Right after your accident, your medical needs topped your priority list. You may have hurried to the emergency room to get a doctor to evaluate your injuries. However, protecting your right to compensation can grow just as important as dealing with your medical needs after a car accident. Ensure you take the steps necessary to protect yourself after your neck and back injury. Document Your Medical Costs Right after your accident, if possible, keep track of any bills you must pay as you pursue medical treatment for your neck and back injuries. Note copays and deductibles, including anything you had to pay in the emergency room or urgent care center. Keep track of your ongoing costs. When a new bill comes in, add it to the list. Keeping track of your medical costs accomplishes two key things. First, it allows you to ensure that you do not miss essential bills, which means you will be less likely to fail to pay them on time. Second, it ensures you have a clear record of everything you have paid out because of your back or neck injury. Follow Your Care Provider’s Instructions Depending on your type of back or neck injury, your care provider may issue highly specific instructions. Sometimes, that may mean avoiding activities that could make your injury worse or prove dangerous with your injury. For example, if you have a cervical fracture, your care provider may recommend avoiding driving during your recovery. With some acute injuries, you may need to rest while your injury heals. On the other hand, with other types of injuries, your doctor may recommend that you get light exercise or attend therapy sessions to help you recover mobility and maintain strength as you recover. Whatever your doctor recommends, make sure you follow those instructions carefully. Your doctor has your best interests at heart and wants you to recover fully. If you ignore your care provider's instructions, you can slow your recovery and worsen those injuries. Second, if you ignore your care provider's instructions and it does lead to worsened injuries, the insurance company that covers the liable party may refuse to offer payment for anything that it perceives as worsening your injuries, which could mean that you miss out on the compensation you would otherwise deserve. By following your care provider's instructions, you increase the odds of recovering the compensation you deserve. Journal About the Challenges You Face Back and neck injuries can cause immense challenges and complications. You may find yourself struggling with the overall loss of independence after your injury, especially if your back or neck injury will cause a permanent loss of mobility. You may suffer immense physical pain or have difficulty dealing with your inability to engage in the activities you once loved. Journaling about those challenges makes it much easier to evaluate the compensation you may deserve for pain and suffering after an accident.