Checklist
Car accident medical records checklist so nothing is missing when it counts.
Most accident claims stall on a missing record, not a missing argument. This is the list to work through, provider by provider.
Records education is available. Accident case evaluation, settlement estimates, and legal representation are not offered here.
On the record
The facts worth knowing
- 01
You have a federal right to copies of your medical and billing records from every provider who treated you after the accident, including the emergency department, imaging centers, physical therapy and your regular doctor.[1]
- 02
A provider generally has 30 calendar days to act on your written request, and may take one 30-day extension if it tells you why in writing. Some state laws are shorter; none let a provider refuse because an insurer or lawyer is involved.[2]
The guide
What to do, in order
Emergency and ambulance
The emergency department record, triage notes, imaging done that day, discharge paperwork and the ambulance run report. The ambulance service is usually a separate organization with its own records department.
Imaging
Radiology reports and the images themselves (on disc or by secure download). The report is in the hospital record; the images often have to be requested from the imaging department separately.
Follow-up and specialists
Orthopedics, neurology, pain management, physical therapy: visit notes, treatment plans, and progress notes that show how the injury changed over time.
Bills and insurance
Itemized bills from every provider and the Explanation of Benefits from your health plan. Together they tie each service to a date and a cost.
Your own notes
A short dated log of symptoms, missed work and conversations with insurers. Not a medical record, but the thing that makes the records make sense later.
Your checklist
What to request from each provider
- 01
Complete medical record for the accident date range (not just a summary).
- 02
Radiology reports and copies of the images.
- 03
Discharge instructions, prescriptions and referrals.
- 04
Therapy or rehabilitation notes with dates.
- 05
Itemized bill, and the Explanation of Benefits from your plan.
We send the request, follow up with the provider, and deliver the records to you. Your provider decides how fast they come back; the law gives them up to 30 days, and we post every verified update.
Questions people ask
Straight answers, with sources
Do I need medical records for a car accident claim?
An insurer or a lawyer will ask for the records that document your injuries and treatment: the emergency visit, imaging, follow-up care and bills. They are yours to request from each provider, and you can direct copies to whoever is handling the claim.[1]
What if a provider says the record is incomplete or lost?
Ask in writing for whatever exists and for a written statement of what is missing. Imaging is often held by a separate department or vendor; ask there too. Keep the correspondence; it matters later.[2]
How long does it take to get records after an accident?
Under HIPAA a provider has up to 30 days from your written request, with one possible 30-day extension explained in writing. Many respond faster; some state laws require it. We follow up with each provider and post every verified update.[2]
Sources
Where this page comes from
Primary sources only. Each entry says what the source itself states. This is reference material, not legal or medical advice, and the cited guidance controls its own scope and exceptions.
- [1]Your Medical Records
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services · hhs.gov
HIPAA gives you the right to see and get copies of your medical and billing records held by covered providers and health plans, with limited exceptions such as psychotherapy notes.
- [2]Individuals' Right under HIPAA to Access their Health Information
HHS Office for Civil Rights · hhs.gov
Covered providers and plans generally must act on an access request within 30 calendar days, may take one 30-day extension if they tell you why in writing, may charge only a reasonable cost-based fee, and must send a copy to a third party you name in a signed written request.
- [3]45 CFR 164.524 Access of individuals to protected health information
eCFR (U.S. Government Publishing Office) · ecfr.gov
The regulation behind the right of access: what must be provided, in what form, within what time, and what may be charged.