When you pursue compensation after an accident, you can recover economic and non-economic benefits. Economic benefits are the tangible costs of the accident. These are things you can prove with receipts, such as medical treatment, damage to your vehicle and lost income.
Non-economic damages are subjective, which means there’s no tangible proof related to the damages you are claiming. One example of these damages is pain and suffering.
While it can be challenging to prove the pain and suffering you have endured after an accident, there are some ways to collect and show evidence.
Collect your medical records
When you go to the doctor after being involved in an accident, your doctor will note your injuries and how severe they are. It’s important to collect records from all doctors and specialists you see related to your accident-caused injury.
Your doctor can also provide information and documentation if you need long-term care and medical services for the issues caused by the injury.
Personal pain journal
It’s smart to start a pain journal right after the accident. This is where you can write down how you feel and the issues you have each day because of your injury. Make sure that you date each entry and that you are as detailed as possible about how you feel and the limitations the injury has caused you.
Protecting your rights to recover from pain and suffering after an accident
Non-economic damages are harder to prove than economic damages. The evidence above can help you build a case and have the best chance of recovering the compensation you deserve.