The first step following a personal injury of any kind is to write down details. As soon as the trauma of the moment has past, it is advisable to record everything that you remember about it. This record should be continued until the claim is completed. A written record is far more reliable than your memory and will become more and more valuable if the claims process is extended. There are two issues that are at stake:

• What is the basis of the claim? That is, what caused it to happen?
• What injury and/or damages resulted?

These should be kept in mind as you are writing because they will be the most relevant to attorneys, insurance companies, medical professionals, the court, etc. The first thing that should be written down is the exact details of the injury itself. These should include all you remember about:

• The circumstances immediately preceding and following
• Time and place
• All those present
• The incident itself
• Anything you felt
• Anything you think may be relevant

You should also attempt to capture the extent to which you were injured. This should include:

• Physical and mental harm
• Treatment received (on the scene and in the weeks and months following)
• Effects of the injury on all aspects of your life (work, home, social etc)
• Any effect the injury had on your life, particularly areas of economic loss (time missed from work, vacations cancelled, etc).

It is advisable to continue writing throughout the claims process. Even minor injuries have a surprisingly large effect on daily life. The more detailed your writing, the greater likelihood of a favorable result in your claim.