If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, you might want to discuss the incident with a qualified attorney who can put together a convincing case and improve your chances of obtaining the compensation you deserve. But before you head to the attorney’s office, here’s a list of documents that you should ideally carry to help him judge the merit of your case and provide sound advice:
If you or a loved one has been the victim of medical malpractice, you might want to discuss the incident with a qualified attorney who can put together a convincing case and improve your chances of obtaining the compensation you deserve. But before you head to the attorney’s office, here’s a list of documents that you should ideally carry to help him judge the merit of your case and provide sound advice:
Medical and Mental Health Records
These are the most critical pieces of evidence in a medical malpractice case. Documents such as hospital records or the notes maintained by nurses can prove your claims of improper treatment. However, it may not be always possible for you to obtain these documents yourself. You should provide the name of the establishment where you underwent treatment and the doctor who treated you to your attorney; he can obtain the documents on your behalf.
You should also provide records of your mental health treatment, if any, to your attorney. These include documents from psychotherapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists and the records maintained by a mental health institution. You have to furnish these details to the attorney even if you believe that your present or past mental health condition has no bearing on the outcome of the present medical malpractice case.
Prescriptions for Medicines
Your attorney has to know about the prescription medicines you were or are on before, during, and after your hospitalization. Provide copies of the prescriptions, so he can also obtain details like dosage.
Hospital Bills and Invoices
Your attorney needs to know how much you or your insurance company has been charged by the hospital. If you have health insurance, it is likely that your insurer will pay a part of your hospital bills. But sometimes, they will refuse to pay this amount. You need the help of an attorney to ensure that you don’t end up footing the bill yourself when you have been wronged by an act of medical negligence.
Insurance Details
When you visit the attorney’s office, carry a copy of your health or disability insurance copy. If you are a part of a group insurance plan, carry the relevant documents that prove your participation and the amount of coverage you are entitled to.
Documents from the Medical Professional Whom You are Suing
Apart from prescriptions, doctors may sometimes provide documents to you to illustrate or explain a particular medical procedure to you. Or he may write out the list of pros and cons of the procedure. You should provide copies of these documents or any other that your healthcare provider may have given you to the attorney to help him determine the scope of negligence.
Evidence to Prove Lost Wages
Some insurance policies cover wages lost due to illness or during hospitalization. Sometimes the negligent party may also be made to pay the wages you have lost for no fault of yours. Don’t worry if you don’t have the pay stubs. Your attorney can obtain these documents from your employer and compare your present earnings with what you used to earn before the illness or hospitalization to recover what you rightly deserve.
The above-mentioned documents will help a medical malpractice attorney build a comprehensive and airtight case against the defendant and his insurers and improve your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve for your loss and suffering.
