Medical Documentation From Your Florida Bicycle Accident
While Florida’s weather and lovely views attract cyclists of all experience levels, the benefits of cycling can quickly become overshadowed by the risk of accidents. This is especially true in Florida, which regularly tops the list of one of the most dangerous states in the country for cyclists and pedestrians. For those who are unfortunate enough to be involved in a bicycle accident, keeping careful medical records is of the utmost importance, as this documentation can play a key role in a victim’s financial recovery.
Medical Bills, Receipts, and Insurance Statements
One of the first steps that a bicycle accident victim will want to take following a crash is to seek medical attention. This ensures that an injured party receives an immediate diagnosis and can begin treatment as soon as possible. Taking this step, however, also initiates the creation of an official medical record linking an accident to a particular set of injuries. To this end, bicycle accident victims should be sure to keep careful records of their medical expenses, receipts, and insurance statements. This could include everything from the invoices they receive for ambulance services and consultations with specialists to receipts for medications and therapy appointments. Retaining records of specialized medical care is also important, as insurers may balk at paying for care provided by specialists unless there is not only proof of the cost, but evidence that such treatment was necessary. Even bicycle accident victims who weren’t at fault for their crashes won’t be able to recover compensation for these losses if they don’t have careful records to establish their losses to insurers or the court.
Injury Journal Entries
Besides keeping detailed medical records, accident victims can also help bolster their personal injury cases by keeping an injury journal where they take note of:
- Daily pain levels;
- The limitations that the accident had on their daily activities; and
- Instances of emotional distress brought on by the accident and the resulting injuries.
While this kind of record won’t necessarily contain quantifiable losses like a medical bill or insurance statement would, it can help give courts a better understanding of how an injury has impacted a victim’s life not only physically but mentally. This in turn, can affect the type of damages award that a victim receives, including the amount of pain and suffering damages for which he or she is eligible.
Contact the Tampa Bicycle Accident Lawyers at Anderson & Anderson Today
If you were injured in a bicycle accident in Florida and need help navigating the legal system or negotiating with your insurer, don’t hesitate to call Anderson & Anderson today for assistance. Our experienced Tampa bicycle accident attorneys and dedicated support staff can provide valuable insight into your legal options following a serious injury and can walk you through the process of filing a legal claim. We have been helping clients in similar situations for nearly 40 years and are eager to put our experience and resources to work in your case. Call us at 813-251-0072 or reach out to us online to get started.
Sources:
gulflive.com/news/2024/02/florida-counties-among-americas-most-treacherous-for-cyclists.html
theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/13/florida-county-most-cyclist-deaths-bike
