Understanding Injury Severity: How Your Injury Classification Affects Your Case
A serious personal injury can be a life-changing event. Whether it’s a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, internal injury, amputation or something else entirely, it could lead to a disability, long-term medical needs and a significant reduction in earnings. Those who have been injured in Poughkeepsie, New York, need to know exactly what legal options they have.
That’s where we come in at Rutberg Breslow Personal Injury Law. Our attorneys have over 125 years of combined experience, and we have recovered millions on behalf of our clients. We also offer free initial consultations. Those who have been injured should call our New York personal injury lawyers today to get the process started.
Why Injury Severity Matters
It is very important to consider the severity of the injury you’ve suffered. It can have a major impact on the potential compensation you can seek. It’s also going to affect the timeline of your case, your recovery process and the strategy you use to seek the compensation you deserve.
For example, even a minor injury will likely lead to immediate medical bills. But a severe injury could result in long-term medical care, in-home care, rehabilitation services and much more. Similarly, a minor injury might cause lost wages for a few days or a week, while a severe injury could lead to a long-term reduction in earning capacity – potentially altering the course of your career.
It is important to gather medical evidence and documentation, such as copies of your medical records from your healthcare provider. These are crucial in insurance negotiations. You need to be able to demonstrate the long-term impact of your injury, what level of healing doctors expect, if the injury is going to be permanent or cause a disability and much more. Our experienced team can help you determine what evidence you need and how to present your case.
Medical Classification Systems
It is wise to familiarize yourself with the medical classification systems used in New York. For instance, the Glasgow Coma Scale is used to assess consciousness. It evaluates motor responses, verbal responses and automatic responses from a person’s eyes.
Another classification system is known as AIS, or the Abbreviated Injury Scale. This scale is used to assess the severity of traumatic injuries, such as amputations or traumatic brain injuries. The AIS scale ranges from one to six, with an injury rating of six being the most severe.
If doctors have used these or other scales to assess your injury, it’s important to obtain proper medical documentation. The results can have a major impact on your case and your ability to seek compensation.
Documentation And Evidence
When it comes to critical medical documentation, you should start with your medical records. These can show any pre-existing conditions or injuries, helping to demonstrate the changes brought about by the injuries you suffered.
You may need specific documentation regarding medications you were given, scheduled surgeries and treatment plans. Additionally, results from CAT scans or MRIs are crucial. In many cases, expert witness testimony can be invaluable. For instance, a doctor may testify about the severity of a spinal cord injury and what level of healing is possible for the patient.
In other words, when making both economic and future care projections, it’s important to have strong evidence and documentation on your side. When a medical expert testifies that your life is going to be forever altered by your injury, that carries significant weight as you seek compensation.
Insurance Company Tactics
Insurance companies make money by minimizing or denying payouts. Some tactics they use include:
- Paying for immediate costs without considering the long-term impact
- Disputing the necessity of certain medical treatments
- Challenging the severity of the injury to reduce compensation
This is when it can be helpful to have a medical expert witness counter these claims – showing that you do need the treatment and that you do deserve significant compensation.
Often, the insurance company will simply make a lowball offer, hoping that you will take the first settlement offer. After you do, it closes your case and you may not be able to seek more compensation in the future. It is critical to get the proper payout upfront, even though the insurance company has numerous strategies in play to prevent you from doing so.
At our law office, we counter these strategies with aggressive representation. We believe that preparation is key. Gathering strong evidence and documentation helps us paint a clear picture of your condition and fight for the full compensation you deserve. We also ensure that all potential costs are considered, including:
- Long-term health care needs
- Reduced earning capacity or lost future wages
- The impact of disability on your daily life
We’re here for you when you need us most.
Call Today For A Consultation
We have recovered millions on behalf of our clients in New York, and we would love to meet with you. Just call 845-846-8120 or use the online contact form to set up a free initial consultation today.