As we discussed previously, here and here, keeping a journal can be an effective way to help your Michigan personal injury lawyers build your case. Here, in Part 3, we will discuss how to record your emotions.
Get in touch with your feelings
Dealing with injuries that affect your ability to live your life can create as much emotional distress as physical. It’s important to describe these feelings in your journal. Try to avoid describing your feelings in absolutes, like “I can’t sleep.” Instead, say something like, “I find it very difficult to fall asleep, which is so frustrating,” or “I’m often cranky because the pain keeps waking me up at night and I’m not getting enough sleep.” Statements like these are more accurate than something like “I can’t sleep,” which implies you are not sleeping at all. The defense team will be quick to jump all over statements like those, so be careful not to exaggerate or make extreme claims.
Try to talk about your coping mechanisms, your efforts at rehabilitation, and your efforts to maintain a normal life despite your new limitations. A positive attitude will reflect well on you in trial. You are, of course, entitled to wallow every once in a while; everybody has bad days.
If you started with this article, please review Parts 1 and 2 of “keeping a personal injury journal” for more information about how such a record can help your case. If you are ready to get started and you would like the counsel of an experienced Michigan personal injury lawers, please contact us. You can reach us 27/7 by calling 1-800-961-8477 or submitting our online contact form. We know how important your case is to you, and we will respond promptly.