Approximately one in three of us who drive will be involved in an auto accident in our lifetime. If you’ve been in an auto accident through no fault of your own, you are experiencing injury, pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills, and property damage from your wrecked automobile you may remember every single detail of that horrible day.

With the passage of time, things may become less clear, and you may start to forget some of the things you have experienced.

So now what? 

If you sustained moderate to severe injuries, you will definitely want to contact an experienced personal injury law firm that specializes in auto accidents. They can advise you on each step to take to get your ducks in the row and make sure you do not miss any deadlines to file a personal injury lawsuit.

The Mike Bell Firm – Birmingham will also investigate the cause of your accident and determine whether you are eligible for compensation from the other side. Do not hesitate to make that call, because evidence tends to disappear the longer you wait.

Journaling After an Auto Accident

It’s at this time you will need strong evidence to make your case. That’s where journaling after your accident can come in very handy.

It works like this – if you write a daily entry in a journal, we will be able to show this to a jury or to the lawyer for the other side’s insurance company. It is impossible to remember every single detail when you look back at an accident and its aftermath. Keep writing until you are on the road to recovery.

Even the day of the accident should be chronicled, because time has a way of making memories fuzzy.

An example of journaling is this – on such and such a date, you may have experienced excruciating pain and heard from the doctor that your injuries will take a year before they subside. Or maybe you were told your injuries are permanent.   

How did that make you feel? Did you share it with your family and what was their reaction? What plans did the family have to make to accommodate your injury.  Will you lose your home? A car?  A vacation? Will someone have to do without college or buying an automobile?

What medications were you prescribed and what was their cost? Did they seem to work? What were your symptoms before going to the doctor following your auto accident?

One accident can have a devastating domino effect on your entire family. How are they reacting? Put all of that in your journal. All of these recollections go into the pain and suffering component of your personal injury case. 

It will also give you a substantiated record of all medical appointments you have made and the time that this accident has cost you.  Time is translated to dollars and will provide the necessary evidence of your financial loss.

Some other reasons to keep a personal injury journal include:

Keep the Record of Your Own Words

If you have to testify at trial, what were you feeling on any specific date?  With a journal, you have instant recollection.

And the incident that led to the accident should be chronicled.  What were the road conditions? The time of day and daylight. Was there traffic? How heavy was it and how fast was it going? How fast were you going? What do you remember just prior to the auto accident? Who did you speak to at the scene? Do you have their names and numbers?

There are many things to be considered for compensation other than material losses. 

What were you feeling on any given day? What was the degree of pain you experienced after the accident?

When you were recovering what could you NOT do? For example:

• Maybe you could not move, work, or take care of your family
• You may have lost income as a result of your accident
• You could not participate in simple social activities as you had before
• Because you were restricted at work, you faced job loss
• Your family had to do without schooling, medicine, food, a trip anything can be affected after an auto accident

Your Alabama Auto Accident Law Firm

If you have been hurt in an Alabama auto accident, the Mike Bell Firm – Birmingham will discuss with you a plan going forward. We will fight for your best interests including compensation for your pain and suffering and property damage as well as lost wages and medical bills.

Our auto accident attorneys have a reputation for taking care of their clients in a time of need. Please do not hesitate to give our office a call. There is no obligation, and together we will come up with a game plan to help you take the next steps in your road to recovery. Contact our Birmingham office at (205) 666-6000 or reach out to us online.