The Importance of Keeping Good Records in a Personal Injury Claim

One of the most important things that you should do after getting injured in an accident is to write down all the details pertaining to the accident.

These notes will come in handy months later when you make a final claim for compensation. It might not be possible for you to remember every detail for long, but it is a lot easier and more reliable to note down everything on a piece of paper. Take note of everything that might affect your personal injury lawsuit.

The Accident

After you have sought medical attention for the injuries and you feel you are in the right frame of mind, write down all the details you can remember about how the accident occurred. Include details such as where you were going, what you were doing, who was with you, the time of day, and the weather. Also, note down details of whatever you felt, heard, or saw such as blows, shocks, and twists to the body during and after the accident.

Injuries

In the first few days after you have suffered an injury, maintain daily notes of the pain and discomfort you suffer as a result of the injury. You may experience pain, anxiety, loss of sleep, discomfort, or other problems that may not be visible or as serious as the actual injury, but which you may seek additional compensation. If you do not make notes about it immediately, you may not remember the details when you actually file the claim. The notes will help you to explain to the insurance company how much pain and discomfort you suffered because of the injury.

Writing down everything about the injury will help your doctor make a correct diagnosis. For example, a minor snap of the neck might not seem relevant today, but it will help the insurance company and the doctor understand why you developed a neck pain weeks after the accident. When you provide these details to the doctor, they become a part of your medical records, which come in handy when you seek compensation.

Economic and Non-Economic Losses

The victim of a personal injury is entitled to compensation for both economic and non-economic losses. Apart from medical expenses and other related costs, you can also claim compensation for pain and suffering. However, you have to maintain proper documentation and make notes about everything you lost as a result of the injury. This may include work hours, meetings, job opportunities, vacations, social gatherings, or anything else that you might have enjoyed or benefited from.

Conversations

Make proper notes of any conversations you may have with any person about the injury or claim. Include details of the persons involved, date, time, and content of the conversation. The conversations that may be worth documenting would be those with the insurance adjuster, witnesses, or medical professional. Once you have noted down every possible detail about the injury and accident, consult with Zevan and Davidson Law Firm, LLC at (314) 588-7200 to discuss your case and file a claim.