Things To Do After A Personal Injury Accident

Accidents are unpredictable and may occur at any time without notice. As a result, you can get a personal injury that can alter how your body functions and possibly develop lifelong health complications.

There’s always confusion and uncertainty when accidents happen, and you might ignore taking immediate legal action against the parties responsible, especially if you sustain minor injuries. Perhaps the information gap between the injured person and the laws around accidents blocks you from filing a compensation claim. 

Whichever the case, the law provides that you can sue for negligence and get compensation for the damage caused. You might need experienced personal injury legal practitioners such as Boland Romaine LLP to walk you through filing a lawsuit against the parties responsible.

But first, here are seven things to do after a personal injury accident.

  • Get Medical Attention

Seeking medical attention would be the best course of action after an accident, whether you have an injury or not. You can call the emergency response unit to your location and assess your situation.

The emergency response time can recommend further medical examination for a detailed review. You’ll be increasing your chances of recovery from the personal injury sustained, and the doctor can write a medical report by recording the cause of the injury. 

So, you’ll have to request a copy of the medical information and keep it safe in your personal file.

  • Report To The Police

The police play an important role in society by protecting lives and property, and you must inform them after an accident. In your case, an accident caused a personal injury, and you must report the matter to initiate investigations.

Consequently, the police must write a report connecting your personal injury to the accident scene and the parties responsible. It helps to give clear cause and effect of the harm resulting from the accident.

  • Claim Insurance

Several participants and property are directly involved in an accident and may attract different insurance claims. If you got hurt, you might want to claim for the bodily harm resulting from the accident. 

However, you must specify the compensation claim to the insurer and ensure you only give what they require. Don’t go into details since the insurer might not disburse compensation if you cause the accident. 

  • Contribute To The Investigation

Interestingly, the insurance company and the police will want to investigate the matter on a fault-finding mission. Don’t sit and wait for the outcome of the investigation since it’s possible that the parties responsible also think or claim the personal injury is self-inflicted.

It’s no surprise to find accident scene reconstruction working to figure out what happened by analyzing information collected from the scene. It’s best to participate in the investigation since you were part of the accident that left you with personal injury.  

  • Consolidate Evidence

When you get into an accident, it’s wise to start collecting evidence while still at the scene. Take pictures of the damage and personal injury you sustain, or ask someone around to take photos on your behalf. It’ll be valuable in the future as you plan your lawsuit.

Additionally, consolidate the medical and the police report as more evidence to support your case. Also, you can take notes of details surrounding the accident and keep them safe for your legal action. Possibly add loss of income to your list of proof.

  • Talk To A Lawyer

If you suspect negligence is the root cause of your personal injury, talking to a lawyer would be the next best step. Personal injury lawyers are available to guide you through the corridors of justice and recover your compensation claim.

Surprisingly, you’ll get court representation by the personal injury lawyers at contingency-fees terms. After successfully recovering your claims, lawyers working on your case will collect legal fees. So, research lawyers with experience with such cases are reputable for a high success rate.

  • Start Legal Compensation Claim

Once you have supporting evidence and lawyers to represent you before a legal court, it’s time to start the legal compensation claims. Personal injury claim cases are time-bound depending on the law provisions of where the accident occurred.

You must ensure that your personal injury lawyer beats the deadline of submitting your application for the trial to begin. Otherwise, the court can decide not to proceed with your case.

Final Thoughts

Negligence is the primary cause of most accidents and may lead to personal injury. After the accident, probably due to shock or the pain in your body, or lack of information, you may not know what to do. 

First aid is perhaps the quickest way to relieve the instant pain you’re experiencing. However, you must ensure that you report the matter to the relevant authority and possibly get a lawyer to file a compensation claim against the parties responsible.