When you’re injured in an accident in Illinois, accurate documentation of your injuries will help you build your personal injury case and show the impact that your injuries have had on your life.
Under Illinois law, the injured party must prove that another person’s negligence caused the injury to recover economic and non-economic damages such as medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Documentation of injuries is critical to this process, which is why you should follow the steps below. An experienced Geneva, IL personal injury attorney can help guide you through the process after suffering harm due to another party’s negligence.
1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention
Whether you suffered injuries in a car accident, slip and fall, or another incident, your first priority after an accident should be seeking prompt medical care. Not only does this protect your health, but it also establishes a record of your injuries, including diagnoses, treatment plans, surgeries, and medication.
Delays in treatment can give insurance companies or defendants room to argue that your injuries weren’t serious or were unrelated to the accident. Visiting a doctor or hospital right away is the best way to protect yourself from such claims.
2. Capture Photos and Videos
Visual evidence offers powerful support in personal injury cases. Take clear, well-lit photos and videos of:
- Your injuries after the accident and as they progress over time (bruises, swelling, cuts, scarring).
- The accident scene, including hazardous conditions, vehicle damage, or other contributing factors.
Do your best to use neutral backgrounds and include a scale marker (like a ruler). If possible, timestamp the photos to give a clear indication of when they were taken.
3. Keep a Detailed Injury and Recovery Journal
A personal injury journal offers insight that medical records or photographs cannot. This journal records your day-to-day pain, limitations, and emotional struggles.
Your journal should specify:
- Pain levels, frequency, and type.
- Restrictions on daily activities.
- Emotional state, mood shifts, and anxiety or depression symptoms.
- Any bills, therapy appointments, or out-of-pocket expenses.
This journal offers an important way to show the ongoing impact of the injury on your quality of life — in your own words.
4. Track Your Financial Losses
Financial documentation can strengthen your recovery claim. Be sure to collect medical bills for treatments, prescriptions, hospital stays, therapy, and medical equipment.
You should also gather pay stubs and employer verification of lost work, reduced hours, or lost commissions.
Include both current and future anticipated costs related to treatment, care, or rehabilitation. You may not have a full picture of your losses until you reach maximum medical improvement.
5. Contact a Geneva Personal Injury Attorney for Help Proving Your Injuries
Even with strong documentation, proving injuries in an Illinois personal injury case often requires legal experience. Attorneys know how to gather and present evidence in a way that satisfies legal standards and persuades insurance companies to offer a fair settlement. They can coordinate with doctors and medical experts to identify the extent of your injuries, connect your treatment to the accident, and outline future care needs. This professional testimony strengthens your case far beyond what photos and personal notes alone can achieve.
An attorney also helps organize and highlight your evidence to demonstrate the full impact of the accident, from calculating lost wages and medical expenses to showing how your injuries affect your daily life. In essence, an attorney ensures that the documentation you’ve worked hard to collect is used effectively to pursue the maximum compensation you deserve.
Contact Feagans Law Group today to schedule a free consultation to discuss how we can help you document your injuries after an accident.