If you were recently injured in an accident, one thing you may have been told you should do is keep a journal that details the pain and suffering you are feeling. Aside from the concept of keeping a journal, you may not be aware of what that journal involves to ensure that you receive the appropriate compensation for your injuries. Before you start writing your pain and suffering journal, make sure you know these 3 things.

Be Consistent With Detailed Entries

One way that a pain and suffering journal can potentially hurt your case is when it isn't consistent with the level of detail in each entry. It is typical for the first couple entries to be extremely detailed. Every single symptom, pain, and itch will be documented, and over time, the only entries that will be made are ones that document what are felt to be important entries.

This lack of consistency can affect your case when it comes to determining your settlement amount for pain and suffering. Your journal will be viewable by the lawyers of the defendant. They may interpret the lack of detail as a sign that you're recovering from your injuries. If you write about a symptom that you're experiencing on day one, continue to give updates on it even if things stay the same.

Do Not Include Any Off-Topic Details

Pain and suffering journals are very different from personal journals. Pain and suffering journals will be viewable by others and open to scrutiny. Do not use the journal to include opinions or private thoughts that are unrelated to your pain and suffering. Including these can not only be embarrassing, but will distract from the point of focusing on the pain and suffering you are experiencing.

Use A Format That Works Best For You

Traditionally, journals are small books where the writer makes periodic entries. This is not the same format that needs to be used for a pain and suffering journal. You are free to use whatever method works best for you when it comes to documenting pain.

For example, you may decide to use a spreadsheet that lists your symptoms in the rows and a daily entry for each column. You can rate the level of pain and suffering each symptom is causing you on a daily basis on a scale of 1 to 10. This will force you to think about each symptom every day, and if it is improving or getting worse compared to the previous day.

If you have more questions about a pain and suffering journal, speak with your lawyer. They can give you ideas for different ways to record this vital information for your personal injury case.