Life after an accident is always difficult. This is especially the case when that accident that wasn’t your fault results in an injury. Sometimes, an accident-related injury can lead to a temporary or permanent injury, which can affect your capacity to work as well as your ability to function at home. If you have been forced to take time off work, the lost wages can cause financial stress for you and your family. All of this is in addition to the physical pain of the injury, which can become so overwhelming that you may have a hard time staying on top of everything you need to do.
If you have been injured in an accident due to another person’s negligence or recklessness, you have the right to pursue compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, and even for non-economic losses, such as physical and psychological pain and suffering. However, in order to optimize your chances of recovering the full amount you deserve, you will need to make a concerted effort to keep your medical expenses as organized as possible.
Why Are Medical Expense Documents So Important?
Calculating medical expenses is one of the primary ways that a personal injury lawyer can help you determine the amount you should seek to recover in your claim. This includes not only the expenses your injury has already incurred since your accident but also estimates of future medical costs that you are likely to continue to have to pay in the months and years to come. Having thorough documentation of the expenses you have already faced in the treatment of your injury is a vital means of calculating how much you are owed.
Furthermore, keeping your medical bills organized will help you keep track of the various appointments, diagnostic tests and scans, and treatments you have had since the time of your injury. It can often be difficult to remember where you went and when, especially after experiencing an accident. In the event that you need to make an official statement or testify about your medical treatments or costs, keeping all this information readily accessible will help to jog your memory.
Finally, organizing your medical bills and documents can help you put your subjective sense of physical and emotional pain and suffering into context. Your lawyer could claim compensation for these non-economic factors in addition to your medical expenses and work-related losses. Organized medical documentation can go a long way toward helping them determine a way of quantifying this experience on your behalf.
Which Documents Should I Track?
The specific documents you will need for your claim will depend entirely on the unique nature and circumstances of your accident and injury. An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to help you determine precisely what you need for your case.
In general terms, the following types of expenses and bills are usually a great place to start:
- Ambulance rides
- Emergency room visits
- Appointments with your doctor or specialists
- Diagnostic tests such as MRI or x-rays
- Home health care
- Medical equipment such as wound dressings, braces, or crutches
- Physical and/or occupational therapy
- Mental health treatments
- Prescriptions and over-the-counter medications
- Transportation and accommodation expenses if you are required to travel to receive treatment
How to Organize Your Bills
There are several ways to organize your documents, but most people find one of the following methods helpful:
- Maintain a physical file cabinet or organizer – Get into the habit of placing each of your medical bills or invoices into a dedicated folder as soon as you receive them
- Take pictures – If you have a smartphone or a digital camera, you can take photos of each of your documents and store them in a folder on your phone or computer. There are even smartphone apps that are designed specifically to organize your documents if you choose this method. Just be sure to back up your data and password protect it.
- Keep a journal – Some people find it helpful to have a physical book in which they write down each of their appointments. Be sure to note the date, the location, the name of the medical professional, and the cost once you are invoiced. This is also a great place to make notes about your physical and mental pain or suffering as time elapses.
Contact a Lake Charles Personal Injury Attorney Today
Filing a personal injury claim can feel complicated and overwhelming. Fortunately, the experienced Lake Charles personal injury attorneys at Veron Bice, LLC are here to help you with everything you need. We will assess the documentation you have collected and file a claim on your behalf. We’ll take care of all the complicated legal procedures so that you can focus on your recovery.
Call us now at 337-310-1600 for a free consultation.
