When It Applies

Not For

• Deciding whether negligence is proved, calculating damages, choosing experts, or drafting pleadings without legal advice.

Documents

• Medical records
• Consent forms
• Hospital notes
• Prescriptions
• Test results
• Expert reports
• Photos
• Medical invoices
• Travel costs
• Income proof
• Complaint records
• Correspondence

Timeline

• Immediately: write the clinical timeline and preserve records.
• Before consultation: collect treatment, harm, loss, and correspondence proof.
• During consultation: confirm missing records, expert-review needs, and prescription risk.
• Afterwards: update treatment and loss records as they change.

Tips

• Use dates and provider names in every file label.
• Do not edit photos or records.
• Separate what happened medically from what loss followed.
• Ask how expert reports and disbursements will be approved before costs are incurred.

Warning Signs

• The treatment date is old or prescription risk is unclear.
• Records are missing or incomplete.
• A provider, insurer, or state hospital has made a settlement or response request.
• The matter involves death, birth injury, permanent disability, or minor children.