Posted on Friday, October 21st, 2016 at 5:35 pm
If you have been injured in an accident because of the negligent, careless, or reckless acts of another person or entity, you have the right under California personal injury laws to seek compensation for your losses, damages, and injuries. However, the process of recovering compensation is not always easy nor guaranteed. A personal injury claim is a civil matter that requires proof of fault and damages. In many cases, it can take up to a year or more to settle a personal injury claim. Therefore, keeping detailed notes can be extremely valuable for you and your attorney.
What Type of Notes Should I Keep About My Accident?
It is easy to forget key details about an accident as more time passes. For that reason, keeping notes about the accident, your injury, your recovery, and your losses can help you recall details for trial and help your attorney prepare a strong case for settlement.
Your Accident
You may be unable to take notes immediately after your accident; however, you should write down everything you remember as soon as possible. Memories fade over time; therefore, capturing what you remember immediately after the accident is important. Information you should include:
- Date, time, and location of the accident
- The weather conditions at the time of the accident
- Notes about the surroundings
- Names and contact information for any eyewitnesses
- Name of officer or other emergency personnel responding to the accident scene
- Details about what you were doing immediately before the accident
- Everything you remembering hearing and seeing immediately prior, during, and after the accident
Your notes are a good place for your attorney to begin his accident investigation.
Your Injuries and Your Recovery
When you file a personal injury claim, you must prove that the other party was at fault for the accident and that you suffered damages because of the accident. Consequently, keeping notes about your injuries and your recovery helps your attorney when he begins to calculate the value of your personal injury claim.
When describing your injuries and recovery include:
- Detailed description of all injuries (keep photographs of your injuries and your recovery)
- Pain level each day of your recovery
- Details regarding how your injuries impact your ability to perform tasks
- Details regarding how your injuries impact your daily life and your relationship with family and friends
- Notes from all conversations related to your accident, injuries, and recovery, including the date, time, person, and subject of each conversation
Documentation For Your Claim
As you keep notes regarding your accident, add documentation to substantiate your claim. Examples of documentation that you should retain for your attorney include:
- Medical invoices, bills, and reports
- Receipts for out-of-pocket expenses
- Copies of prior pay stubs and tax returns
- Statements regarding lost wages and income
- Photographs of the accident scene, your injuries, and your recovery
- Records regarding your travel expenses to and from doctor’s appointments
- Invoices for personal care or household services you are unable to perform
Any document that relates to your accident should be preserved and provided to your Sacramento personal injury attorney. Therefore, the more documentation you can provide, the better chance you have of recovering full compensation for your damages.
Call a Sacramento Personal Injury Attorney For A Free Case Evaluation
If you have been injured, contact the Tiemann Law Firm by calling (916) 999-9000 or by chatting with a representative on our website to schedule a free legal consultation with a personal injury lawyer. Your first step in securing compensation for your injuries should be consulting with an experienced Sacramento personal injury attorney.
