had a hospital stay understands how quickly the medical bills add up. If the injury has long-term effects, it may mean months of follow-ups, rehabilitation, medical supplies, expensive medications, and time off of work. Considering how expensive medical care can be, it is only fair that the person responsible for the accident pays the cost for treatment, recovery, and any property damage. This may require filing a personal injury lawsuit to be compensated for your injuries.

Records to Keep in a Washington D.C. Personal Injury Case

If you are planning to file a personal injury lawsuit in Washington D.C., your experienced personal injury attorney will handle the legal aspects of filing the case, but there are still things you can do to assist. One of the easiest and most important things you can do is to keep any relevant records. This can help provide a clear picture of your case and your potential damages.

The kinds of records you will keep will depend on the specifics of your injury. In most personal injury cases, the majority of records involved will include health care documents, including:

• Medical Bills
• Payment Records
• Prescription Records
• Medical Supply Forms and Receipts
• Contact Information for Healthcare Providers
• Scheduling Records for Doctor and Hospital Visits

In addition, there may be a number of non-medical records, depending on the type of personal injury and extent of physical and property damages. This could include automobile repair records, insurance company correspondence, police reports, fire department reports, receipts for any related products, and other relevant information.

Many injuries have an effect on an individual’s ability to go back to work. Even a relatively minor accident may mean missing a few days of work while recovering, or taking time off to see the doctor. In some cases, an injury may mean losing your job. Any impact on your paycheck is a serious hardship, and may increase the amount of damages you can seek in a personal injury case.

Creating Your Own Records in a Personal Injury Case

You may also want to create a record of the events surrounding your injury or accident. Immediately after an accident, writing down exactly what happened, in as much detail as possible will help you recall the specifics at a later date. Recording the process of your injury, pain, mental state, and recovery can also help to give a clearer picture of the effects of the injury on yourself and those around you.

Remember that a personal injury can affect all aspects of your life, including your personal well-being, work life, and how you interact with family and friends. It can be helpful to document this in your daily record or diary. In a personal injury case, you can seek damages for medical expenses; however, you may also be eligible to seek damages for emotional distress, pain and suffering, and even for the loss of companionship with your spouse.

Pictures and video can also help in showing the extent of the damage or injury involved. This includes both property damage, such as a wrecked car, as well as personal injuries, including immediate injuries, follow-up treatment, and the recovery process.

The amount of documents and records can start to pile up fast, which is why it is important not only to save the relevant records, but also to keep them organized. Many people find it beneficial to use a filing system, keeping records under specific categories, such as:

• Correspondence
• Insurance Information
• Medical Bills
• Medical Records
• Employment Records
• Prescription Records
• Photographs
• Notes

Keeping an organized file of all the records related to your case will help you find the information you need, as well as give your attorney a full record of what happened in your case. If you are not sure about which records to keep, or if you have any other questions regarding a potential personal injury claim, contact the team at Gilman & Bedigian. We offer a free initial consultation and our experienced team of personal injury attorneys can direct you towards the best first step to take in pursuing your claim.