How Medical Records Affect Slip and Fall Cases

In a slip and fall accident case, medical records serve as vital evidence to support a compensation claim. Your medical records will document your injuries and treatments, establish a link between the accident and your injuries, and help the insurance company and your lawyer determine how much compensation you deserve to recover. 

A Fort Lauderdale slip and fall accident lawyer can help you gather your medical records and other evidence to strengthen your case. They can also negotiate with the liable party’s insurance company on your behalf and ensure you don’t settle for less compensation than you deserve.

How Can Your Medical Records Strengthen Your Slip and Fall Accident Case?

Medical recrds can strengthen your slip and fall claim in several ways, including:

Providing Evidence of Your Injuries

Your medical records can demonstrate that your injuries are consistent with the slip and fall accident you experienced. If the insurance company tries to claim your injuries resulted from another incident or a pre-existing condition, your records can disprove this theory. This documentation can also prove you are following your doctor’s prescribed treatment plan, which is important for recovering fair compensation. 

Establishing a Timeline

Medical documentation can help you and your attorney establish a timeline proving that you sought medical treatment promptly after your slip and fall accident. Delaying medical attention can negatively impact your case because the liable party or their insurance company may argue that your injuries aren’t as serious as you claim or you made them worse by waiting to seek treatment. 

Proving Your Damages

Two large parts of your slip and fall case compensation will likely be your medical bills and pain and suffering. Your medical records can offer proof of both of these damages by explaining the physical toll your injuries had on you (including any long-term impairments or permanent physical limitations) and establishing the direct costs of your medical treatment.

What Information Is Included in Your Medical Records?

Medical documentation is generally very detailed. Your records will likely include information such as: 

• Emergency treatment received 
• Diagnostic tests performed and their results
• Your doctor’s notes from a physical exam, including diagnoses and observations
• Surgeries or other procedures performed and their results
• Future treatment recommendations (such as physical therapy) 
• Prescription medications, dosages, and how long you will be taking them
• Your descriptions of the accident and your pain levels

Be honest with your doctor and provide as much detail as possible about the accident. This will help them create accurate documentation for your medical records.

What Types of Damages Can You Claim in a Slip and Fall Claim?

Medical records and other evidence can support your claim for several types of damages, including:

• Economic damages: Financial losses resulting from your injuries may include medical bills, lost income, transportation costs, household services, home modifications, and child care.
• Non-economic damages: Non-financial losses resulting from your injuries may include pain and suffering, emotional trauma, mental anguish, disability, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Wrongful death damages: If you lost someone you love because of a slip and fall accident, medical records can support your family’s wrongful death claim. A Fort Lauderdale wrongful death lawyer can help you claim compensation for damages such as lost income, funeral costs, medical bills, and mental pain and suffering. 

How Can a Lawyer Help You After a Slip and Fall Accident?

It’s challenging to deal with being in pain and trying to recover from an injury while also juggling a legal battle to recover compensation. A Fort Lauderdale personal injury lawyer from Chalik & Chalik Injury Lawyers can fight for you, allowing you to focus on your recovery. We will:

• Come to your location, including visiting you in the hospital if necessary
• Facilitate and encourage honest communication to develop your case smoothly
• Provide the personal attention you deserve
• Work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay no attorney fees unless we win
• Provide timely and regular updates, so you always know the status of your case

Insurance companies want to pay out as little as possible, so the insurance adjuster will likely search for inconsistencies in your claim. Our personal injury law firm will help you prepare for pushback from the insurer and review your medical records to ensure accuracy. We will also help you gather additional evidence to support your claim, such as safety records, inspection logs, video surveillance, photographs, witness statements, and expert opinions.

What Can You Do to Maximize Your Slip and Fall Compensation?

Personal injury claims are complex, but you can strengthen your case by doing the following:

• Seek immediate medical attention: Some severe injuries, such as neck and spinal cord injuries, may not show symptoms right away. Seeking immediate medical attention is crucial for securing compensation.
• Talk to your doctor: Tell the medical professional who examines you everything, including the details of your slip and fall and any symptoms you are experiencing.
• Follow-up appointments: Following up on your initial treatment is crucial after suffering injuries in a slip and fall accident. Please do not skip any appointments.
• Daily impact journal: Document how your injuries impact your daily life physically, mentally, and emotionally in a journal. 
• Secure copies of your medical records: Request a copy of your medical records so your personal injury attorney can review them with you and ensure their accuracy.
• Be aware of the statute of limitations: Starting on your case as soon as possible is important because you must file your personal injury lawsuit within two years of the accident date, according to Florida Statutes § 95.11.

Learn More About How Medical Records Impact Slip and Fall Cases Today

A slip and fall accident can leave you with severe injuries that impact you for the rest of your life. Don’t settle for less compensation than you deserve. Your medical records play a vital role in your claim and can increase the likelihood of a positive outcome. 

Chalik & Chalik has a proven track record, securing multiple seven-figure judgments and settlements since 2003. To learn more about how your medical records can affect your slip and fall accident case, please contact us for a free consultation. 

Slip and Fall Accidents Videos:

What To Do After A Slip, Trip Or Fall Injury

Slip, Trip & Fall Accidents

Slip and Fall Accidents Blog Posts:

Slips and Falls from Restaurant Hazards

When you go to a restaurant to eat, you often don’t think about the dangers that restaurants present. You are often hungry and want to get to your seat as fast as possible, and you may not be looking for dangerous flooring conditions, such as uneven ground, ripped or torn carpet, and spilled liquid. In...

Hidden slip and fall hazards of steps and stairways

Slip and fall accidents on stairs can cause serious injuries. Stairways come with inherent dangers that are usually not present on level surfaces. While sometimes the hazards may be obvious, in other cases they may be harder to detect. Property owners can be liable for stair accidents just like slip and falls in other locations....

Facts About Common Slip and Fall Accidents

Slip and fall accidents often lead to more than bruised egos. The National Safety Council reports that 8.9 million emergency room visits are made annually as a result of slip and fall accidents, which could involve injuries ranging from mild to catastrophic. In some cases, the injured party may be able to recover compensation from...

How comparative negligence can affect a slip and fall lawsuit in Florida

If a dangerous condition on someone else’s property caused you to slip and fall, you may be able to obtain compensation for your injuries through a lawsuit. Many people in this situation wonder whether they are still entitled to compensation even if they were partly at fault for their own injury. A slip and fall...

Slip and Fall Accidents FAQ:

What to Do if I Slip and Fall at a Dollar Store?

If you slip and fall at a dollar store, these are the following steps you should take to ensure your health and possibly support your personal injury or premises liability claim: You should check for injuries and get immediate medical attention to address them. You should collect evidence while still inside the store by taking...

What Should I Do if I Slip and Fall at a La Quinta Inn?

If you slip and fall at a La Quinta Inn, you should get the medical care you need and then take the necessary steps to protect your rights. Proving that a La Quinta Inn employee or owner’s negligence caused your accident is essential to building a persuasive compensation claim. Suffering injuries on someone else’s property...

Statute of Limitations for Slip and Fall Cases in Florida

The statute of limitations for slip and fall accident cases in Florida is set at two years. Under this law, you generally have two years from the fall or from the date you discovered injuries to file a personal injury lawsuit. There are several legal considerations to weigh when determining if your window to file...

How Can a Fort Lauderdale Personal Injury Lawyer Help With My Slip and Fall Case?

In slip and fall accident cases, the state of Florida requires claimants to prove that the property owner did not take reasonable precautions to prevent their injury. Because many people do not have a working knowledge of premises liability laws, they elect to work with a personal injury lawyer. Some of the services that these...