If you were in a crash, the vehicle itself holds clues about how your body was positioned when it happened. Most people never think about the seat until someone asks. Writing down the setup before it changes gives your examiner a clearer picture of what you were sitting in, and the list usually takes about ten minutes.
Start with the cabin as you remember it on the day of the crash. Note whether you were driving or riding, and which seat you occupied. Describe the seat height, how far forward or back it sat, and whether the backrest was upright or reclined. If you knew the seat had been adjusted for your height, say so. If you were in a borrowed car or a rental, write that down too, because someone else may have set the seat.
Headrest, mirrors and steering wheel
The headrest is one of the easiest details to forget. Was it raised to the top, lowered, or missing? Was it tilted forward? If you know the usual distance between your head and the headrest, write that down as well. Next, note your mirror angles and whether you had to lean to see them. Steering wheel position matters too. Was it close to your chest, tilted up or down, or pulled in toward the dash? Each of these details shows how far you reached and how you held your upper body.
Seatbelt position is worth a line. Note whether the belt sat across your shoulder and chest, whether it rode low on your hips, and whether you used a clip, pad or any other accessory. If a belt or buckle left a mark, describe where it was and when you first noticed it, without guessing at the cause.
Writing it down while it is fresh
Memory of positions fades quickly, so write the list the same day you think of it. Keep it simple: one line per item, with a short note for anything unusual. Use the words you naturally use. 'Seat pushed far back' is enough. You do not need measurements you do not have. Estimates are fine if you label them as estimates, and an honest 'I don't remember' is a useful entry too.
If the vehicle is still available to you, take a photo of the interior in its current state and date the image. Do not move the seats to match an earlier setting, because the goal is an accurate record of what you have now. If the car was repaired, sold or traded in, write down what you remember before the change and note the date it happened. Keep copies of any photos in the same folder as your list.
Connecting the setup to daily life
After the car list, add a short note about what you do differently now. Do you still sit in the same place? Have you adjusted the mirrors or the steering wheel since the crash? Are you leaning toward one side while driving, or avoiding the headrest? Are longer trips harder than they used to be? These changes are part of your everyday picture, and an examiner reads them alongside the crash details.
If you notice new weakness, numbness or changes in how your legs or arms work, do not finish a list first. Contact care right away. The notes are meant to support an exam, not to replace one, and a clinician is the person who can tell you what your back needs.
Keep the list with the rest of your papers rather than in a notebook you might misplace. Bring it to your first visit and read it aloud if that helps you. Whatever you include, the aim is the same: a plain, dated account of what happened and how you have been living since. A visit is where your situation gets evaluated, and clear notes help that conversation start from accurate information instead of memory alone.