Should I keep a car accident diary after I have been injured?

It’s very important to keep a car accident diary after an auto accident. Memories tend to fade after a while. Sometimes accident victims suffer from loss of memory or amnesia for a specific time period and can’t remember everything.

If you were a car accident victim, you may swiftly become overwhelmed by your injuries, the stress of the accident, and the hefty medical bills. Your remedial procedure could take months or longer to complete, which means it could take even longer to settle your claim with the insurance company of the negligent driver. However, it is important to receive the compensation you deserve.

The most systematic approach—and the best way to support your accident claim—is to start making entries in a diary instantly after the accident and keep on making them (preferably once a day initially) until you recuperate from your injuries.

Reasons to keep a car accident diary.

Car insurance companies and lawsuits rely on facts. Insurance adjusters might not give any weight to what you tell them. The adjuster will point out several discrepancies in your narrative and dispute your claim. From questioning the severity of your injuries to which party was at fault, the medical adjuster can contest every minute detail to refute your compensation. So those who note the details of their car crash are in a better position to claim for it.

Keeping a car accident diary is one of the best ways to memorize key details and brace for the possibility of a favorable settlement of your claim. In case you have not maintained a car accident diary and there is no solid evidence to support your claim, you might not receive any compensation or reimbursement of your medical bills. However, if there is compiled information of all your medical records, they are compelled to settle for a fair amount.

If the case goes to court, you can hand over the diary to your attorney. He can advocate a tough case based on the documented facts. Your attorney can build a strong case to claim compensation for the injuries suffered during the car accident. Sentiments of pain and suffering stated in the diary will help you win the judge’s sympathy. Your conversation with witnesses might also prove useful. Here again, your car accident diary will strengthen your case.

How important is a doctor.

The services of an experienced car accident doctor will play a pivotal role in managing your physical and mental health.

• They will attend to your injuries promptly.
• They are trained to complete the documentation while you receive the necessary medication.
• Even if your injuries are not present, it is vital to consult an accident doctor to rule out the chances of an internal injury.
• Without consulting a doctor who treats car accident injuries you may not have a personal injury case.
• Seeking immediate medical attention will strengthen your compensation claim.

We have an extensive database of car accident doctors who provide injury patients with speedy and efficient medical aid.

You will require specialized doctors who can address injuries inflicted during the crash. An accident doctor is trained to handle accident injuries and can be of great assistance. They are experienced in handling traumatic situations in a professional manner.

An accident doctor will meticulously document your injuries. They rightfully understand the importance of documenting your medical records and injuries. These details will prove decisive in filing a lawsuit or stating a claim.

On your part, you must focus on your recovery. Start maintaining a diary that documents the details of the mishap accurately.

What to include in your car accident diary?

1.Every detail that you remember, accurately and precisely.

Try to recollect all the details of the accident and note it down in your diary. Maintain a journal wherein you keep making notes about the incidents. It is difficult to reminisce all the details at once. So, keep noting as and when thoughts of the accident cross your mind.

2. Write a detailed description of the crash in your diary

The time of the accident, names, and the number of people involved, the location, and how the accident took place.

• Weather and visibility conditions.
• Speed of the car
• Witnesses involved- their name, phone number, and address.
• Any precaution that you took to avert the crash.
• The impact/injuries that you suffered.
• Any notable thing about the other party (if involved)

3. Your medical case history

One of the most important details that you should include in the diary includes your injury details and medicines. Mention details of the aid that you were given immediately after the accident.

Were you rushed to the emergency room? A proficient doctor will help you document your condition if you are unable to recollect the exact details. They will assess your injuries and start treatment accordingly. Mention all this data in your diary along with medications and treatments extended to you.

Once you are released from the hospital/emergency care services, continue maintaining the diary. Make an entry about your daily progress. How do you feel? Any new complications? Is the medication effective? Describe your pain using words like throbbing, stabbing, severe, worst, or better in your diary. These terms will help the doctors and the judges (later) in evaluating the exact quantum of your distress.

Report these updates to your medical provider. Based on your health updates he will decide the next course of treatment. As you start healing, the diary entries become less frequent. Do keep maintaining notes about your medical progress, the medicines prescribed, frequency of doctor appointments, medical expenses, and so on.

Mention all the doctors in your diary that you have visited, general practitioners, specialists, psychiatrists, and alternative therapies. Entries in your diary about doctor visits and the medications they prescribe will strengthen your case. The adjuster will get a clear idea about the extent of your suffering and attorneys can argue your case better.

Specialized doctors from our database will diagnose the extent of your injuries, provide suitable medical care, and guide you in maintaining a thorough diary.

4. Make notes in your diary of your emotional trauma

External wounds may heal, but what about the internal scars? The pain, the stress, and the shock wave that jostled you up to your core. Make a note in your diary of all the emotional distress that you are undergoing.  Talk about the damage that you suffered emotionally and how it has changed your life. Recovering emotionally is a slow time-taking process.

Recording your feelings during this emotional roller-coaster ride will also help you in expressing your issues. Mention your discomforts namely depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, and the therapies that you are undergoing in your diary.

There are online tools that help in evaluating your pain and distress levels. A car accident doctor from our database can assist you in using these online tools. Write down the results of these findings in your car accident diary. These readings will help your doctor, the insurance adjuster, and the jury will understand the extent of your pain and suffering.

5. Conversations with witnesses, agents, and other parties

Any conversation that you have with the other party, or a witness could prove a valuable key for your case. Make a note of all conversations stating precise details in your diary. Adding irrelevant information could act against you. Mention the contact details of your witnesses.

You might meet several people every day. It is difficult to remember the subject of conversation after a few days. Note down all the important points of the conversation, right after the meeting. Maintaining a diary will help your attorney in procuring relevant information regarding your case. It will also act as a reference that you can consult when your insurance agent or personal injury lawyer cross-examines you.

6.Day by day of how you feel, your pain level

Make sure to include how you feel or your pain level on a day-by-day basis. Also, write down anything that you cant do. However, before the accident you had no issue doing these things at all. These may be.

• playing with your children
• picking up your children
• loss of consortium
• playing sports
• etc.

7.Every visit to the doctor’s office

Make sure to keep up with every visit to your doctor’s office. Make a note of what was done and how you felt. What procedure was done and the time it took for all your appointments.

8. Calculate your time and write it in your diary

Have ever heard the saying time is money, well your time is worth something. Make sure to keep up with how many hours this accident has cost you in terms of travel time, doctors appointment, time spent on the phone and meeting with your attorney.

9. Any conversation with the insurance adjuster

Keep track of anything you say to an adjuster. Your attorney will want to know what you said or what was recorded. It’s advisable to at least speak with an attorney so you won’t jeopardize your injury case.

Your car accident diary can go public

In case your case goes to court, your diary will be a crucial thread of evidence. In adverse cases, the other party attorney might use the diary entries against you. So, whenever you write down your symptoms, medical records, or disturbing emotions, analyze how the jury or attorney can interpret it. If you are clear and precise with your notes, you have nothing to worry about.

Final thoughts

Judges and Jury’s like someone who is well organized and has details about every aspect of the car accident. Keeping a diary with these details in it is a very important part of winning a personal injury case.

It is difficult to remember details of a car accident. And as time passes, the details become blurred. Besides, the human brain will make every effort to forget the traumatic incident.

A competent accident doctor will provide suitable medical treatment and assist you with proper documentation and billing of a personal injury case. Your car accident diary will help you claim financial reimbursements to settle your medical bills and other compensations.

In the event of a car accident, contact a car accident doctor from our database at the earliest possible to receive the best medical treatment and assistance towards a claim.