Auto accidents can cause devastating injuries that need expensive and sometimes ongoing treatment. In addition to your trip to the emergency room from the scene of the crash, you may need to make multiple trips to doctors’ offices and outpatient treatment centers.
All the treatment you need after an injury costs money, and if you want to obtain compensation for these expenses, you need documentation. However, it can be hard to keep track of all the bills and receipts for your medical care.
Below, our Harrisburg vehicle crash lawyers discuss keeping track of post-accident medical bills and why it is so important to seek help from an experienced attorney. At Schmidt Kramer, we do not charge upfront fees and we do not collect our fees unless you receive compensation.
Medical Bills You May Need to Document
Severe injuries often require a lot of medical treatment. For example, if you are put into an ambulance following a car crash, you will likely receive treatment during the ride to the hospital. You will also be charged for the ambulance ride itself.
Crash victims may also need surgery when they arrive at the hospital. Depending on how extensive the surgery is, you may need to stay overnight at the hospital or for a few days or even longer.
Crash victims may also be billed for:
- Diagnostic testing
- Over-the-counter medication
- Prescription medication
- Medical testing (blood tests, X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, etc.)
- Mental health counseling
- Travel expenses if you must travel to receive recommended care
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Dental care
- Medical equipment (wheelchair, crutches, etc.)
- Cost of in-home care
- Replacement services if you need to need to hire help to complete household and childcare tasks
- Check-ups with doctors
- Appointments with specialists
- Outpatient surgical procedures
- And more
Tips on Tracking Medical Expenses
It can be a challenge to remember all the appointments and treatments you received for an injury. This is particularly true if you have a severe injury. That is why it is vital to keep track of your treatment and expenses as they rack up to help you avoid losing track of anything. You cannot receive compensation for an expense unless you claim it and you have documentation of it.
Fortunately, there are some practical steps you can take to help keep track of your expenses as you accumulate them. For example, you could keep a journal in which you write down every appointment with a doctor, specialist or medical testing facility. You should note the name of the doctor, date of the appointment and short description of the treatment you received. Make sure to keep track of pharmacy bills and receipts for over-the-counter medications.
You could keep all your bills and receipts together with the journal. Keeping everything in the same place makes it easier to keep track of.
Some people choose to take pictures of their bills with their smartphones so they can be easily retrieved later. You can backup your phone on your computer just in case something happens to your phone. Another option is to keep a spreadsheet on your computer.
It is important to discuss this important issue with your attorney, as he or she can give you tips on how best to keep track of your expenses. Your attorney may ask for copies of your bills and he or she may be able to contact doctors’ offices and medical facilities and obtain copies on your behalf. Your attorney may have his or her own system for keeping things organized and it is usually best to defer to the judgement of an experienced attorney.
You may need to request itemized bills from medical providers to determine all the services you received and all the providers who treated you.
If you needed to hire help around the house, make sure to document all the money you paid the person and the hours they worked.
Make sure to track mileage if you had to drive a long distance to an appointment. Track your mileage to and from the appointment. You can use an app like Google Maps to tell you how far away a doctor’s office is from your home.
Have Questions After an Injury? Give Us a Call
Schmidt Kramer has been helping car crash victims for decades and we have recovered compensation for countless victims over the years. Our attorneys work on contingency, which means there are no upfront fees for our services. There is also no obligation for you to hire our firm after your free initial consultation.
Contact us to learn how hiring an attorney would greatly benefit you. We can also discuss your situation and determine your potential legal options.
Call Schmidt Kramer today: (717) 510-1782. A firm you can trust.