Principle Attorney
When you’re injured in an accident, the pain doesn’t stop at the hospital doors. Recovery can take weeks, months, or longer. And while medical records help tell part of your story, they don’t capture everything you go through on a daily basis. That’s where a personal injury journal comes in.
It doesn’t have to be fancy, formal, or time-consuming. But when done correctly, it can strengthen your case and help ensure that your voice is heard. Here’s what you should know about personal injury journals and why keeping one is a smart move.
What Is a Personal Injury Journal?
A personal injury journal is a written or digital record of your physical pain, emotional distress, and day-to-day experiences after an accident. It serves as a personal timeline of your recovery—something that doctors, lawyers, and even juries can’t always fully appreciate from medical charts or legal paperwork alone.
You can keep your journal in a notebook, a secure phone app, or even a private Word doc—as long as it’s accurate, honest, and consistent. The goal is to document how the injury is affecting your life in real time.
What Should You Write About?
You don’t need to be a great writer or fill up pages every day. What matters is the content and consistency of your notes.
Some helpful things to include:
- Pain levels: Rate your pain each day and describe it (sharp, throbbing, dull, etc.)
- Physical limitations: Note tasks you struggle with—walking, lifting, driving, sleeping
- Emotional struggles: Anxiety, frustration, depression, or fear are all valid
- Medical appointments and treatment: Track your visits, prescriptions, and side effects
- Missed work or activities: Record lost income, canceled events, and daily life impacts
- Progress or setbacks: Jot down milestones in healing or days that feel worse than expected
These entries can help show how your injury impacts your life beyond the X-rays and ER bills.
Why a Journal Can Help Your Case
A personal injury claim isn’t just about proving you were hurt—it’s about showing how that injury changed your life. Your journal can become a powerful piece of evidence that supports your legal case.
Here’s how:
- It documents your pain and suffering over time in your own words
- It fills in the gaps between medical visits or therapy sessions
- It preserves your memory, especially months or years later, when you may be asked to recall details
- It supports your credibility, showing consistency and honesty in your account
- It gives your attorney valuable insight to build a more compelling, human-centered case
Insurance companies may downplay your pain or question your memory. A well-kept journal can help shut that down.
How Often Should You Write?
There’s no hard rule, but we recommend writing daily during the early days of recovery, especially when pain is fresh and treatment is ongoing. As time passes, you can journal less frequently, but still capture key milestones, flare-ups, or significant emotional events.
Even short entries—just a few sentences—can be meaningful. The important thing is to write consistently and honestly.
Can Your Journal Be Used in Court?
Yes, in some cases, your personal injury journal can be introduced as evidence—either during settlement negotiations or in a trial. That’s why you should keep your entries factual, respectful, and focused on your recovery. Avoid exaggerations or venting about the other party.
You can talk with your attorney about how much of your journal is relevant and whether it should be shared. Trust the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya to help you use your journal strategically—so it works for you, not against you.
Should You Keep One?
Absolutely. Keeping a journal is one of the simplest, most effective things you can do after an injury. It helps you process what you’re going through, provides your legal team with a clear picture of your suffering, and protects your voice throughout the legal process.
Best of all, it puts part of the process back in your hands, so you’re not just a file on someone’s desk. You’re a person with a story to tell.
We’re Here to Support Every Step of Your Recovery
At the Law Offices of Dianne Sawaya, we listen to what our clients are going through. If you’re dealing with pain, stress, and the frustration of an accident that wasn’t your fault, we want to help you take control of your recovery and your legal case. Call us today for a free consultation. We’re available 24/7—and there’s no fee unless we win.