Taking Notes after an Accident with a Motor Vehicle in Florida
If you have been in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, then perhaps the most important measure you can take to ensure that you are adequately compensated for your resultant injuries is to document everything. This includes taking detailed notes of the accident, your injuries, and all other losses you have sustained because of the accident. This article provides you with guidance on which pieces of information are of particular importance to your impending personal injury case and how to take and store such notes.
Narrating the Accident
Depending on the type of injuries you sustain in an accident, it may be difficult for you to record the details of your accident immediately after it happens. For instance, you may have sustained a concussion and cannot think clearly immediately after the accident or you may have lost consciousness due to another injury sustained in the accident. Whether or not you sustain injuries that temporarily impair your cognitive abilities in the accident, it is important that you start to write down the specific details of your accident as soon as you are able.
These details include:
- What you were doing at the time of the accident
- Where you were going
- What you observed of your surroundings immediately before the accident occurred
- How the accident happened
- The injuries you noticed you sustained during or immediately after the accident
- The names and contact information of those who were present at the time of the accident and if those present made any statements with respect to the accident
Writing these details down as soon as you remember them will benefit you in two ways:
- It can help you recall the details of your accident quicker and more accurately than just relying on your memory as time passes
- It can help you explain the details of your accident to others in a more cohesive manner.
Logging your Physical Injuries and Treatment Plan
In addition to jotting down details of the accident itself, it is also a good idea to keep a log of your injuries and the treatment you undergo in an effort to heal those injuries. For those injuries that manifest immediately after an accident, try to keep a daily written account of the pain you experience because of each specific injury, the limitations each specific injury places on you in going about your daily life, what types of treatment you are undergoing for the injuries, and the progress and setbacks you experience while undergoing treatment. Keeping a written account of these details will help you recall the full extent of your injuries when you have to explain your injuries to an insurance adjuster, write a demand letter to the liable party, or have to testify at your personal injury trial. Moreover, some injuries do not appear immediately after the accident, and, in fact, can manifest days or even months after the accident. You should start to keep written accounts of these injuries as well because you may be entitled to more monetary compensation if you can prove that the accident caused these latent injuries.
Jotting Down Emotional and Economic Injuries
If you are involved in an accident, you may also suffer emotional injuries such as pain and suffering, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder or economic losses such as loss of employment, vacation time, or ability to partake in social activities or hobbies. Under Florida law, you may be entitled to additional monetary compensation if you can prove these injuries. Writing down the extent of these injuries, the details of the treatment you undergo because of these injuries, and how each specific injury affects your quality of life may help to recall the facts you need to remember to prove you suffered these injuries.
Keep All Notes in One Place
Although this may be a difficult task to achieve, it is prudent that you write all notes in one notepad or computer file. Having all of your notes in one place helps you to remain more organized and allows your attorney and the opposing party understand the full extent of your injuries and to assess the validity of your case. If you cannot write all of your notes in one notepad or computer file, the second best thing to do is to store all your notes in one location. That way, you can easily access your notes and it is less likely that you will lose track of them.
Contact a Lake Worth Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Car, Truck, or Motorcycle Accident Case in Florida
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a car accident, truck accident, or motorcycle accident in Florida? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Gonzalez & Cartwright, P.A. represent clients injured because of car, truck, or motorcycle accidents in Lake Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Palm Beach, and throughout Florida. Call 561-898-0497 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 813 Lucerne Avenue, Lake Worth, FL 33460, as well as an office in Pompano Beach.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.