Evidence is king in a personal injury claim, and this is one of the primary reasons to keep a personal injury journal. Victims deserve fair compensation for their pain and suffering after an accident, but it’s often hard to convince a jury or insurance company of what is fair. Personal injury journals make it much harder to deny the physical and emotional pain that accident victims are experiencing, putting them in a better position to fight for what they deserve.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in an accident, Weaver Tidmore is here to help. Call us at 205-980-6065 to schedule a consultation.

What a Personal Injury Journal Includes

A personal injury journal includes the important details of the accident you were involved in, the injuries you sustained, how those injuries have changed over time, and the expenses you have accumulated. This provides concrete evidence of events and expenses that often fade with time.

You can start your journal by writing down everything you remember about the accident. Right now, the accident is likely fresh in your mind and you can’t imagine forgetting it. However, memories fade with time and you might even find that false or altered memories take their place. By writing down everything you remember as soon as possible, you can preserve an accurate image of the accident.

How to Track the Progress of Your Injuries

One of the most important purposes of a personal injury journal is to show how your injury progresses and how it changes your life. An injury changes an individual’s life in countless ways, and these changes often never get told to an insurance company.

For example, who would think to tell an insurance adjuster that they can no longer carry a laundry basket and have to wait until their spouse gets home every night? And yet, that information is valuable when determining the severity of an injury and understanding how it has changed your life.

Each day, jot notes about your day. Try to include information like:

• Your pain level at several points throughout the day
• Pain medications you take to meet your daily obligations
• Daily tasks you have to skip, reassign, or get help with due to your injury
• Activities and events you have to skip because of your injuries
• The times you have friends or family members come over to help you with things you cannot do on your own
• Personal care activities you need help with, such as showering, changing clothes, and taking care of your appearance

Track Other Important Information

This journal can also be a useful way to track the expenses you accumulate because of the accident. If you pick up a prescription for pain medications, jot down the copay in your personal injury journal and add the receipt to your file. If you have to miss a day of work because of pain or a doctor’s appointment, make sure to add that to your journal. When you go to an appointment related to your injury, track your mileage. These expenses add up quickly, and they should be reflected in the settlement you receive.

Maximizing Your Case Value

How does all of this strengthen your case? The value of your case all comes down to the actual expenses you incur and how much your injuries affect your life. Many accident victims have difficulty detailing how their injuries have affected them when they are put on the spot. They forget the million tiny inconveniences they deal with each day, the expenses they’ve accumulated, and the activities they can no longer participate in.

A personal injury journal tracks all of this and more, putting the effects of your accident in black and white. It can also detail the progression of your injury. This puts an end to insurance companies claiming that you’ve already healed and that your injury is not as serious as you think. With the journal, you can point to specific days you missed work because of pain, high pain level days that put you out of commission, and lost time with your family that you will never get back.

How Weaver Tidmore Can Help

At Weaver Tidmore, we strive to help every single personal injury client get the full compensation they deserve. Ready to learn more about your options? Contact us now to set up a consultation. Get in touch online or call us at 205-980-6065.