Recovering from an injury is never easy. Not only do you have to worry about the medical care and expenses, but you always have to worry about your job and what is going to happen there as well. Factor in the fact that you might also be involved in lawsuit and overall you have an extremely stressful situation. Knowing what to do if you find yourself in an accident is important as it can relieve some of that stress. It isn’t going to make things that much easier, but it will at least help to resolve the case more quickly and efficiently. Here are several steps you should follow if you’ve found yourself in an accident.
Hire an Attorney
If the accident you found yourself in was a direct correlation to negligence on another person’s end, you are eligible for compensation. Getting compensated isn’t as simple as walking into a courtroom and representing yourself, however. If you are going to want to put yourself in the best position to win your court case and get the money that you deserve, you are going to want to hire an attorney. Not only will they help you win, but they in some cases can get you even more money than what you were aiming for. Even if you found yourself injured at work due to an accidental fall, you are entitled to compensation. If you are ever unsure if you are eligible for an accident case, you should consider getting a consultation from an attorney. Some will even provide it for free check-ups and will answer the questions that you have.
The final thing to mention about attorneys is price. A lot of people are unwilling to hire them because they say they are expensive. While that is true, most attorneys do not get paid unless you win your case. Wouldn’t you rather guarantee a settlement and lose some of it to pay an attorney than get nothing at all? You should always be hiring an attorney if you find yourself injured in an accident.
Document the Scene
When the injury first happens, you should be getting whatever information and evidence that you can. If it is a car accident, you should be speaking to the other driver and obtaining their personal information, driver’s license, and insurance policy. You should also be taking photos of the scene to help prevent insurance fraud.
In the case of a workplace accident, you should be talking to anyone at the scene and getting them to be witnesses for you. The more firsthand accounts you can gather up, the better. What happens if you are rendered unconscious due to the injury?
If you are unable to collect information yourself, you shouldn’t need to worry. In a serious case like that, EMS is going to be activated and you are going to have police and medical staff on the way. They will document everything that happened and work to speak with witnesses to create a better picture of the scene. This information can then be collected and used by your attorney to support your case.
Get Medical Attention
As soon as you are cleared from the scene of the injury, you should be getting yourself to the doctor right away for a check-up. Not only can the doctor verify that your injuries are a result of the accident, but they can also provide you with valuable paperwork that once again, your attorney can use in the courtroom.
Not going to seek medical attention can also work against your case and dramatically lower your chances of winning. If you take a week or longer to get the medical attention you need, the opposing attorney will argue that your injury was not that serious, therefore your life was not impacted in any serious manner. You do not want this happening to you and the attorneys will find out if you did not get the medical attention that you needed right away.
The sooner you go to the doctor as well, the sooner you can get on your path to recovery. With some injuries, it can take months if not years to finally resolve it. The sooner you start your rehab, the sooner everything will return to normal.
These are all things that you should be doing if you have found yourself in an accident. The faster you act, the better your chances will be for winning your case. Don’t let your whole life fall apart because of one accident. Get yourself the financial security that you need and the recovery that you deserve.