If you were hurt in a car accident through no fault of your own, you should start a personal injury journal as soon as possible. Detailed entries that demonstrate the extent of your non-economic damages will help you prove the extent of your losses and pursue a fair recovery.
If you’re unsure what kinds of entries will contribute to the strength of your case, start by logging the following:
1. The Circumstances Surrounding the Wreck
Record everything you can remember about the collision while the details are still fresh in your mind. This entry will give your legal team a starting point for their own investigation, which will hopefully yield the evidence needed to prove liability against all responsible parties.
2. Every Doctor’s Appointment
After every doctor’s appointment, write down what was discussed and what procedures or treatments you underwent. These entries will help contextualize your medical records by providing a detailed log that tracks your ups and downs on the road to recovery.
3. Your Daily Routine
For many car accident victims, nothing illustrates the extent of their non-economic damages better than their daily routine. Every time your condition improves—or worsens—record everything you do over the course of a single day.
4. Hobbies & Pastimes You Can No Longer Partake In
Are your injuries keeping you from participating in activities you once loved? Every time friends or loved ones host an outing that you cannot attend because of your condition, write about it in your journal. Over time, these entries will demonstrate a pattern of missed opportunities, all of which you can use to prove loss of enjoyment in life.
5. The Tasks You’re Unable to Do Yourself
Do you need help with simple tasks that you should be able to perform with ease, like bathing, grooming, housekeeping, or meal preparation? Make a note in your journal whenever you must turn to a friend, loved one, or agency for assistance.
If you’re often calling on the same family members for help, ask them to keep a journal, as well. Instruct them to write about the ways in which they assist you on a day-to-day basis and how your needs are affecting their own quality of life.
6. Your Emotional State
On especially challenging days, write about the struggles you’re facing. Journaling not only will provide a release but also could also bolster your personal injury claim when it comes time to prove your non-economic damages.
Call 864-585-3873 for a Free Consultation with a South Carolina Car Accident Lawyer
If you were struck by a reckless driver and left with serious injuries, turn to Hodge & Langley Law Firm for strategic guidance. Our team has more than half a century of collective experience in legal practice. As such, we know what it takes to pursue sizable settlements and verdicts on behalf of our clients. Call 864-585-3873 or complete our Online Contact Form to schedule a free case review with a car accident attorney.