Brampton personal injury lawyers understand that most people may have kept a journal or diary only when they were teens! It was something where they recorded all their thoughts, feelings and experiences faithfully. Few of us realize that keeping a journal or diary following an accident can be a valuable document when it comes to claiming compensation.

Car accidents or slip and fall accidents can be devastating events, with far reaching impact on not just the injured victims but also on their families. There are physical, financial and emotional repercussions to be faced, while dealing with the disruptive and destructive aspects of job/wage losses, medical and rehabilitation expenses, pain and suffering etc.

In hindsight, most accidents could have been prevented or avoided. They are caused by someone’s fault or negligence. The injured have a right to seek monetary compensation for their losses by filing a claim for either statutory benefits available under their own insurance policies (in motor-vehicle accidents) or by filing a personal injury suit against the at-fault party.

How A Diary Can Help

An accident diary is slightly different from the normal personal journal. This is meant to record all events that take place following the accident so that it can be used as an aid to memory when the compensation claim is being negotiated with the insurance company.

Most of us tend to believe that our insurance company has our welfare at heart, but in reality, being for-profit organizations, their focus is on preserving their business interests. Hence, they may dispute, deny or dismiss your claim, minimize the nature/extent of your injuries or the liability of their at-fault clients or offer a meager settlement that would not cover your present and future needs.

Hence, keeping a diary helps you document:

• Details of the accident: Date, time, location, weather conditions, position of vehicles, vehicle make/model/license plate of the other vehicle, how and why according to you the accident occurred
• Contact details of witnesses if any
• Observations: including if there were CCTV or police cameras around
• Medical attention received: Every detail has to be recorded, including ambulance, ER, walk-in clinics, hospitalization, follow-up visits, labs, diagnostics, family-physicians, therapists.
• Bills and receipts: All bills of expenses connected with the accident, including medical/pharmacy, travel and accommodation, Rehabilitation procedures and expenses, Mobility and prosthetic devices
• Daily activities: Documentation of these helps record the difference that the accident has made in your life. It also helps the doctor to understand the progress of your treatment.
• Emotions: Expressing your feelings helps to demonstrate the pain and suffering aspect and emotional impact
• Communications: Meticulously record all communications including conversations, e-mail, notifications by mail, texts, phone-calls, etc with insurance companies, at-fault parties, lawyers. Keep copies of all mails received.

Tips to be followed:

• Make entries whenever you feel the need.
• Be brief, honest, business-like, accurate and sign/date each entry.
• Remember that it could be accessed by others, so avoid any confidential or personal matters.

Brampton car accident lawyers and Brampton slip and fall injury lawyers can assist you with filing your claim and the diary can prove to be a valuable resource to back your claim.