What is a Personal Injury Journal and Why Should I Use One After a SC Car Crash?
After you’re hurt in a car crash, you may relive it over and over again—no matter how hard you try to turn it off. It’s hard, then, to believe that you will eventually forget the details of your accident and injuries. In fact, those memories start fading fairly quickly. While this can help you heal, it can also make it very difficult for you to get the compensation you deserve. In any personal injury claim, documentation is key. A personal injury journal could be a crucial piece of evidence in your claim.
Wondering how to start your personal injury claim? The team at Peake & Fowler is here to help you move forward. Call us at 803-788-4370 to set up a consultation and find out how you can fight for fair compensation.
The Importance of Evidence in a Personal Injury Claim
Without sufficient evidence, you don’t have a personal injury claim. That’s hard to hear, but it’s true—if you aren’t able to prove what happened, who caused it, and how you have suffered, the insurance company will fight your claim tooth and nail. The more evidence you have to back up your statements, the harder it will be for them to hold out.
Evidence builds the entire foundation of your case. It helps you prove liability, demonstrate the extent of your injuries, and show your financial losses. When you are committed to keeping a personal injury journal, it can become a strong piece of evidence in your case.
What is a Personal Injury Journal?
A personal injury journal is a written record of the different aspects of your claim. It starts with the accident itself and everything you remember about it. From there, it goes into your medical appointments, the progress of your injuries, your limitations, and how your daily life is affected. Many of the details you record in a personal injury journal are those that you would forget in a matter of days or weeks. By documenting them, you ensure that your attorney can use them in your case.
Details to Document
A thorough personal injury journal should contain a wide range of information related to your car accident. Key elements include:
- The accident itself: It is very important to write this down as soon as you can after the crash. You want to document every single thing you remember, from the weather and road conditions to your pain levels and obvious injuries.
- Your first medical checkup: You should get checked out soon after a crash. Write down where you go, which care providers you see, and an overview of the information they give you.
- Every medical appointment you attend: Medical expenses are a key part of most personal injury claims, and keeping a log of your appointments can prove the extent of your care. You may also want to track your mileage to and from appointments so you can seek compensation for your time spent driving.
- Pain levels: Your pain may fluctuate from day to day. By tracking them, you can see how your pain levels change over time and get an overview of your pain and suffering.
- Emotional wellbeing: Personal injuries take an emotional toll on victims. If you have days that are particularly challenging, jot a few lines down to document your emotional state.
- Limitations: If you can’t do your family’s laundry, focus long enough to balance the checkbook, or sleep for more than a few hours at a time due to pain, these are all issues to track in your journal.
- Workplace struggles: Keep track of any time away from work, days you have to leave early due to pain or medical appointments, and any time you spend on light duty.
- Accident-related communication: You may find it useful to log any communication you have with the other party, either insurance company, your attorney, and other involved parties.
When the insurance company has black-and-white proof of how your injuries have impacted you, they are much more likely to negotiate in good faith.
Start Your Personal Injury Case and Call Us Today
With the team at Peake & Fowler, you can focus on recovery and know that your case is in good hands. To set up your free consultation, contact us online or call us at 803-788-4370.
