What Is a Personal Injury Journal & Why Should I Create One?

If you were injured because of another party’s negligence or intentional misconduct, you may be entitled to compensation for medical costs, lost income, and other damages. In order to recover a financial award, though, you’ll have to prove the value of damages you’ve incurred to the satisfaction of a fact-finder. A personal injury journal is one form of evidence your lawyer might use to make your claim more compelling and to prove non-economic damages such as lost enjoyment in life, inconvenience, and pain and suffering.

What Should My Personal Injury Journal Include?

Your injury journal should include notes about the incident, any pain and other symptoms you’re experiencing, the activities you’ve missed due to your injuries, medication side effects, and other adverse impacts your injuries are having on your life. This journal should be kept private (either written in a notebook or typed in an electronic document) and shared only with your attorney.

Below is a more detailed overview of what should go in your personal injury journal:

• A Description of the Incident: Your first entry should be a detailed description of the incident that caused your injuries. Include the location, date, and approximate time of the incident; weather and road conditions (if applicable); the contact information of eyewitnesses; and any statements and actions of the other parties involved.
• Details About Your Symptoms: Record the symptoms you experience each day such as pain, stiffness, fatigue, reduced mobility, anxiety, etc. Be as detailed as possible and rate the severity of each symptom on a 1 to 10 scale. Also, write down when you first noticed each symptom, how frequently they occur, and how long they last.
• Notes About the Activities Affected by Your Symptoms: Describe how your symptoms are affecting your ability to participate in social events, work, and familial activities.
• Other Notes: Be sure to record any medication side effects, medical complications, and other adverse impacts your injuries are having on your life.

To reduce the likelihood of losing your entries, it’s a good idea to write your journal in an electronic document so it can be backed up on an external hard drive or saved on a cloud drive.

Discuss Your Case with a Personal Injury Lawyer in Spartanburg: Call  864-585-3873

At Hodge & Langley Law Firm, we know how to bring together the relevant facts and evidence to build strong claims to best position the case for trial or favorable settlement. We always prepare for settlement negotiations as if we’re going to trial so the opposing party knows what they’re going up against if they refuse to cooperate.

With nearly 50 years of combined experience, our personal injury attorneys understand what it takes to provide effective representation both in and out of court. We will aggressively protect your rights and make sure you are treated fairly through every stage of the proceedings.

Call us today at 864-585-3873 or use our Contact Page to set up a free initial consultation. A member of our team can come to you if you are unable to come to us.