How to Document Your Injury Progress

Documenting your injury progress in your Texas car crash claim

Strengthen Your Texas Car Wreck Case with Documentation

Insurance companies love to nitpick when it comes to your case.  To ensure they don’t have a leg to stand on, it’s important that you document your injury progress to show that you certainly were injured in your car wreck, those injuries reduced your quality of life, and you deserve compensation that will fully satisfy the needs and expenses you’ve incurred.  The Car Crash Captain looks into how strong evidence is the key to ensuring you get what you deserve.

Why Injury Documentation Matters

If you’re checked out by a medical professional immediately following the accident, you shouldn’t have a problem with injury documentation, much is done at the hospital for you.  However, the more documentation of your injury progress you make, the better your claims will be for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.  Great documentation reduces disputes.

Document Everything from Day One

From the very beginning, seek medical attention.  Even if you “feel fine” go to get checked out.  Your adrenaline will be rushing following the accident, and that adrenaline can mask the symptoms of anything that might be wrong.  Go back for your follow-up appointments, and tell the doctor every symptom; even those that seem like they’re minor.

Request copies of all your medical reports, X-rays, and test results.  These can even be stored digitally on your computer.

Consider an Injury Progress Journal

Between appointments, keep a journal to show your injury progress.  Morning, noon, and night write down the following:

  • Pain Level
  • Physical Limitations
  • Emotional and Mental Effects
  • Missed Work or Activities

This journal will show the long-term effects of your injuries, and provide a clearer look at how you’re being limited at home.  It’s something that more than medical reports can capture.  Record dates, times, and doctors when going in for appointments.

Take Plenty of Pictures

If your injuries can be seen, take plenty of pictures to show what is happening with your body.  Show all bruises, swelling, casts, stitches, and anything else that looks important.  If you require crutches, a wheelchair, or other aids document how your life has changed while using them.

Make sure you capture plenty of angles, turn the time stamp feature on, and use natural lighting to show exactly what’s going on.  Keep documenting for an extended period to show your injury progress or lack of healing.

Save All Related Expenses

Some expenses aren’t going to be covered by insurance.  Transportation to, and from, medical visits should be covered – even if you drive yourself (or a family member takes you) and there seems to be no costs.

Keep track of all home modifications and assistive devices that you have to purchase.  Even if you get them second-hand and are only a few dollars, that record shows more than just a small purchase; it shows that your injuries were severe enough to warrant a change of lifestyle.

Record anything that has changed because of the injury.  Childcare, lost wages, out-of-pocket costs (even for bandages, gauze, pain killers, and disinfecting soaps).  If you wouldn’t have made the purchase before the injury, it’s likely an expense related to your car wreck.

Work Closely with Herbert Law Group

Throughout all of this, make sure you’re working closely with Herbert Law Group.  Our lawyers know exactly what to look for, how to pursue compensation that adequately covers your costs, and will deal with those pesky insurance companies on your behalf.

The documentation of your injury progress will come in handy to help us create a clear and persuasive narrative that brings you justice.

Let’s talk about what happened, and come up with a plan on how we can help.  Call our offices at 214-414-2808, or fill out the contact form on our site, and we’ll be in touch with you for a free initial consultation.

The High Rate of Fatal Motorcycle Accidents in Texas

Texas fatal motorcycle accidents

Why is Texas Deadlier than Other States?

Hopping on your motorcycle and feeling the wind in your air… that’s why people ride.  It’s invigorating, freeing, and many bikes get much better gas mileage than their four wheel counterparts.

But that excitement doesn’t come without its risks.  We don’t have to tell you that riding a motorcycle is more dangerous than driving a car.  Besides the obvious (the lack of protection from the car body) what leads to the higher number of fatal motorcycle accidents in Texas?

Contributing Factors to Fatal Motorcycle Accidents

According to the 2017 data from the NHTSA Texas had a total of 490 fatal motorcycle accidents that year.  That’s around 9.4% of the total deaths for the entire US (which, if you compare population for Texas vs. the USA, Texas has about 8.8% of the population).

So, what contributed to those fatal accidents?  There are a few categories we should look at.

Speed – They say that speed kills.  When you’re in the open air, it happens more often.  Among fatal car crashes, 18% were caused by excessive speed (nationwide).  But when you look at fatal motorcycle accidents, speed was a factor in 32% of those wrecks.

Alcohol – Alcohol use while driving has gone down in recent years, but it’s still a significant factor.  35% of fatal motorcycle accidents were discovered to have at least some alcohol in their system (with 28% of that 35% being over the legal limit).

Helmet Usage – If you’re over the age of 21, you aren’t required to wear a helmet when riding in Texas (with proper certification).  But, it seems that most people do.  Roughly half of the fatal motorcycle accidents occurred when the rider was wearing a helmet.  Compare that to states where no helmet laws are in place, and the un-helmeted fatalities are closer to 70% of the total.

Population – Higher population states naturally have a higher number of fatal motorcycle accidents.  But that’s not always a factor.  If you look at Florida (population 21.5 million), they had the majority of the fatal motorcycle accidents despite a lower population than many other states.

Texas has a large population.  So, the number of fatal wrecks is going to be higher.  But if everyone that rides practiced safer riding (and wear a helmet), and all other vehicles do their diligence to watch out for those on bikes, that number can continue to go down.

Herbert & Eberstein Help with your Texas Motorcycle Accidents

Until we live in a perfect world, there will always be accidents.  Some of them will result in injury, and some will be fatal.  Compound the matter with insurance companies that want to pay you a tiny settlement that doesn’t compensate you, and these things are tough to recover from.

That’s where Zach Herbert and Brian Eberstein come into play.  With plenty of experience and deep knowledge of Texas motorcycle law, you can focus on healing or grieving, and we will handle the insurance companies.

Fill out the contact form, or give us a call at 214-414-3808, and let’s have a conversation about what happened to see if we’re able to help with your case.