Medical Records In Compensation Claims

• Published date: 02 July 2020
• Subject Matter: Litigation, Mediation & Arbitration, Trials & Appeals & Compensation, Personal Injury
• Law Firm: Anthony Gold
• Author: Ms Anna Manhas

Why does my solicitor want to see my past medical history?Why does my Solicitor

If you have been a victim of a personal injury accident such as a road traffic accident or an injury at work and you have decided to pursue a claim for personal injury compensation then your solicitor may ask to see your medical records.

Will I need to prove my injuries?

In order to bring a successful personal injury claim, your solicitor will need to prove that the accident caused or contributed to your injury. In order to do this, your solicitor will ask you to sign a mandate so that they can request your records from the hospital you attended after your accident and from your GP. Your medical records are needed to prove your injuries, the severity of your injury and the treatment you have received. The amount of compensation awarded in a successful personal injury claim depends upon the nature of your injuries you have sustained.

Your medical records will also include a note of how the injury occurred. This entry could assist your solicitor if there is ever a dispute over the circumstances of the accident

Once your solicitor has obtained your medical records they are sent to the instructed medical expert. The expert will review your past medical history and will identify any entry that is relevant to your injury for which you are seeking compensation. Therefore, your past medical history forms an important part of the medical assessment and diagnosis.

Who will see my records?

Given that it is your solicitor who requests them, they will have first sight of your records. They will review them to form an opinion in relation to the severity of your injuries, sort them in...