Tips For Keeping Your Medical Records Organized After A Personal Injury
Some people have no trouble staying organized and keeping paperwork in order. For others, tracking down documents and organizing them is difficult, and the papers often end up in a big mess or lost. Regardless of which extreme you fall under, keeping your records organized after a personal injury is crucial.
Reasons for Keeping Your File Organized
Obviously, it will be easier for your personal injury attorney to work on your case if you have all your documents together. Your organization could also have an impact on the amount of compensation your personal injury attorney will recover. Proper organization will keep documents from being overlooked in the claim process.
Take Notes
You will need to take notes and document every phone conversation you have, along with who you speak with, and what was said. This will help our personal injury attorneys make a clear connection between specific documents and conversations.
Set Up a File Folder for All Your Documents and Notes
Purchase a large, expandable file that has pockets and dividers that you can label. This file is a great investment because it will make storing your documents even easier. You will need to set up a pocket to collect each of the following types of information:
- Correspondence – Emails, letters, other notifications, and correspondence
- Property Damage – Estimates and bills for car repairs, and other damaged property
- Photographs – Keep all photos together, so that you can find them quickly
- Notes – Remember those notes we talked about? Keep them together in your file
- Lost Wages Verification – Keep all information regarding lost wages and wage verification from your employer
- Witness Information – Keep the contact information for witnesses handy
- Medical Bills – Keep all your medical bills organized, with the most recent ones in front
- Medical Records – Like your bills, but a detailed record of all the actual procedures and treatments you have had done
- Illness or Injury Journal – It will be helpful to keep a daily journal of the effects of the injury or related illness
What Types of Medical Records Do I Have to Keep Organized?
It will help to create a cover sheet to list all appointments and corresponding treatments. This comprehensive list should be kept in the pocket of the file, like your medical bills, with the most current in the front.
Types of records you should keep copies of and organize in your file:
- Admitting Charts
- Prescriptions
- Copies of notes from doctors or nurses, if available
- Tests and exams
- Results from exams and tests
Keeping a Separate Calendar
Keep a separate calendar that deals with your personal injury claim. It will seem like a part-time job if your injuries and property loss are substantial. You can attach your calendar to the front of your file. This way you can easily keep track of your appointments with doctors and personal injury lawyers. You can also make note of deadlines, court dates, appraisals, and other important dates. With personal injury cases, a statute of limitations may apply. Make note of this date on your calendar too.
Focus on Your Claim
Keeping all your information safe and organized will allow you to keep your focus on the tasks you need to complete to process your claim. Missing documents will cost you time and money, and slow down the processing of your claim. Do your part to minimize your stress by keeping your paperwork in order. For more information, contact our personal injury attorneys today.
When you become our client at Spaulding Injury Law, you’ll be represented by a thoroughly experienced Atlanta personal injury attorney like Theodore A. Spaulding. For over 15 years, Mr. Spaulding has helped victims of negligence across the state of Georgia resolve personal injury cases, and he’s received a remarkable number of awards and honors from the legal community recognizing his commitment to clients and to the metro-Atlanta area.
Mr. Spaulding has been named one of the Top 100 trial lawyers in Georgia by the National Trial Lawyers for six successive years.
He is honored as a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum ® by the Top Trial Lawyers in America ®.
Charter Member of the Distinguished Justice Advocates.
Member of the Atlanta Bar Association.
