Unfortunately, the world isn’t perfect. In addition, no matter how much defensive driving you practice, getting into an accident sometimes is unavoidable here in Virginia just as it is anywhere else. After you have been involved in a motor vehicle accident resulting in injuries to you, taking notes is one of the most important moves you can make, if possible.
Why take notes?
Following a motor vehicle accident, the need to jot down facts about the accident is likely not the first thing that comes to mind. However, this is an essential step to protect your best interests. Two of the most important things to focus on when taking notes is what exactly took place, and what type of harm occurred as a result of the crash.
First things to write down
During your note taking, writing down exactly what took place before and during the accident is critical. Explaining what happened directly following the accident can also be helpful. Valuable pieces of data include the following:
- The weather condition at the time of the crash
- The time of the collision
- Where the accident happened
- Who was present at the accident scene
- What the involved parties said
- How the accident played out
- Your personal experiences
- How you felt during and after the wreck
Writing down these details immediately may be seem laborious, but they may come in handy down the road. After all, the farther away you get from the date of the accident, the harder it becomes to recall specific important details regarding the crash.
Second note-taking step
Another important detail to include in your notes is how severe your injuries were following the collision. These injuries include both the physical and the mental harm you suffered. You might also benefit from writing down what health care treatment you received and how your injuries affected your personal, work and social lives.
Your rights following the accident
Following a motor vehicle accident that causes you injuries, you have the right to seek monetary compensation for the harm you suffered. A monetary award may help you to address the pain and suffering and emotional distress the accident caused you. You may also use it to cover your medical costs and other losses resulting from the wreck.