Short Answer

Tell your lawyer what the orthopedic doctor found, how your condition has changed, whether you have restrictions, and what care or testing comes next. Send the written visit summary, work note, imaging order, bill, and next appointment date if available. Be precise about what the doctor actually said, especially before a deposition or insurance update.

What Information Should You Report After the Appointment?

A useful update should cover both your medical status and the practical effect of the injury. You do not need to use medical terms or interpret the doctor’s findings. Report what you experienced, what occurred during the appointment, and what appears in the written instructions.

Include the following information:

• Appointment details: Give your lawyer the date of the visit, the provider’s name, and the location.
• Current symptoms: Describe where you still have pain, swelling, weakness, numbness, stiffness, or limited movement. Explain whether each problem is improving, worsening, or staying the same.
• Doctor’s findings: Report any diagnosis, examination finding, or discussion of imaging. Avoid turning a possibility into a definite conclusion.
• Testing: Identify any X-ray, MRI, or other test completed or ordered.
• Restrictions: Share written limits involving work, lifting, gripping, driving, or other activities.
• Treatment plan: Report whether the doctor recommended another appointment, therapy, testing, medication, a procedure, or no additional care at this time.
• Release status: Tell your lawyer if the doctor released you from care, kept you under observation, or asked you to return.
• Work and daily activities: Explain how the injury affects your job, household tasks, sleep, driving, hobbies, or personal care.

It is also important to report improvement. If movement has increased or you no longer need medication, say so. An accurate claim update should include what has improved as well as what remains unresolved.

Documents to Send Your Lawyer

Written records help your lawyer confirm the details before communicating with an insurer or preparing for testimony. If you receive any of the following, keep a copy and send it through the method your lawyer’s office requests:

• After-visit summary or discharge instructions
• Work-status or activity-restriction note
• Imaging reports and test orders
• Referral documents
• Prescription or medication changes
• Medical bills and payment receipts
• Appointment cards or scheduling messages
• Photos showing visible swelling, if your lawyer has asked you to document it

Your lawyer may obtain formal medical records directly from the provider. Even so, the documents handed to you at the appointment can provide a faster update and identify records that should be requested.

Separate Your Symptoms From the Doctor’s Opinions

When updating your lawyer, make clear which information came from you and which came from the orthopedic doctor. For example, you can report that you continue to see swelling and have difficulty gripping objects. If the doctor discussed the possible cause, future problems, or additional treatment, describe the conversation carefully and provide the written record when possible.

This distinction matters because an insurance company may compare your statements with the medical chart. A lawyer will generally want to verify significant medical opinions before repeating them to an adjuster or using them in litigation. Do not guess at a diagnosis or say that a procedure is required if the doctor only discussed it as one possible option.

Explain Any Gaps, Canceled Visits, or Changes in Care

Tell your lawyer if an appointment was delayed, canceled, or missed, and explain why. Also report whether the provider told you not to return unless symptoms worsened. Medical records do not always explain the reason for a break in care, and an insurer may otherwise argue that the injury had resolved or that follow-up was unnecessary.

Follow the instructions of your medical providers and document symptoms accurately. Your lawyer can explain how treatment records may affect the legal claim, but your lawyer should not replace the medical provider’s judgment about care.

Why the Update Matters Before a Deposition

A deposition usually requires truthful testimony about your present symptoms, medical history, treatment, restrictions, and recovery. A recent orthopedic visit may change or clarify those subjects. Give your lawyer the update before any deposition preparation session rather than waiting until the day of testimony.

Also forward notices showing that the related proceeding or another motorist’s deposition was rescheduled. A scheduling change does not change what you should report about your health. It may, however, affect when your lawyer wants to obtain records, prepare exhibits, or discuss your current condition with you.

Do not try to memorize a medical chart. If you do not remember a detail, say that you do not remember rather than guessing. Tell your lawyer promptly if you realize that an earlier answer or update was incomplete.

How This Applies to a Continuing Hand Injury

For an injured person whose dominant hand remains swollen after a car accident, the update should identify where the swelling appears, how often it occurs, and whether it affects gripping, writing, typing, lifting, driving, or work. The person should also report that movement has improved and that medication is no longer being taken.

After the orthopedic follow-up, the lawyer should receive any findings about range of motion, swelling, imaging, work limits, future appointments, and expected recovery. If the doctor says no further treatment is planned, that is important too. The goal is a balanced record of both progress and ongoing limitations, not an exaggerated description.

North Carolina Timing Still Matters

Medical follow-up and deposition scheduling do not automatically extend the time to file a lawsuit. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52 generally provides a three-year period for many personal injury actions, although the correct deadline depends on the claim and its facts.

Waiting for additional medical information, an insurer’s decision, or a rescheduled proceeding does not by itself pause that period. Your lawyer should know about every upcoming appointment and scheduling notice so the medical and litigation timelines can be managed together.

When Wallace Pierce Law May Be Able to Help

Wallace Pierce Law may help organize the orthopedic records, confirm what the provider documented, track bills and work restrictions, and prepare an accurate claim update. The firm may also review how a dominant-hand injury affects employment and daily activities without overstating what the medical evidence shows.

If a deposition is approaching, the firm may review the treatment history with the client, identify missing records, and discuss the deposition process. The available options will depend on the medical documentation, accident evidence, insurance issues, procedural status, and applicable deadlines.

Talk to a Personal Injury Attorney in Durham

If your question involves injuries, insurance, fault, medical documentation, settlement paperwork, or a possible deadline, speaking with a licensed North Carolina attorney can help clarify your options. Call 919-313-2737 to discuss what happened and what steps may make sense next.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about North Carolina personal injury law based on the single question stated above. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. It is not medical advice, tax advice, or insurance policy interpretation. Laws, procedures, and local practice can change and may vary by county. If there may be a deadline, act promptly and speak with a licensed North Carolina attorney.