Within hours of being in an accident, you could be dealing with doctors, mechanics, and an insurance company. The first two are going to help you get back on track with your life; they’re also going to charge you. The insurance company will (hopefully) make up for those losses, especially if someone else caused the accident.
When you do contact the insurance company, whether it is your carrier or the at-fault driver, they are going to initially tell you one thing: Prove it.
While what happened to you might seem obvious, you still have to demonstrate to the insurance company the extent of your damages and the specific causes of the accident.
That will require evidence. Some evidence might be easy to come by, while other items might not be readily accessible. That is where an experienced Louisville car accident lawyer comes into play. The attorneys at McCoy & Hiestand, PLC can provide you with the guidance you need to help you document your injuries and damages after an accident.
Here’s what you need to know.
The Importance of Immediate Medical Documentation
After a collision with another car, you’ll either be able to “walk away” from the accident or be taken away in an ambulance.
Depending on the severity of the crash, it’s not a bad idea to go for that ambulance ride to an ER, even if you feel fine. Some symptoms from a car accident might not appear for hours or days. That is why you want to be on the record seeking medical attention.
Medical records help to prevent claim denials. Simply put: If you have an X-ray that shows you broke your arm in the accident, it will be hard to deny your injury. Those immediate records also document the extent of your injury and the proposed treatment. That might require surgery, hospitalization, or immobilization.
All of that also counts as missed work.
This documentation will be provided by objective medical professionals who are concerned about your well-being.
Capturing Visual Evidence at the Scene
Your cell phone can play a critical role in evidence collection at the scene of the accident.
A lot of this depends on the nature of the accident. The first steps to take after an accident are to check for injuries and call for help. Obviously, if someone is trapped in their car, they won’t be able to snap photos on their cell phone. However, if you can get out of your car, you should only take photos when it is safe to do so.
It is important to capture the scene immediately before the vehicles are moved off the road. When taking videos, speak slowly during the call and be sure to keep your photos safe.
Here are the key elements you need to document at the scene of the accident:
- Overall Scene
- Vehicle Positions
- Detailed Damage
- License Plates & Documents
- Environmental Factors
- Visible Injuries
- Witness/Driver Information
It is also important to check for any nearby surveillance cameras that may capture footage of the accident.
Maintaining a Detailed Pain Journal
Starting a pain journal is recommended to support your personal injury claim. This isn’t unlike a personal diary that you can handwrite, dictate as voice memos on your phone, or type on a computer. You should try to begin journaling right after the accident. It will also help to take photos of your injuries at the start and throughout the recovery.
If you’re unsure what to include in your pain journal, consider the following:
Date and Time
It would be ideal to log entries at least 1–2 times daily. It is a good habit to write an entry in the morning when you wake up and another before going to bed to recap the day.
Pain Location and Type
You need to be specific about the pain you’re experiencing and where it is located.
Intensity Scale
You can use a 0–10 pain intensity scale to help you describe your pain.
Functional Impact
It is also important to detail all the tasks your injuries are preventing you from completing, including missing work.
Medical and Treatment Notes
Your pain journal should also include entries that describe doctor visits, physical therapy sessions, medications, and any side effects you experience.
Emotional State
Finally, it is important to also record your emotional journey. Be honest about your feelings of anxiety, frustration, or depression that are caused by the injury.
Tracking Economic Damages and Out-of-Pocket Expenses
When you get into an accident that is caused by another driver, you’re entitled to seek compensation for any out-of-pocket expenses you incur.
It is vital to save every receipt, invoice, and invoice-related email. You can set up a spreadsheet that logs dates, descriptions, and amounts for every expense. Here’s what you need to document:
- Hospital bills
- ER charges
- Prescription drugs
- Over-the-counter medication
- Medical devices
- Physical therapy
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Special transportation
- Estimates for car repairs or vehicle replacement
- Household support
- Home modifications
When you add up all your damages, the amount can be overwhelming. It’s important not to immediately accept a settlement offer until you have a total appreciation of what all your losses might be.
Why You Should Consult a Kentucky Injury Attorney
All of the documents you collect related to your accident injuries need to be shared with an experienced Louisville personal injury lawyer like you’ll find at McCoy & Hiestand, PLC.
We know how to use accident documentation the right way to bolster your claim.
We can also help you access other relevant evidence, such as police crash reports and traffic surveillance footage. All the evidence we gather is in service of our clients.
Our experienced attorneys will thoroughly review all evidence presented during the first consultation. If we believe your case has merit, we can discuss working together to help you obtain the compensation you are entitled to.
We’ll also be able to answer questions about the challenges you might encounter and how we can support you throughout the process.
Call to set up your free consultation today.
