Best Ways to Track My Medical Expenses

It is no secret that life after an injury is difficult. If you are experiencing some form of disability, whether it is temporary or permanent, it can take a lot of time to adjust to how your new limitations affect your day-to-day routine. You may have been forced to take time off work, and missed wages from your job can create a financial strain on you and your family. Furthermore, the pain from the injury itself can be so overwhelming that it can be difficult to keep your thoughts straight sometimes.

For many people, the greatest challenge after having suffered an injury is dealing with all the medical expenses that begin to pile up from the treatment and recovery process. Fortunately, if the accident was not your fault, an experienced San Diego personal injury attorney can help you claim financial compensation for these expenses. However, to have a chance at recovering the full amount you are owed, you must be as diligent as possible about keeping track of your medical expenses.

Which Documents Should I Track?

Each personal injury case is unique. To know exactly which records you will need to keep organized, you should speak to your personal injury lawyer. They will be able to give you a list that is most relevant to your individual circumstances.

In general, these are the types of expense records your lawyer is likely to require to help you with your claim:

• Ambulance rides
• Doctor or specialist appointments
• Diagnostic procedures such as x-ray or MRI scans
• Emergency room visits
• Home health care
• Household assistance (e.g., house cleaning or childcare if your injury prevents you from carrying out these tasks on your own)
• Medical equipment such as crutches and wound dressings
• Mental health treatments
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines
• Transportation and accommodation costs if you need to travel to receive your treatment

Tips for Tracking Your Expenses

Keeping bills, invoices, and receipts related to the above list is a great place to start maintaining an ongoing record of how much money you and your lawyer will aim to recover from your medical expenses.

This is also a great way to keep track of the various types of treatments you receive in the aftermath of your injury. It’s common for injury victims to visit many different medical professionals and therapists in the days, weeks, and months following an accident. If this happens to you, it can be hard to remember what treatments you received and where you got them. If you need to testify at a deposition or a trial, having all of these documents on hand will make it easier for you to recall the specifics of your treatment and recovery process.

There are many ways you can track your expenses, and different methods will suit people with different dispositions. Here are a few ideas:

• Keep a physical file cabinet or organizer – For many people, this is the most traditional and intuitive way to keep their bills and documents organized. If you choose this method, get in the habit of placing your paper receipts, invoices, and bills in designated folders as soon as you receive them. You may want to separate files for various types of treatments or procedures (one folder for diagnostic scans, one folder for physical therapy bills, etc.). Alternatively, your attorney may have a system they prefer to keep things organized, so you may want to consult with them to make things as easy as possible.
• Take pictures – If you have a smartphone, you can take pictures of your records and store them in dedicated files, either on your phone or on your computer. You can even download apps that are intended to help you keep your bills organized. If you choose the digital option, be sure to back up your data and keep it password protected.
• Journaling – Keeping a medical journal is another great way to track your expenses. Each time you have an appointment, write down the date, the cost, and the nature of the treatment. You may also want to make notes about your physical and psychological pain and how it is getting better or worse as time goes on.

Contact a San Diego Personal Injury Attorney Today

Filing a personal injury claim is a difficult thing to do on your own. The experienced San Diego personal injury attorneys of Jurewitz Law Group Injury & Accident Lawyers are here to help you by keeping your materials organized, filing the correct paperwork on time, and standing up to the insurance companies that are doing everything they can to avoid paying out what you are owed.

Call our firm today at (619) 233-5020 for a free consultation, and let us get to work for you.