Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice.
Detailed Answer
Under Massachusetts law, chiropractic treatment records often strengthen personal injury claims by documenting your injuries, treatment timeline, and medical expenses. Courts admit these records under the business-records exception to hearsay. See Mass. R. Evid. 803(6): Business Records Exception. To qualify, you must show the records were made at or near the time of treatment, by someone with knowledge, and kept in the regular course of business.
Example: Jane slipped on ice and suffered neck pain. She visited a licensed chiropractor who recorded her symptoms, diagnosed a cervical strain, and logged each adjustment. Those records can corroborate Jane’s testimony about when and how her injuries occurred.
To introduce the records at trial, you must authenticate them under Mass. R. Evid. 901. A chiropractor, office manager, or medical-records custodian can testify that the records are accurate and complete.
Chiropractic notes can also show causation and extent of injury. They often include pain scales, range-of-motion tests, imaging reports, and treatment plans. Insurers and juries rely on these objective findings when calculating compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Remember the statute of limitations. Under M.G.L. c. 260, § 2A, you generally have three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit in Massachusetts. Missing this deadline typically bars your claim.
Finally, you control release of your medical records. To obtain and share them, sign a HIPAA-compliant authorization. Once you place your medical condition in issue, courts usually permit opposing counsel to review relevant chiropractic records.
Helpful Hints
- Request certified copies of your chiropractic records early to avoid delays.
- Ensure each entry is dated, signed, and legible to meet authentication standards.
- Obtain a narrative report from your chiropractor summarizing diagnosis and prognosis.
- Track related expenses—bills, receipts, mileage—to document economic damages.
- Provide your attorney with a complete medical chronology, including ER visits and imaging.
- File your claim before the three-year deadline under M.G.L. c. 260, § 2A.
- Consider a joint record review with your lawyer to identify gaps or inconsistencies.