How to Document Your Injuries After a Crash
Your injuries are the heart of a claim, and documenting them well is what keeps an insurer from minimizing them. Here is how.
Get prompt care and follow through
See a doctor as soon as possible and follow the treatment plan. Delays and gaps give insurers a reason to doubt your injuries.
Keep every record
Save all medical records, bills, prescriptions, and referrals, and ask for copies as you go.
Photograph visible injuries
Take dated photos of bruises, cuts, and swelling, and keep photographing them as they heal.
Track the day-to-day impact
Keep a simple journal of pain levels, missed work, and activities you cannot do — details that are easy to forget later.
Connect the injury to the crash
Tell each provider the injury came from the accident, so the records link the two.
The deadlines and rules depend on your state
The steps above apply wherever you were hurt. Filing deadlines, fault rules, and limits on damages differ by state — pick yours for what applies to car accidents.
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This is general information, not legal advice. Every situation is different, and the law differs by state.