Rideshare services have become a go-to form of transportation for many of California’s residents. While these services are convenient and easy-to-use, they aren’t entirely safe. Accidents involving these modern “taxis” are commonplace, and victims often suffer serious injuries that cost a small fortune to treat. If you were hurt in an accident involving a rideshare driver, turn to our Artesia Uber and Lyft accident attorneys today. 

We can assess your situation, help gather the necessary evidence to prove liability and damages, and represent you throughout proceedings. Contact us today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS to find out more. 

What Is a Personal Injury Journal? 

If you suffered a serious injury, it could take weeks, months, or even years before you reach maximum medical improvement. Throughout your recovery, you may experience varying degrees of pain, grapple with new limitations, and visit the doctor and other healthcare providers numerous times. Writing regular entries in a personal injury journal will help you keep track of these events, log your pain levels, and preserve other important details related to your treatment. 

Here a few items you may want to include in your journal: 

• A Written Account of the Accident: You might think the visceral details of this traumatic event will be burnt into your mind forever, but even these grisly memories will begin to fade over time. As such, as soon as possible after the incident, you should write an account of what happened in the moments before and after the wreck. Your attorney may be able to use this information to identify important evidence that could help strengthen your case. For instance, if you noticed surveillance cameras nearby, your attorney could help obtain this footage before it is deleted. 

• Pain Levels: Even minor injuries can cause considerable pain. In California, you have a right to seek compensation for the pain and suffering stemming from an injury you sustained in an accident. However, approximating the value of such intangible losses isn’t an easy undertaking. Unlike your medical bills and repair costs, there are no receipts for the psychological hardship you’ve endured since the accident. This is where your personal injury journal could prove invaluable. Whenever you experience pain, you should log these moments in your journal, describing such sensations and grading the severity of your symptoms on a scale of 1 to 10. These entries can help paint a clear picture of how your injuries have affected your emotional state. 

• Doctor’s Appointments: Whether it’s a follow-up with your primary care physician or a consultation with a specialist, you should take notes of what you’re told. Not only will this make it easier for you to keep track of their instructions, but these notes can also help demonstrate that you followed their orders and stuck to your treatment plan. 

• Limitations: A serious injury can impede your ability to perform certain tasks such as engaging in physical activity, tackling household chores, driving, or working. As part of your entries, you should include descriptions of the various ways in which your condition limits you. For instance, if you are unable to cook for your family, make a note of why this is the case.  

Types of Damages in a Personal Injury Case 

From devastating your finances to impacting both your emotional and physical well-being, a serious injury can have a ripple effect across all aspects of your life. Fortunately, by filing a personal injury claim against the liable parties, you may be able to recover most, if not all, of these damages. 

Let’s take a closer look at the three categories of damages available to claimants in California: 

• Economic Damages: These are the expenses you’ve incurred as a direct result of your condition. Economic damages can include property repairs, medical bills, replacement services, home modifications, lost earnings, and the cost of future healthcare interventions. 

• Non-Economic Damages: Serious injuries are often accompanied by considerable pain and suffering which can hamper your quality of life, leading to mental health issues and making it difficult to enjoy activities that brought you joy before the wreck. While these losses are challenging to quantify, personal injury attorneys and insurers have developed their own methods to approximate the value of non-economic damages. For instance, to determine fair compensation for pain and suffering, your attorney might multiply your total medical costs by a number between 1.5 and 5. This multiplier is typically based on the severity of your condition.  

• Punitive Damages: While the other damages listed here are intended to reimburse accident victims for the losses they’ve incurred due to their injuries, punitive damages exist to punish the defendant to discourage others from committing similar acts. These damages are rarely awarded as you will need to show that the defendant acted with malice, fraud, or oppression. 

Discuss Your Uber and Lyft Accident Claim With an Artesia Personal Injury Attorney 

If your rideshare trip ended in disaster, turn to the legal team at HPIL. We have decades of collective experience handling personal injury claims, arming us with the knowledge and resources to prevail in even the most complex cases. Reach out to us today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS or drop us a message via our contact page HERE to secure a free case assessment.