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No matter how young or old you are, experiencing a personal injury accident is a traumatic and extremely overwhelming event to cope with. An injury can cause more emotional pain than physical –leaving you all confused.
However, this is just the beginning of lifelong suffering because of someone else’s fault. Regardless of the type of accident you’ve been in, it’s crucial for you to take appropriate steps immediately. This will help in protecting your legal rights and ensure you get a strong case for your injuries.
Whether you or a loved one has an accident, here is a guide to prepare you to deal with the aftermath effectively. This blog is going to dish out 9 immediate steps after a personal injury accident so you know what to do next.
Ensure Your Safety
The first step to take after an accident is ensuring you and others involved in the accident are safe. If the accident occurred in a potentially dangerous area, there is more risk of experiencing further injuries. In case you are conscious and able to move, examine your surroundings to ensure you’re on a safe side.
If not, the best action you should take is to move your vehicle off the road. After that, call 911 to get immediate medical attention. Even if you’re not feeling injured, seeking medical attention right after the accident will help you get a medical record, which will later help you with the case.
Report the Accident
The next step you should take after an accident is to report it to the relevant authorities. Depending on the location you are living in, you can call the police and file a report. The report of your accident will contain all the details about the accident, including time, location, and injuries.
Remember, while reporting the accident, avoid giving any personal stance about the accident and keep a copy of the report for yourself.
Collect All Evidence
Depending on the intensity of the accident, if the police appear after a while at the accident scene, it is crucial for you to collect some evidence on your own. You can start the task by capturing some pictures and videos of the scene on your mobile.
This will work as solid evidence for your case and help you prove that you weren’t at any fault. You can also take a look around the scene to find any witnesses. If anyone has seen the accident, you are advised to reach out and collect their personal information for your case.
Ensure you get their email, contact number, or address.
Exchange Information
As the personal injury accident involves the other party’s negligence, to be compensated, you will need to have their information. Get their name, phone number, insurance company, and policy number.
By the time you’re collecting their information and sharing yours as well, avoid discussing the fault or making any statement regarding the accident. The statement can be interpreted as admitting liability, which can trouble you later.
Consult With a Personal Injury Lawyer
Even if you had minor injuries after an accident, consulting a personal injury lawyer is highly crucial. An experienced legal professional will guide you through the legal process and estimate the loss. This will help you understand your rights so you can seek the compensation that you deserve.
However, after an accident, you might not find any convenience in hiring a personal injury lawyer from a reputed firm. As there will be plenty of options, it is advised to look for a personal injury attorney with big firm experience and small firm focus to guide you and fight for your claim, depending on your location.
For example, if you had an accident in Texas or New Mexico, in that case, firms like Barrera Law Group can offer you great expertise in personal injury law.
Avoid Making Any Statement
Personal injury cases may seem straightforward, as one party is always at fault. To protect your rights and innocence after an accident, it is advised to avoid giving any recorded information to anyone, including insurance adjusters.
If any professional reaches out to you, don’t share any information unless your lawyer tells you. If you share any details, it can be misinterpreted against you, which will minimize your compensation.
Keep Track Of Your Expenses
The aftermath of a personal injury case is costly to manage. As you have to deal with medical bills and other expenses, you will find yourself lying under mounting bills. The financial burden after a personal injury can make the situation devastating for a person to deal with.
The best course of action you can take is to track all your expenses during the recovery process. Document all the bills and estimate long-term costs that may occur.
This way, you will be more aware of all the expenses and craft your case accordingly.
Stay Informed
Personal injury cases take a long time to be resolved. If your lawyer identifies any complexities in your case, it will take more time before you get a favorable outcome.
While you’re working with a personal injury lawyer, it is advised to stay informed about the progress of your case. Be patient with the lawyer and trust their expertise if you’ve hired a lawyer from a reputed firm.
Ensure the lawyer keeps you updated by regularly communicating your case. If you inspect any gap in the communication, ask questions to get clarification from the professional.
Follow Medical Advice
Dealing with injuries when you were least prepared for them can be devastating. But by following medical advice and paying attention to doctor’s recommendations, you can recover quickly.
While you’re getting treatment, it will be helpful to keep a journal of your recovery process. You can write down all the changes you are experiencing and how the pain levels have affected your daily life.
The ongoing journal will later provide evidence of the impact of injuries you are suffering from and help you to get compensated accordingly.
Alex 