One of the strongest tools you can have for your offshore injury claim is a pain journal. Injured maritime workers who record how an offshore injury has impacted their daily life often can build a more compelling case for injury compensation and disability benefits.
As the spouse of an injured seaman, you may not suffer the physical pain that your husband is going through, but you may feel pains of a different kind. Wives of injured maritime workers often experience mental “pain” from the complications a family may face when the head of household is injured and out of work.
You may want to keep a pain diary of your own to help document the full extent of your husband’s injury on your living situation – and to keep track of your husband’s pain and suffering.
A pain diary is not just about physical pain; it is a daily record of the full extent of the damages a serious offshore injury may cause. While your husband should keep notes on how he feels every day, you also should do the same.
Caring for an injured spouse can take its toll on a wife, both mentally and physically. You now may do double-duty, taking care of the kids and your husband at the same time. Chores that he used to take care of now may become your responsibility, adding extra physical strain to your daily routines.
This is a normal response to your situation and should be documented in your pain diary. If the insurance company or your husband’s company claims that the injury does not affect your lives as seriously as you claim, you will have a solid record to show the extent of the damages.
Your husband may be reluctant to share the full extent of his pain and suffering, if he is willing to keep a pain diary at all. As his wife and caretaker, you may notice limitations and complications that he either does not or will not acknowledge in his own records.
By keeping your own pain diary, you may be able to record your worries about your husband’s ongoing health conditions and catch details that he does not record in his own diary. For example, you may notice that your husband isn’t shaving his face as often because it hurts too much to raise his shoulder. Some men might be reluctant to admit this in their own health notes, but your record in your own diary will bring this complication to light as evidence for your injury claim.
Your husband’s employer and the insurance companies may be reluctant to admit they are liable for damages your husband suffered as a result of an offshore accident. To file a valid and complete claim, you must show evidence of the accident, as well as the extent of the injuries and damages your husband and family have suffered.
At The Young Firm, we encourage injured seamen to seek legal counsel as soon as possible to begin building their offshore injury claim. We offer several free guides to maritime law, offshore injuries and Jones Act claims. As you review our information, remember to keep records of all documents, conversations and meetings regarding your husband’s injury. When you’re ready to file your claim, contact us and schedule a free consultation to discuss your options: 866-666-5129.
