Winning Your Personal Injury Claim - Details Matter

Learn How To Keep A Personal Injury Journal

After an accident, details may become vague when it's time to talk to a personal injury attorney. Keeping a personal injury journal immediately after your accident is important, because personal injury claims can get complicated, and keeping proper records will help your personal injury attorney improve the quality of your accident claim. First, make sure you know what to do immediately after an accident. Then, it is recommended that you buy a notebook that is easy to carry, so that you don't miss any of the details that should be tracked. If you can, buy a notebook with pockets or carry a large envelope to help track receipts. File everything when you get home every day.

Personal Injury Facts to Record at the Scene:

• What you were doing just moments before the accident? How did you feel physically AND emotionally just before the accident?
• Record every detail about how the accident happened, no matter how small. Include anything you noticed about your body after the accident; pain, breaks, sounds, and skin appearance.
• Were there witnesses? Include a list of all the people around you when the accident occurred.
• What about the setting? Time of day, the weather (if applicable) and what was going on around you.
• When you get a copy of your accident report, make multiple copies and keep one inside your journal. It will come in handy when you have conversations with your insurance company or personal injury attorney early on after the accident.

Personal Injury Facts to Record Days After the Accident:

• Mood - was it the same after the accident?
• Appetite increase or loss?
• Pain level and location - has it changed since what you recorded at the scene?
• Mobility issues
• Sleep disturbances - are you sleeping worse from physical pain or emotional distress after the accident?
• Other physical changes, particularly loss of sensation in your arms, legs or anywhere else on your body.

Personal Injury Facts to Record Over Time:

• Doctors and therapy appointments with dates and times.
• Prescriptions given and the effect the drugs had on you.
• Change in activity level outside of work - did your accident cause a change in daily activities like how you exercise, manage your family, even walk your dog or other?
• Assisted living - List any increased assistance from family members or professionals.
• Change in job performance - Record time lost from work and if your personal injury affected your job performance.

Although keeping a personal injury journal can be time-consuming, the more complete a picture of the total affect your injury has had on your life and your family, the better the chance of your receiving appropriate compensation for the injury.If you are too injured to do this yourself, use a voice recorder and/or have a family member buy a notebook and agree to do daily phone calls with you to review and document your personal injury journal at the end of each day.

All content on Accidents.com is for informational purposes only and is NOT intended as legal or medical advice. Please seek advice from a professional on any related topics.

Tags:  Injury Compensation · Personal Injuries · Personal Injury Claim Preparation · Personal Injury Claims