Clients often ask what they can do to better position themselves after a work-related injury. The first thing to remember is the importance of documentation. If a medical diagnosis or bill is not accessible and organized so that it can be easily found, it is of little use. While hiring an experienced worker’s compensation attorney is a necessary first step to being compensated for your injury, you can best serve yourself by keeping thorough, organized records of your medical treatment.
Even in our digital age, most medical records are still provided on paper. So a first step is to purchase folders to organize all of your paperwork. Keep individual folders in a large expandable file. Maintain a print record of every document, even if the original was faxed or emailed to you. Keeping a second, digital copy of scanned documents is also an excellent idea.
Your medical files must contain a record of all appointments you have with doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other healthcare providers. Additionally, keep full copies of all diagnostic records such as X-rays, MRI’s, CAT scans, and other medical assessments. These diagnostic records are vital to documenting your care and progress. As you visit medical professionals providing you treatment, they will provide you updated notes regarding your continuing medical history. Keep those notes in chronological order.
Employer records can also be critical. Any initial report of your injury along with subsequent follow-up reports should be preserved in your files. This is not limited to written reports, but also emails and handwritten notes too. You will also want to keep a record of pay stubs showing days of work lost and sick leave used. All of these records can be used to paint a picture of how your injury is affecting your ability to earn an income.
Your physician has likely referred you to specialists. Keep a separate folder for each specialist, with all of their documents organized chronologically. If you require surgery, for example, it is advisable to keep a folder for that surgery, along with records associated with any pre-surgical testing, operation or surgical report, and follow up notes or reports.
After so much discussion of organization, you may be wondering why this level of record-keeping is necessary. In a worker’s compensation case, neither the opposing party nor a judicial body will just take your word for it that you have been injured in the course of your employment. Even if your injury is obvious, they will claim that it stems from a preexisting condition or is not a result of your work. An experienced worker’s compensation attorney will be able to use the “paper trail” or chronological record of your injury, treatment, and rehabilitation to prove that you were injured and that the injury is a result of your employment. Just as important, your attorney will be able to use this documentation to demonstrate the amount of compensation you are due to make you whole.
If you do not have all of your records, it is difficult for your attorney to prove your case. If your records are not organized, a lot of time will be lost and extra money spent recreating the record of your injury and treatment. That wastes time and reduces the amount of compensation you will eventually collect. Remember, your compensation will be based on the degree to which your attorney can prove your injury, treatment, and costs related to your workplace injury. Well organized records are critical to making that case.
Call Barrett Law at (800) 707-9577 now to talk to an experienced Mississippi worker’s compensation attorney.
Contacting Barrett Law and getting experienced worker’s compensation representation can mean the difference between comfortably recovering from your injury and financial ruin. Protect your health, protect your family, and receive the legal advice you need now. Our Mississippi Worker’s Compensation Attorney is standing by to help you.
