Have you found yourself injured due to someone else's negligence? If so, you may be getting ready to take them to court to sue for personal injuries. The key to winning a personal injury case is being able to prove how the injury completely changed your life for the worse, and it is up to you to present your evidence that can back up your claims.

While doctor notes and medical bills pay a big role in ensuring you receive your fair compensation for your injuries, it only plays one part in proving your case. You should keep a personal injury journal to document your injury and recovery. Here are things you should write down.

The Day the Accident Happened

As soon as you are able to, make your initial entries about the day the accident happened. For instance, if you were in a car hit by another driver, keep track of what you remember about the crash. This can include how fast you were going, the path you were driving, and even the weather conditions at the time.

You'll also need to document what happened right after the injury occurred. If you were unconscious at the time, use the help of others to fill in the blanks. For example, in a car accident, important things to document are if you needed help getting out of the car, if the airbags deployed, and if anyone provided medical attention at the scene of the crash for your injuries.

If the driver said anything to you, write that down as well so that you don't forget. Even saying that they are sorry could be taken as admitting that they knew they were at fault, which could be key if it is questionable who is at fault.

After The Accident

Pain and discomfort can be very subjective, which is why you will want to keep detailed information about how your recovery is going.

Each day you should log how you are doing both physically and mentally, and rate it on a scale of 1 to 10. This can help you easily compare pain from day to day when you have to recall it several months later, and comparing it to the previous day will be a good gauge overall if the injury is getting better or worse.

For more information on what you should be recording in a personal injury journal, speak with a lawyer like Townsend, Richard.