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What to Do After a Personal Injury Accident
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Each personal injury accident is unique from case to case, so it can be difficult to determine what you should do next after getting injured. But, no matter what kind of personal injury accident you may be dealing with, there are a few actions you’ll want to take before you file the court documents for your case.
If you haven’t already received medical attention, take care of that as soon as possible.
We understand. Medical bills are expensive, and the added costs caused by inflation make it even less encouraging to see your doctor. But, even if your injury is minor and you wouldn’t normally treat an injury that small, you still need to get immediate medical treatment if you plan on filing a lawsuit. Here are a couple reasons why:
- If you do not receive medical treatment at all, the other party’s insurance provider or defense lawyer could argue that your injuries must be insignificant because you didn’t get them checked by a doctor. That could result in a significant drop in your settlement payout, or your claim could be denied entirely.
- If you delay treatment for longer than a few days, the other party could argue that your injuries were not caused by the accident, but from somewhere else.
Moreover, many injuries tend to be worse than people initially believe they are. Without a physician’s equipment or expertise, you can only see your external injuries, not any internal injuries like broken ribs, brain bleeding, or a punctured lung. Delaying treatment if you have an undiscovered internal injury can not only jeopardize your personal injury claim, but it can also put your life at serious risk.
Document as much information or evidence about the case as you can.
Was the floor slippery? Was the lighting too low to see your surroundings? You’ll want to gather as much information from the scene as possible so your lawyer can help you build your case. Use your phone’s camera to take pictures of where the accident took place, and be sure to document any notable features. Here are some features you could look for while at the scene:
- Road or path obstructions
- Property damage
- Road signs
- Wet floors
- Security cameras
- Cracks in the floor
- Poorly lit rooms or hallways
- Hazardous materials
Collect witness testimonies and contact information.
Anyone who was present at the time of your accident, or anyone who has authority in the location where your accident took place, could be a strong ally for your case. This person could be a waiter at a restaurant, a pedestrian on the street, a manager at a retail store, or another individual. Even if no one directly saw the moment the accident happened, witnesses may have extra information about the scene or the person who was responsible.
Hold onto any bills, documents, or other damages that accrue from your injuries.
To receive the fullest amount of financial compensation possible, you’ll want to account for every single expense that the accident costed you. This means medical bills, the value of a lost one-of-a-kind item, medication prescription costs, and any other quantifiable expenses. You can also determine what your lost wages were for the time you were unable to work and did not get paid.
File a personal injury claim
If you or a close family member got hurt because of someone else’s negligence, you may qualify to file a personal injury lawsuit and be compensated for your injuries.
Ready to file a claim ?
See if you qualify to file a personal injury lawsuit.
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