When vehicles collide, there is often an immediate bout of pandemonium. The first thought is generally to make sure everyone involved in the accident is safe. Modern protocol then tells us to immediately inform the authorities and allow them to sort out the details. After the accident, vehicles are towed and people either go home or to the hospital. What comes next is usually a lot of waiting.
Waiting is not your only option if you are the victim in an auto accident. There is no getting around the fact that you will have to wait for the legal process to run its course. In the meantime, you can do something that can prove to be extremely valuable: keep a journal.
Your journal should begin right after the accident. Start by writing down everything you remember about the accident. Think about what you saw, what went through your mind and what happened during the actual accident. Try to focus on as many details as possible, even when it comes to the colliding vehicle and its driver.
This is important because the passing of time may cause you to forget some things about the accident. It may just be a minor detail or two that you forget, but that minor detail could eventually play a major role in your case. This kind of written memory will allow you to accurately recreate the accident scene if you are ever asked to do so, particularly in a courtroom.
Continue on with the journal by recording everything that happens in the days after the accident. Make sure to record any time off work, any calls to a lawyer, or any bills you may have received as a result of the accident. Anything that might be remotely connected to the accident should be written in your journal.
Overall, keeping a journal will thoroughly prepare you if your case does go to court. It will also provide leverage if your case goes to mediation. Settlements could turn out to be much larger when the victim has detailed documentation of injuries, pain, suffering and bills that are noted down to the exact penny.
Your healing process should be a major part of your journal. If you wake up with a slight pain in the middle of the night, reach for your journal before you reach for an aspirin. Injuries are important in every auto accident case. They could make a big difference in the final payout. So document every little pain you feel. Those pains may not initially seem to be a direct result of the crash, but there are lingering effects you may not be privy to.
All of this will not only help with the legal process, but it will also help you with the healing process. Car accidents are a traumatic event that can affect people emotionally as well as physically. It is important to be sure you have a record of every bit of your suffering.
You do not need to be a professional writer to put together a quality journal. Just be precise and consistent. A judge is not going to be awarding a Pulitzer Prize, but a judge could award you a sizeable payout. Honest facts about everything that could be related to your auto accident can only strengthen your case.
Victims of car accidents can turn to the Mississippi Auto Accident Attorney at Barrett Law PLLC. Your suffering deserves compensation and our legal team can show you the best ways to get what you deserve. Our attorneys can help you build your case into a winner. Call us today for a free confidential consultation at (800) 707-9577.