Louisiana residents know that one of the hardest types of personal injury cases to prove in court is a medical malpractice claim. When you think about it, the reasons become obvious: there are usually multiple defendants involved; some of the information that will come out in the case is composed of highly technical medical details; and it puts the victim – the plaintiff – in the position of telling a trained medical professional that a mistake was made. These can be daunting factors for any victim of medical malpractice in Louisiana, which makes it all the more important to make sure that as much information as possible is documented for use in the personal injury lawsuit.
What documents will plaintiffs need when pursuing a medical malpractice claim? Well, for starters, medical records are obviously crucial. But, getting these records can be easier said than done. After all, how many people have exact copies of all of the medical records that exist at their doctor’s office? The key is to take the steps to secure those documents as soon as possible.
Next, plaintiffs will want to make sure that they have all of the appropriate health insurance documents that relate to the issue in question. The scope of a plaintiff’s health insurance can be important, and these documents also oftentimes have details about what procedures a medical professional billed out.
The other documents that are important relate to financial matters: hospital bills and evidence of how the purported medical malpractice led to a loss of income. Hospital bills can provide insight into the treatment that was rendered. Evidence of lost wages is important in showing how the medical malpractice had a negative impact on the victim.
Failing to secure and properly use this evidence can be detrimental to a victim’s claim. To ensure that they have a firm grasp on how best to prepare and present their claim, medical malpractice victims may want to consult with a legal professional.
Source: FindLaw, “Documents for Your Attorney: Illness & Hospitalization,” accessed Jan. 16, 2017
