Personal Injury Lawyer
Pain and suffering are not easy to measure. Insurance companies and juries need to see how victims have experienced negative psychological effects that are impacting their quality of life. If you’ve experienced emotional distress from your injuries and are seeking compensation, you may help strengthen your case by providing the following types of documentation.
1. Medical Bills
If you can submit copies of your medical bills as evidence, you can prove exactly what types of treatment you’ve received, the frequency you receive it, and how much it costs. The bills can demonstrate the financial burden that may be contributing to depression or anxiety you could be experiencing.
2. Medical and Psychological Records
Healthcare professionals will note your psychological state when you attend office visits. If their documentation states you experienced emotional difficulties related to your injuries, you can include that information as proof of pain and suffering. Most importantly, any records from counselors or psychiatrists will detail any diagnoses you have, your treatment goals and the ongoing problems related to your mental health. They might also have notes about how your family has been affected by your injuries.
3. Medical Prognosis
If you have a medical prognosis on your records, it might prove you will have physical long-term effects that will require future treatment for months or maybe years. The longer you are affected by your injuries, the more likely you will continue to struggle with emotional stress.
4. Photos of Injuries
To provide additional evidence, you can take photos of your physical injuries or you can have family members capture your difficulties with activities of daily living (ADLs) (e.g. mobility, getting dressed, eating, and others). ADLs are addressed by physical and occupational therapists, so if you can include those records as well, it will add more support for your pain and suffering claim or lawsuit.
5. Diary or Journal
Here, you can write short but detailed anecdotes, daily or weekly, about how you are feeling and what is contributing to your distress. Your stories will help to demonstrate how your injuries have impacted you over time and could help to explain why you continue to struggle with coping.
It can be discouraging when an insurance adjuster denies your pain and suffering claims. However, you can submit the best evidence available to prove that your injuries have a significant impact on your emotional health and well-being. Call an experienced personal injury lawyer from a firm like Morales Law Firm today to begin preparing for the insurance claim or lawsuit process.
