What is a medical expert report and how is it prepared step by step?

If you have suffered a traffic accident, a workplace accident, an assault, medical negligence, or you are claiming disability, there is one document that often makes the difference between receiving fair compensation or being left with an insufficient assessment: the medical expert report.

This is not a standard medical report or an emergency discharge note. A medical expert report is a technical document that turns your injuries and sequelae into legal evidence, using medical and legal reasoning to challenge insurance offers, justify permanent impairment, and support a solid claim.

In this guide, we explain what it is, who prepares it, what it should include, how it is prepared step by step, and how to use it correctly in a claim.

What Is a Medical Expert Report?

A medical expert report is a technical document prepared by a doctor specialised in bodily injury assessment (medical expert or medical examiner) whose purpose is to:

• Evaluate a person’s health condition after a specific event
• Analyse injuries, sequelae, and functional limitations
• Establish the causal link between those injuries and the event that caused them
• Translate the damage suffered into medical and legally assessable criteria

In practice, it is what allows a claim to move from “I am in pain” to “this is the damage, why it occurred, and how it must be compensated.”

What Is a Medical Expert Report Used For?

A medical expert report is commonly used to:

• Claim compensation for personal injury after an accident
• Challenge undervalued insurance assessments
• Determine and quantify permanent sequelae
• Justify recovery periods and medical treatment
• Provide technical evidence in court proceedings
• Support disability claims before social security or mutual insurers
• Substantiate claims for medical negligence

Without this document, many claims rely solely on clinical medical reports that do not assess damage from a forensic or legal perspective, leaving the injured party at a clear disadvantage.

Who Can Prepare a Medical Expert Report?

Only a medical expert can prepare this type of report — a physician trained and experienced in bodily injury assessment and medical-legal evaluation.

Treating doctors (GPs, traumatologists, specialists) provide essential clinical reports, but their focus is therapeutic. A medical expert, on the other hand:

• Analyses causation
• Assesses permanent impairment
• Applies technical valuation criteria
• Drafts conclusions that can be defended against insurers or in court

At MataSeguros, we work with independent medical experts, specialised according to the type of claim (accidents, disability, medical negligence, psychological injury, etc.).

When Is It Advisable to Request a Medical Expert Report?

It is especially recommended when:

• There are injuries with possible permanent consequences
• The insurer’s compensation offer is insufficient
• A premature medical discharge has been issued
• There are contradictory medical reports
• The insurer claims the injury is pre-existing or unrelated
• A disability procedure is underway or expected
• A medical negligence claim is being considered

What Should a High-Quality Medical Expert Report Include?

A strong medical expert report is not long for the sake of length, but for rigour and structure. It usually includes:

1. Identification and Scope of the Report

• Details of the patient and the medical expert
• Purpose of the report
• Scope and limitations

2. Background of the Causative Event

• Description of the accident or incident
• Chronology of events
• Medical care received

3. Medical Documentation Reviewed

Detailed list of:

• Emergency reports
• Specialist reports
• Diagnostic tests (MRI, CT, X-rays, etc.)
• Rehabilitation records
• Medical discharges
• Social security or insurer reports

4. Clinical Examination and Assessment

• Physical and/or psychological examination
• Objective findings
• Functional limitations
• Impact on daily life and work

5. Causal Link Analysis

A key section explaining:

• Why the injuries derive from the reported event
• Why they are not pre-existing or unrelated
• How medical evidence and chronology support the conclusion

6. Diagnosis, Stabilisation, and Sequelae

• Initial injuries
• Current condition
• Medical stabilisation
• Physical, psychological, or aesthetic sequelae

7. Damage Assessment

• Recovery periods (where applicable)
• Sequelae valuation
• Future treatment needs
• Functional or occupational impact

8. Conclusions

• Clear medical conclusions
• Causal relationship
• Final damage assessment

9. Appendices

• Medical records
• Diagnostic tests
• Reference tables or guidelines

How Is a Medical Expert Report Prepared Step by Step?

1. Review of Medical Documentation

The expert reviews all medical records related to the case:

• Emergency care
• Hospitalisation
• Diagnostic tests
• Rehabilitation
• Medical discharges
• Social security or insurer reports

The more complete the documentation, the stronger the report.

2. In-Person Medical Examination

The expert conducts a direct evaluation of:

• Pain
• Mobility
• Functional limitations
• Visible and non-visible sequelae
• Impact on daily and working life

Without an examination, the report loses evidentiary strength.

3. Causal Link Study

The expert medically substantiates the relationship between the damage and the causative event, countering common insurer objections.

4. Determination of Sequelae and Valuation

Once the condition is stabilised, sequelae are established and damage is quantified using defensible technical criteria.

5. Drafting, Signing, and Delivery

The final report is signed and dated, suitable for:

• Negotiation with insurers
• Administrative proceedings
• Court proceedings
• Expert testimony, if required

How Long Does It Take?

Typically:

• 7 to 20 working days after the medical examination
• Urgent cases may be expedited if documentation is complete

What Legal Validity Does It Have?

A medical expert report has full legal validity as expert evidence. Its strength depends on:

• Technical rigour
• Quality of documentation
• Sound causal reasoning
• Clear conclusions

A good report does not guarantee success, but it significantly improves the claimant’s position.

How Much Does a Medical Expert Report Cost?

The cost depends on:

• Type and severity of injury
• Case complexity
• Volume of documentation
• Need for court testimony

What matters most is that the report is useful and defensible.

Common Mistakes That Weaken a Claim

• Relying only on clinical medical reports
• Requesting the expert report too early or too late
• Missing key diagnostic evidence
• Minimising symptoms or limitations
• Allowing the insurer’s assessment to be the only technical evaluation

Tips to Strengthen Your Expert Report

• Gather all medical documentation
• Keep a clear timeline of events
• Describe specific functional limitations
• Do not hide medical history
• Include real impact on work and daily life

Checklist: Documentation Commonly Required

• Emergency report
• Hospital records
• Specialist reports
• Diagnostic tests
• Rehabilitation records
• Medical discharge reports
• Social security or insurer reports
• Medication and treatments

When Is a Medical Expert Report NOT Worth It?

• Minor injuries without sequelae
• Cases already fully recognised and fairly compensated
• Very early stages with no medical evolution yet

A competent professional will tell you this honestly.

Personal Injury and Medical Claims: Review Your Case

If you have suffered injuries and believe the insurer’s assessment does not reflect your real damage, it is crucial to review the case before accepting any offer.

👉 More information here: Personal Injury and Medical Claims
At MataSeguros, we work with independent medical experts and only charge if you get paid.

Conclusion

A medical expert report is not a simple medical summary.
It is a key tool to defend your rights, quantify your damage, and claim with confidence.

When there are sequelae, disputes with insurers, or disability procedures involved, leaving the assessment solely to the insurer is a mistake.