Key takeaway
A few lines a day is enough: how you feel, what you did about it, and any appointments or costs. It keeps your memory accurate over weeks and months, and it lives in the same one folder as everything else from the crash.
Why bother writing it down
Recovery is rarely a straight line, and memory blurs the details fast. A month from now it's genuinely hard to remember which day the headaches started or when the soreness eased. A simple running note fixes that, and it costs almost nothing to keep.
What to jot, and how little is fine
A few lines a day is plenty. The useful things to capture:
- How you felt, in your own words ("neck stiff, headache in the afternoon")
- Anything you did about it: rest, medication, appointments
- Appointments attended, and who you saw
- Any costs: co-pays, prescriptions, mileage, time off
- Things you couldn't do that you normally would
Keep the receipts with it
Every visit summary, instruction sheet, and receipt goes in the same place as your notes. Snap a photo of paper ones so nothing gets lost in a coat pocket.
One folder, same as everything else
Your recovery notes belong right alongside the photos, the police report number, and the insurance paperwork. One folder, paper or on your phone. Here's the full list of what's worth keeping.
Don't overthink it
This isn't meant to be a burden or a medical record. It's a plain, honest note to yourself so that the story of how you healed stays accurate. If you miss a day, no harm done. Pick it back up when you can.
If you’d like a free consultation with an independent participating law firm, just reach out.
Sources
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — Transportation Safety (cdc.gov)
- USA.gov — Motor vehicle services and accident basics (usa.gov)
