If you were injured in an auto accident, your top priority should be your health and recovery. However, if you sustained serious injuries, you may be faced with costly medical bills. If you’re out of work and struggling to make ends meet, you may have trouble keeping up with steep medical costs for your ongoing treatment. Even if you sustained a minor injury, the medical bills can quickly pile up. Because of this, it’s important to keep a car accident journal to document your recovery, how your injuries have affected your life, and to write down important auto accident details that can help strengthen your claim.
What is a Car Accident Journal?
A car accident journal should include important details regarding the accident, such as:
- The time, date, and location of the accident
- Witness contact information
- Weather and road conditions
- Traffic conditions
- Anything that may have contributed to the car crash, such as debris on the road or faulty traffic lights
- Anything the driver did or said
It’s important to write down these accident details as soon as possible since memories can fade over time. This information will give your car crash attorney a complete picture of the accident.
You should also document any injuries you sustained, the type of treatments you’re receiving, medications you’re taking, how your injuries have affected your life, and how often you’re in pain.
Proving Pain and Suffering Damages
If you are experiencing significant pain and suffering due to your accident injuries, it’s important to document in your journal throughout the day and include your pain level, using a scale of 1-10. This can help your attorney prove your demand for compensation for pain and suffering.
Medical Treatment
You should also go into detail regarding any doctor’s appointments, upcoming surgeries, physical therapy, and occupational therapy appointments and explain the treatments you’re receiving and whether you feel that the treatment is beneficial to your recovery. If you suffer serious injuries, your attorney will help you fight for compensation that will cover the cost of past and future medical care costs.
How Often Should I Write in My Car Accident Diary?
You should document in your journal whenever something happens, such as experiencing pain from your injuries, attending doctor’s appointments, or if you experience any emotional trauma after the accident, such as panic attacks or symptoms of PTSD.
While you don’t have to write in your diary every day, you do need to document when you experience an inconvenience or pain due to the accident and your injuries.
Can a Car Accident Diary Be Used as Evidence?
Yes. Your diary can be used as evidence when negotiating with the insurance company or if your case goes to trial. Because of this, you must document only the facts and leave emotion out of your entries. Your car accident lawyer can discuss what information you should and should not include in your journal entries, and how often you should write in your diary.
Can a Car Accident Journal Help Me Get More Compensation?
When you’re injured after a car accident that was caused by a negligent driver, you should not have to pay out of pocket for your medical treatment, property damage, and other losses. A car accident diary helps document the day-to-day to prove the impact and severity of your injuries. It can also help a car accident lawyer prove your demand for compensation.
When you work with a car accident lawyer at Child & Jackson Personal Injury Lawyers, they will help you recover compensation for:
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
- Past and future medical care costs
- Lost wages
- Emotional distress
- And more
Because you didn’t cause the auto accident, you shouldn’t bear any responsibility for the costs. At Child & Jackson Personal Injury Lawyers, our car accident attorneys will help you recover the full value of your claim.
Contact Us Today
If you were injured in an auto accident that was caused by a negligent driver, the car accident lawyers at Child & Jackson Personal Injury Lawyers can help you fight for the fair compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney on our legal team to learn more.
