Did your client in the United States get hurt or suffer an injury because of the negligence of their doctor? Your client may be eligible for compensation.
But to win a medical malpractice lawsuit, your law firm must be able to provide substantial proof. The requirements for making a claim vary from state to state, but below are the standard documents you must retrieve to make your case.
Background information
You need to gather the following types of paperwork to prove that your client was harmed because of the direct or indirect actions of their physician.
- Medical records
Obtain the medical records of your client before, during, and after the incident to establish their health condition all throughout and prove that there was an injury. These records should show the diagnostic tests and medical procedures that were performed, as well as how and when they were conducted and who conducted them. They may reveal any violations or missed steps that may have caused your client’s injury.
As a law firm, you may obtain your client’s medical records on their behalf. Read our previous blog to get tips on retrieving medical records.
- Prescription records
Your client may have been harmed because of the medication their doctor prescribed them, whether due to improper dosage or dangerous interactions. To highlight this error, you need to get the records that indicate the names of the prescription medications and their respective dosages.
- Photographs
Providing photos of your client before and after the injury will contextualize the case and emphasize the negative impact caused by the medical malpractice.
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Financial documentation
To be able to compute the appropriate claim for monetary damages, compile all paperwork related to expenses incurred and lost potential income as a result of the injury.
- Medical bills
Your client’s medical bills will show how much they were charged for treatment and medical care. These may also reveal costs incurred from unnecessary testing or additional treatment that they had to undergo as a result of the doctor’s negligence.
- Insurance paperwork
Get all documents related to your client’s health and disability insurance. These will help you determine which medical bills have been paid and by whom. Your client’s insurer may also be entitled to repayment of the medical bills they paid on behalf of your client.
- Receipts for other related expenses
Collect all other proof of expenses that your client incurred such as receipts for prescription medicines, over-the-counter medications, medical supplies and equipment, and other relevant items.
- Proof of lost income
Your client may have missed work or become entirely unemployable because of the injury they suffered from the medical malpractice. They can claim for damages for lost income or lost earning capacity. To determine the amount of compensation, request for your client’s previous tax returns and pay stubs.
Other relevant information
Include all other pieces of information that you think may support your case.
- Communications with the doctor
Gather all handwritten and electronic correspondence between your client and their doctor about the medical care received, allegations of negligence, and resulting injuries. If some of these discussions were done orally, ask your client to elaborate and create a written documentation.
Filing a medical malpractice lawsuit requires a lot of paperwork. Good thing you can obtain a lot of these records using Record Retrieval Solutions’ online ordering and tracking system. Contact us today to get started.
