For pain and suffering, the courts don’t just guess how much you’ve suffered. They need proof. But unlike hospital bills or car repair receipts, pain isn’t easy to show. That’s why a journal, or some form of written documentation, is so important.
So, if you’re dealing with the aftermath of a crash, it’s smart to calculate the value of your compensation for damages. This helps you understand what you might be owed and makes sure you’re not leaving anything on the table.
Pain and suffering aren’t about the money. They cover everything that you feel that you can’t really put a price on easily. It’s mental, emotional, and physical. Things like:
● Anxiety or panic attacks
● Trouble sleeping or nightmares
● Feeling sad, depressed, or stressed
● Physical aches or chronic pain
● Losing your hobbies or fun stuff you loved to do
● Feeling disconnected from friends or family
Basically, if your life feels different after the crash, that’s what counts as pain and suffering.
The best way to show pain and suffering is to keep a journal. It doesn’t have to be fancy. A notebook, a phone app, even scraps of paper work. The point is, you record everything.
Insurance adjusters and lawyers are skeptical. They want proof and details. Your pain journal, photos, witness statements, and medical reports tell the story they can’t argue against.
So, when you document, start with the basics:
● Dates and times: Make sure each entry is dated. That way, you can track progress or changes.
● Where it hurts and what you were doing: Were you walking? Sitting? Driving? Record it.
● Pain scale: Rate your pain from 1 to 10. Be honest. Be consistent.
● Medication: If you’re taking medicine, write it down. How much, how often, what it helps.
● Impact on life: Can’t drive? Can’t cook? Write it. Even small changes matter.
It doesn’t have to be long. Sometimes just a sentence or two is enough. “Woke up at 7:30 am. Lower back pain 8/10. Couldn’t get out of bed without help.”
Documenting your pain and suffering is not fun; it’s not easy, but it’s necessary if you want to protect your rights and get what you deserve after a crash.
Here are a few tips for documenting all of your pain and suffering:
Physical injuries aren’t the only thing that counts. Accidents hit your brain and heart too. You might feel:
● Scared to drive again
● Angry or frustrated
● Sad, hopeless, or anxious
Write all of it down. Don’t hold back. These mental effects are just as real as a broken arm, and courts can compensate you for them.
Sometimes injuries change what you can do. Simple things like cooking, cleaning, or playing sports can feel impossible. Your journal should record that.
If you need extra help or special equipment, write it down. Even tiny changes in your life matter after an accident. Like, maybe you can’t drive anymore because of the anxiety that started after the crash. Things that seem small to other people can actually be a big deal for your case.
Take photos, videos, anything that shows what’s going on. A picture of your injury, a screenshot from your medical records, or a short clip showing you struggling to move around, stuff like that is pure gold.
And don’t forget witnesses. Friends, family, anyone who actually sees what your day-to-day looks like. Their perspective can really make your case hit harder.
It also helps to get some pros on your side. A personal injury lawyer can organize everything and make sure your evidence actually counts in court.
And doctors or therapists? They can write reports that explain your pain and suffering in real, professional terms.
When you put all that together, it actually shows what you’ve been through, and that makes it a lot easier to get the compensation you deserve.
