Whether it’s due to a car crash, a slip and fall or any other type of incident that leads to a serious injury, dealing with the aftermath can be rough on you both physically and mentally. When your injuries are the result of another party’s mistakes, you have every right to seek compensation for your economic losses – and your non-economic ones.
“Pain and suffering,” which represents both the physical and emotional price you paid following an accident, can be a huge part of any personal injury claim. Unlike lost wages and medical bills, however, pain and suffering can be hard to quantify.
Since you want to maximize your compensation and the insurance company involved wants to minimize its losses, you need to carefully document your pain and suffering so that you can support your claim. Where do you start? Try these tips:
Keep a pain journal
One of the most effective ways to document your pain and suffering is by keeping a detailed pain journal. Record daily entries describing your pain levels from 1 to 10, the specific symptoms you experience and how your injuries affect your daily life.
Include information about any activities you’re unable to perform, notes about how your condition affects your sleep and any important events or social engagements you had to skip because of your pain. Be as specific and detailed as possible, as this information can provide valuable evidence that supports your claim.
Tell your doctor
Your doctor can and will document your pain for you in your medical records – but only if you tell them how you are feeling. During your recovery, make sure that you mention your pain, limitations and any emotional distress you are feeling from the whole situation to your doctor at every visit. That way, your pain and suffering become a part of your medical records.
It may seem like a lot of extra hassle and effort while you’re trying to recover, but you’ll be glad you made the effort when it comes time to settle your injury claim.