Your medical records play a critical role in determining the success of your Harrisburg injury claim after a car crash. These documents can help to strengthen your case and maximize your compensation or give insurance companies ammunition to reduce or deny your settlement.
At Schmidt Kramer, our Harrisburg car accident lawyers know how to leverage your medical records strategically while protecting your privacy throughout the legal process. Our injury lawyers have experience helping crash victims secure maximum compensation by presenting medical evidence in the most compelling way possible.
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Why Are My Medical Records Important After a Car Crash in Pennsylvania?
Your medical records create the foundation for your Harrisburg injury claim. For instance, when you go to the ER right after a crash, the resulting treatment, diagnosis and recommended follow-up care is documented in your medical records. This establishes a direct link between your injuries and the crash that caused them. Insurance companies rely heavily on medical records to determine the severity of your injury and how much compensation you deserve.
Pennsylvania law uses clear medical evidence to support injury claims. Without proper documentation, insurance companies may try to minimize your claim or deny it altogether. Complete medical documentation provides objective evidence that is harder for insurance companies to dispute.
How Can My Medical Records Help My Harrisburg Car Crash Claim?
Emergency room reports, diagnostic tests, and treatment notes create a timeline showing your health before and after the crash. Complete medical documentation helps justify your compensation demands for medical bills, lost wages, and suffering.
Medical images provide powerful evidence that insurance companies cannot easily dispute or minimize. Treatment records from physical therapy, specialists, and follow-up appointments shows the length of your recovery, supporting negotiations for potential future medical costs.
Who Gets Access to My Medical Records During My Claim
Pennsylvania law allows specific parties to access your medical records during an injury claim. HIPAA privacy laws can protect your unrelated medical information from insurance company targeting your personal health history. As long as you have not signed an authorization granting the insurance company full access to all of your medical records, there are laws that limit which records they can view.
Insurance companies need to justify why they need specific medical records for your claim. They must show a direct connection between requested records and the injuries you claim from the crash. Pennsylvania courts have the power to reject overly broad medical record requests that invade your privacy without serving a legitimate purpose. Your attorney can challenge inappropriate record requests and fight to keep irrelevant medical information confidential during your case.
- Your Insurance Company: Under Pennsylvania law (42 Pa. C.S. § 6152) insurers can access records through court ordered subpoenas related to your crash injuries and treatment
- The Other Driver’s Insurance: May request records relevant to proving or disproving your injury claims
- Your Attorney: Has broad access to all records needed to build your strongest possible case
- Medical Providers: Can share records with authorized parties involved in your claim process
- Court Officials: May review records if your case proceeds to trial in Harrisburg
Five Ways Your Medical Records Could Be Used Against You
Insurance companies actively search through your medical records looking for reasons to reduce your compensation. Victims aware of these tactics help them protect and avoid common mistakes that could jeopardize claims.
Pre-Existing Conditions
Insurance adjusters use old injuries or medical conditions to argue your current pain stems from previous problems. They typically claim the crash did not cause new damage but simply aggravated existing issues. This strategy allows them to minimize the compensation they owe you.
Gaps in Treatment
Missing medical appointments or delays in seeking care give insurance companies ammunition against your claim. They argue that truly injured victims seek immediate and consistent medical treatment. Long gaps between appointments suggest your injuries are not as serious as you claim.
Contradictory Information
Inconsistent statements in your medical records create opportunities for insurance companies to question your credibility. Different doctors noting varying symptoms or conflicting injury descriptions weaken your case. Insurance adjusters highlight these discrepancies to dispute your claims.
Incomplete Records
Missing medical records or incomplete documentation leave holes in your injury timeline. Insurance companies use these gaps to argue your injuries are less severe or unrelated to the crash. Incomplete records also make it harder to prove the full extent of your damages.
Conflicting Diagnosis
When different medical providers disagree about your injuries or treatment, insurance companies exploit these conflicts. They use disagreements between doctors to question the validity of your entire claim. Conflicting diagnoses create doubt about the true cause and extent of your injuries.
How a Lawyer Protects Your Medical Privacy During Your Legal Case
Our injury lawyers can carefully control which medical records insurance companies receive during your claim. They review all documentation before release and fight to keep irrelevant personal health information private. Your attorney also ensures medical records are presented in the most favorable light possible.
Without legal representation, insurance companies often demand far more medical records than necessary. They use broad authorization forms that give them access to your entire medical history, including unrelated conditions. Crash victims may unknowingly sign these forms, surrendering important privacy rights that could damage their claims. Legal representation becomes especially crucial when insurance companies challenge your medical records or claim privacy violations.
Need Legal Guidance After a Car Accident? Contact Our Harrisburg Car Accident Lawyers today
Your medical records serve as the backbone of your Harrisburg injury claim, directly impacting your compensation. Insurance companies scrutinize these documents to find ways to reduce or deny your claim entirely.
At Schmidt Kramer, our experienced Harrisburg injury lawyers understand how to leverage your medical records effectively while protecting your privacy. We help secure the highest compensation possible for clients with no upfront costs or fees.
Contact us today or complete our online form for a free consultation about your Harrisburg injury claim.
Need Legal Help? Call Our Trusted Law Firm Today. (717) 727-2089