How Documenting in a Post-Crash Journal May Help Your Injury Claim

No one expects to be in a car crash, and if it happens to you, the experience can be overwhelming. All of a sudden, in addition to getting treated for injuries, you have to notify your insurer and deal with a lot of other headaches, like unexpected medical bills. Documenting these costs and other crucial details in a post-crash journal supports and may even increase the value of your injury claim.

At Arnold Law, we handle injury claims every day, so we have seen firsthand the challenges crash victims have to go through to recover compensation for their damages. Our Sacramento auto crash attorneys have been helping these victims for decades, and we have a history of proven results.

Need legal help after a crash caused by a negligent driver? Call our law offices today to discuss your situation and learn what legal options you may have. Our staff are available to take your call 24/7.

Call: (916) 777-7777 to request your FREE case review.

What Things Are Important To Track in My Post-Crash Journal?

You should begin documenting details related to your car crash and injuries from day one. After such a traumatic incident people quickly begin forgetting things. Yet small details can sometimes make a significant difference to your claim.

To help maximize the value of your claim, the items you should neatly, accurately and consistently track in your post-crash journal include:

Details About the Crash

At a minimum, you should be sure to include the day, date and location of your crash. However, those details should also be in your police report. Additional details you could include about the crash might include the weather, road conditions and what you remember about events before and after the crash, such as:

• Did you see the other driver on his or her phone?
• Was the other driver following you too closely?
• Were there skid marks from the other driver’s tires?
• Was the other driver apologizing or claiming to be at fault when he or she spoke to you?
• Did you hit your head or other body part on something in the car at impact?

Specific details like these will likely be forgotten soon after the crash unless you document it in your post-crash journal. Be as specific as you can, but do not exaggerate or lie about anything.

Emergency Medical Care You Received

Seeking immediate medical attention after a car crash is crucial. Even if you are not aware of any pain or do not see any visible injuries, you may be hurt. Often crash victims may not feel pain because they are still in shock. Just because you do not see external evidence of physical damage does not mean you have no injuries. You could have sustained severe injuries that, left untreated, could become life-threatening, such as:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Neck, back injuries
• Whiplash
• Spinal cord damage
• Soft-tissue injuries
• Sprain and strain injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Minor or severe fracture
• Internal bleeding
• Crush injury

Continuing Medical Appointments

Be sure to save any medical bills, doctor’s notes and other invoices, as this documentation is further evidence of the damages you sustained. Organize any documentation related to your car accident and keep it with your post-crash journal. These costs are related to your car crash and you should not be responsible for them if you did not cause the crash. Even if you are partially liable, you may still be eligible to recover some portion of the damages you sustained.

Document Your Injuries and Your Recovery Progress

Perhaps the most crucial information to track revolves around the injuries you sustained and how you are progressing in your recovery.

For instance, were you unable to work for a while right after the crash? How long did you miss work? Can you get documentation, such as employment records, that proves how much work you missed?

Other details to document about your injuries and recovery:

• Describe your injuries and your pain level every day, such as on a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the most painful and one being the least painful.
• Explain how your injuries impact you every day – can you get dressed, clean your house, shower, make your own food, etc.?
• Include details about how your injuries are preventing you from doing things you loved to do before the crash, such as gardening, sports or dancing.
• Can you still do things with your family as you did before the crash? If not, describe that in your post-crash journal.
• Have your injuries affected your relationship with family or friends?
• Are you feeling isolated while you recover from your injuries?

Documenting your pain levels and what you are unable to do that you could do before the crash, a little every day, could significantly increase the compensation you receive.

What Is the Best Way to Organize and Track My Medical Costs?

The best approach is to find a method that works for you and stick with it. Some people like to keep all their information on the computer. They may scan or photograph every document with their phone and upload it to a secure online storage account. Others may prefer to keep hard copies of all their documents in an organized file folder. Some crash victims may even do both methods simultaneously. Whichever method you choose, the most important step is to keep it neat, organized, and be consistent. If you only document once every three months, it may not benefit your claim all that much.

Call Our Law Offices After a Crash To Discuss Your Potential Claim

At Arnold Law Firm, we have been helping crash victims for decades. We are prepared to guide you throughout the legal process and work tirelessly to recover the maximum possible compensation on your behalf.

There are no upfront costs to get started, and no fees unless or until we win your case. In short, we do not get paid unless you do.

Experienced Lawyers. Proven Results. Call (916) 777-7777 today.