Personal injury cases often come about because the injured party needs to obtain compensation to help pay for the medical costs of their recovery or to replace income that has been lost due to an inability to work. In order to win the case, injury attorneys must prove many things. This requires providing strong evidence to support the claim. Personal injury documentation is one example of such evidence and it can be invaluable in proving injury.
Creating an injury journal is the easiest way to keep all of your personal injury documentation in one place. Your injury journal is not a diary where you may record how you are feeling and how your recovery is progressing. You can include this information but keep it short and factual. Use the journal to include important details about the accident, your injuries, treatments, and recovery. Start your journal soon after the accident since details can fade with time.
Examples of relevant details to include in your personal injury documentation are:
It is also important to document the medical care, treatments, surgeries, and prescriptions you receive due to the injury. Include whether or not they are helping or how treatment/care has changed with time.
Medical care includes:
Tracking your daily pain levels also supports personal injury documentation. By recording your pain levels regularly, your attorney can demonstrate the extent of your pain and suffering and how well or poorly you are recovering from it. You do not want to exaggerate your pain, but you also don’t want to downplay it. Keep yourself honest by answering these questions in your journal:
You should document more than just the injuries suffered and the treatments received. Include information about how the injury impacted your life. Did you have to take time off of work? What were the dates? If you went back to work but had to take time off for doctor’s visits, keep track of those dates and times.
Did the injury affect your life in other ways? Have they affected your ability to drive? Do household tasks? Care for yourself? Did you have to give up any hobbies or exercise? Have the injuries affected your sleep or caused intimacy problems? Have the injuries affected your relationships with friends and family or colleagues? Are you suffering emotionally due to the injury and/or the changes it has caused in your life?
Remember, you are maintaining this journal to use the information inside of it as evidence. When the journal is submitted as evidence, everything in it can be examined and used, even by the defendant’s attorneys. Be honest and accurate in your entries. Write legibly and date each entry. The more organized and comprehensive your journal is, the more effective it can be in supporting your claim.
Discuss your legal options with a personal injury attorney at Eisenberg Law Offices. We offer free consultations where we will discuss our services and whether or not you have a case. Personal injury cases operate on a contingency basis which means there are no costs to you unless you win your case.
Contact our office at 608-256-8356 or info@eisenberglaw.org to schedule your free consultation.
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The Information Contained In This Site Is Not Intended To Provide Legal Advice. Please Consult An Attorney To Discuss The Facts Of Your Individual Situation. Eisenberg Law Office, S.C. 308 E. Washington Ave., Madison, WI 53703 USA (608) 256-8356