How to Document the Injury and Its Impact
The impact of a catastrophic injury is vast and unfolds over time. Documenting it well supports the claim. This checklist helps.
Keep all medical records and bills
Save everything — hospital records, imaging, therapy, prescriptions, and bills — and request the complete records as care continues.
Keep a daily impact journal
Record how the injury affects daily life, abilities, mood, and the family, over time. This detail shows the human impact that documents non-economic harm.
Photograph and video the changes
With care and dignity, document visible injuries, scarring, equipment, and the adaptations your loved one now needs.
Track the care and who provides it
Note the ongoing care required and the time family members spend providing it — attendant care is a real, compensable cost.
Save receipts for costs and modifications
Keep records of equipment, home or vehicle modifications, and out-of-pocket costs the injury has required.
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 catastrophic injury.
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This is general information, not legal advice. Every situation is different, and the law differs by state.