If you are involved in a car accident, a journal can prove extremely useful in documenting and proving your injuries, expenses, and pain and suffering.
Automobile accidents can be extremely traumatizing especially if they cause serious injuries and property damage. Although most of us like to believe that it can never happen to us, especially if we drive carefully at all times, the reality is that all of us are at risk of being involved in an accident.
Despite your best efforts to stay safe, you may get involved in an automobile accident caused by another careless, negligent, or reckless driver. In this case, you can generally claim financial compensation for your injuries and property damage from an at-fault driver. However, to make a successful claim, you need to prove that the accident was the other person’s fault and that you suffered injuries as a result. To do this, it is extremely important that you record all facts and gather all possible evidence that can strengthen your claim. Maintaining a car accident journal can be helpful in preparing your case and making a successful claim.
This journal can be helpful evidence in your car accident case and may be shared with your lawyer and in court. Here is what you may record in your car accident journal.
Information to Include in Your Journal
Details about the accident: It is extremely important that you record all the details of the accident as soon as possible after the crash. You should include the details of the other driver, his behavior before and after the crash (drunk, distracted, drowsy, aggressive, etc.). Also, include the details such as weather conditions at the time of accident, road defects and other information that may be relevant to the cause of accident.
Medical treatment and doctor’s treatment: You can obviously get your medical records from your doctor, but it is important that you write down what your doctor said at your appointments. This will help you keep track of your treatment and recovery.
Pain and suffering: This step is very important because your pain will fade over time, and you need to document how bad it was to prove how much you suffered.
Impact of the accident on your life: If you had to miss work, vacations, family events, or you could not pursue your hobbies due to car accident injuries, you should note it down in your journal.
Note all details honestly and add a date to all your journal entries.
Keeping an Accident Journal
Make sure you maintain your journal in a convenient way so that you can make entries easily and then retrieve the information when required. You can keep a document on your computer or tablet or use the traditional paper journal. Whatever method you choose, the idea is to record all the information that may be relevant to your claim.
If you have been injured in a St. Louis automobile accident, it’s in your best interests to speak with an experienced St. Louis car wreck attorney as soon as possible.