Maintaining a Record of Pain after a Car Accident

Going through an accident is not a pleasant experience; that goes without saying. However, the experience is even worse if you sustain an injury because of the accident, which happens more often than not. You may be disoriented after the accident, juggling medical appointments, dealing with insurance companies, or getting your car repaired.

While going through all these things, you must also recover from your injuries. These are burdens, some of which an attorney may be able to help relieve, but that does not make things less extensive.

Why Is Keeping a Pain Journal after a Pedestrian Accident Important?

Insurance companies tend to lengthen the process of paying victims when an accident happens. The goal is to delay or avoid payout by drawing things out for as long as possible. Meanwhile, the longer the case persists, the harder it is for victims to remember precisely what happened during the accident.

“A pain diary ensures you remember all the details you need to win your case,” says injury lawyer Christina Hanna of Berkowitz Hanna LLC. 

Unfortunately, relying solely on memory can result in inaccurate testimonials, which will inevitably hurt your case. Thus, keeping a pain diary or journal helps you track important dates, visited medical facilities, and treatment updates.

This diary can be a physical journal – you can write down what you remember. Otherwise, you can keep a digital journal; for instance, you can create a note on your phone. 

What should be in your pain journal?

Now that you are convinced about keeping a pain journal, you may wonder what should be in it. Below are important details that your pain journal or diary should detail:

• Information about the accident

The journal should include where, when, details, who was at fault, and where you were injured. Also, it should detail your symptoms and whether or not you (or someone) called the police, with the police report number. Additionally, if the accident was a car accident, you should include information about the driver at fault.

If you were in a work accident, mention whether you filed a report; if you did, including the incident number. Also, note if there are witnesses or if you took photos of the accident scene, your property damage, and other important details.

• Information about sustained injuries

Your journal should detail when and where your pain started and where you are experiencing symptoms. Rate your pain on a scale of one to ten, what hurts, and the activities that intensify the pain.

Also, take notes of your injuries' progress (or lack thereof); are you getting better or worse? Your doctor will undoubtedly include this in their medical records, but you should have a copy yourself.

• Conservations you had

Mention whether or not you spoke with the authorities, the party at fault, an insurance adjuster, or witnesses. Also, note the date, time, and subject of the discussion with each of these people. Essentially, you want to keep track of all important conversations; it will help your case greatly.

• Losses

Mention what you lost because of the injuries; for instance, did you miss work and lose wages? Did your company pay you any sick leave or short-term disability? You must keep track of all the days of work you missed because of the accident; you can get damages for them.

Conclusion

Any accident is life-changing, even more so if you sustain injuries. As such, you can easily forget details, which will hurt your case should you file a lawsuit. Therefore, documenting your symptoms, injuries, and treatment, among other relevant information, ensures you get the deserved compensation.