After an accident, your first priority should be getting the medical attention you need. But what you tell your doctor can also become extremely important if you later make a personal injury compensation claim.
Your medical records can provide important evidence about your injuries, your symptoms, the treatment you received and how your condition has affected your life.
Tell your doctor everything
Do not assume that a symptom is too minor to mention or that it is unrelated to the accident.
Tell your doctor about every symptom you experience, including pain, headaches, dizziness, numbness, weakness, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, difficulty concentrating or problems with everyday activities.
If a new symptom develops later, tell your doctor about that too.
Be specific. Explain where you are experiencing pain, how often it occurs, how severe it is and what activities make it worse. Tell your doctor if your injuries are preventing you from working, driving, exercising, sleeping or carrying out normal household activities.
Why does this matter to your compensation claim?
Your medical records may later be used to establish the nature and extent of your injuries, the treatment you required, your recovery and your prognosis.
If you did not tell your doctor about a particular symptom when you had the opportunity to do so, an insurer may question whether that symptom was caused by the accident or how serious it really was.
That does not mean you should exaggerate or report symptoms you do not have. It means you should be completely honest and thorough.
Your medical records tell the story
A personal injury claim is ultimately about the effect an accident has had on your life. Your medical records can help provide the evidence needed to demonstrate that effect.
So, after an accident, remember:
Don’t minimise your symptoms. Don’t leave things out. Tell your doctor everything.
The information you provide may be important not only to your treatment and recovery, but also to the compensation you may ultimately be entitled to receive.
