Documenting Your Auto Accident Injury Claim

 Posted on March 21, 2016 in Car Accidents

When making a personal injury claim based on a car accident, you will need to have thorough documentation if you want to be fully compensated for your injuries. While your primary duty after a car accident is to listen to your doctors and get better, you should also be documenting your injuries and losses.

Medical Records

Your medical records are among the most valuable types of information to your car injury claim. While you may be able to describe in great detail where you hurt and for how long, the rules of evidence will require more detailed proof of your injuries. The main reason, of course, that it is important to see a doctor and follow up on your injuries is to make sure you recover as fully as possible, but having medical records generated that substantiate your claim is another key benefit.

Keeping Track of Expenses and Losses

California law allows you to collect out of pocket expenses as well as actual losses caused by a negligent driver. You should keep track of all of your out of pocket medical expenses, including co-pays and prescription drug costs. If you have to miss work because of your injuries, and you lose out on pay or accrual of benefits, you may be able to be compensated for these as part of a personal injury claim. However, you will need documentation of these losses. This documentation could include doctor’s notes excusing you from work, pay stubs, and even employee manuals which detail any vacation accrual rules.

What Did You Miss?

While you are in the midst of recovering from your injuries it is hard to imagine that you will ever forget just how awful you feel and what types of things you may have been forced to miss. But, many people begin to lose track of these details as they start to feel better. If you keep a regular journal or diary that includes dates and brief descriptions of how you feel or what activities you had to miss out on that day because of your injuries, it will help you justify your demand for compensation for your pain and suffering.

If were injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you need to speak with a skilled and knowledgeable San Jose personal injury attorney right away. Call the Law Office of John J. Garvey, III today at 408-293-7777 to schedule a consultation and have your case evaluated. You may only have a short time to make your claim.

Source:

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/calawquery?codesection=evid