Authored by Mason Rashtian | Personal Injury Lawyer, The Mason Law Firm
Dedicated Personal Injury Lawyer in Santa Clarita, Valencia, Canyon Country, Newhall, Saugus, Stevenson Ranch, Castaic, Val Verde, Antelope Valley, Palmdale, Lancaster, the San Fernando Valley, and the Greater Los Angeles Area
After a car accident or other personal injury, it is important to seek medical attention and, just as importantly, to be consistent and thorough when describing your injuries to every healthcare provider you see.
I’m Mason Rashtian, founder of The Mason Law Firm and a personal injury attorney serving the Santa Clarita area, north of Los Angeles. As a former insurance defense attorney, I’ve seen firsthand how closely insurance companies and defense attorneys examine medical records. One issue that can become particularly important is inconsistency in what a patient reports to different doctors.
Call The Mason Law Firm, managed by Santa Clarita Personal Injury Attorney Mason Rashtian, today at 661-506-2992 for a FREE consultation. We serve clients throughout Santa Clarita, Valencia, Newhall, Saugus, Canyon Country, Stevenson Ranch, Castaic, Val Verde and all of Los Angeles County.
A Recent Client’s Experience
Recently, we represented a client who was involved in an accident. A couple of days after the accident, she had a regularly scheduled appointment with her primary care physician.
Because the appointment was simply her annual checkup, she did not tell her doctor that she was experiencing neck pain, back pain, and shoulder pain following the accident. Those injuries were not the reason for her appointment, so she did not think they were relevant.
Eventually, her pain continued, and she began treatment with a chiropractor. When her symptoms did not improve, she was referred to an orthopedic surgeon.
At the orthopedic appointment, she discussed her neck pain, shoulder pain, and headaches. She was also experiencing ringing in her ears, known as tinnitus. However, because she was seeing an orthopedic specialist, and tinnitus is not an orthopedic condition, she did not mention the ringing in her ears.
The tinnitus continued, and she was eventually referred to an ENT, or ear, nose, and throat specialist. Because she was seeing the ENT specifically for the ringing in her ears, she focused on that problem and did not mention that she was still experiencing neck and back pain.
From a medical standpoint, it may seem perfectly understandable why she discussed different symptoms with different doctors. However, from a personal injury standpoint, this can create a problem.
Why Medical Records Matter in a Personal Injury Case
After an accident, your medical records can become extremely important evidence.
Insurance companies and defense attorneys review your records to determine what injuries you reported, when you reported them, how consistently you reported them, and whether your treatment supports the injuries you are claiming.
As a former insurance defense attorney, I know that one of the things defense lawyers look for is inconsistency in medical records.
For example, suppose you claim that you suffered significant neck and back injuries in an accident. Later, the insurance company obtains records from your primary care doctor showing that you had an appointment shortly after the accident but never mentioned any neck or back pain.
The defense may argue that if you were actually experiencing those symptoms at the time, you would have reported them to your doctor.
That argument does not necessarily mean the injuries were not real. There can be perfectly reasonable explanations for why someone did not mention a particular symptom during an appointment. But the inconsistency can nevertheless become an issue in the case.
Your Doctors Don’t Have to Be Treating the Same Injury
One of the most important things to understand is that you should not assume a particular symptom is irrelevant simply because the doctor you are seeing does not specialize in that area.
If you are seeing an orthopedic surgeon for your neck and shoulder but are also experiencing headaches or ringing in your ears, tell the doctor.
If you are seeing an ENT for tinnitus but are still experiencing neck and back pain, tell the doctor.
If you are seeing your primary care physician for a routine physical after an accident, tell the doctor about the injuries and symptoms you are experiencing from the accident.
Your doctor can determine whether those symptoms are relevant to the appointment and whether additional treatment or referrals are appropriate.
Think From Head to Toe
After an accident, make sure you tell your healthcare providers about all of the symptoms you are experiencing, from the top of your head all the way down to your toes.
That could include:
- Headaches
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Back pain
- Arm or hand pain
- Numbness or tingling
- Hip pain
- Knee pain
- Leg or foot pain
- Dizziness
- Ringing in the ears
- Sleep problems
- Other symptoms that began or worsened after the accident
You do not need to diagnose yourself. You simply need to accurately tell your healthcare provider what you are experiencing and when the symptoms began.
Consistency Is Key
Documentation is extremely important in a personal injury case.
Your medical records should accurately reflect your symptoms and treatment. If you have multiple healthcare providers, make sure you are communicating consistently with all of them.
That does not mean you should exaggerate your symptoms or report something that isn’t happening. In fact, the opposite is true: be completely honest and accurate with your doctors.
Tell them what hurts, what symptoms you are experiencing, when the symptoms started, and whether they are getting better, worse, or staying the same.
Your doctors are there to treat you. At the same time, their records may later become important evidence in your personal injury claim.
The Bottom Line
If you’ve been injured in an accident, don’t assume that a symptom is irrelevant simply because you are seeing a doctor for something else.
Tell your healthcare providers about all of the symptoms you are experiencing following the accident. Your primary care physician, chiropractor, orthopedic surgeon, ENT, physical therapist, or other healthcare provider should have an accurate understanding of what you are experiencing.
Consistent medical documentation can help create a clear picture of your injuries, treatment, and recovery.
At The Mason Law Firm, managed by Santa Clarita Personal Injury Lawyer Mason Rashtian, we meet our clients by accident. If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident and has questions about a potential personal injury claim, we encourage you to seek appropriate medical care and speak with a qualified personal injury attorney about your specific circumstances.
You may find helpful information on our area-specific pages:
- 👉 Santa Clarita Personal Injury Lawyer: https://www.mrscvlaw.com/santa-clarita-personal-injury-law-office/
- Valencia Car Accident Lawyer: https://www.mrscvlaw.com/valencia-personal-injury-lawyer/
- Newhall Car Accident Lawyer: https://www.mrscvlaw.com/newhall-personal-injury-lawyer/
- Saugus Car Accident Lawyer: https://www.mrscvlaw.com/saugus-personal-injury-lawyer/
- Canyon Country Car Accident Lawyer: https://www.mrscvlaw.com/canyon-county-personal-injury-attorney/
We offer free consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case.
📞 Call 661-506-2994 for a free consultation.
“We Meet Our Clients by Accident!”
“We Put Personal in Personal Injury Law.”
Updated September 15, 2026
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