Sustaining accident-related personal injuries can be an extremely disorienting experience – leaving one shocked and uncertain of what they must do next. No matter the type of accident (a slip-and-fall, a workplace accident or a vehicular accident), the steps taken immediately after make all the difference in your health and safety, as well as the outcome for any insurance or legal claims.
Below, we will discuss the core steps one must take in the immediate aftermath of an accident involving personal injury.
Check your Health & Safety Situation
The first thing you must ensure after you have been the victim of an accident is to ensure you are safe and out of the way of any further harm.
- Make sure you are in a safe space: If you find yourself in a vulnerable location, such on the path of oncoming traffic, make sure to go to the nearest safe space. This will help you keep away from putting yourself in further jeopardy.
- Take a quick assessment to see if you have any injuries: Make a quick check to see if you and/or others have sustained any injuries. You might not feel like it at the time, but it might simply be adrenaline and shock. Remember, many injuries like internal ruptures or concussions aren’t easily visible initially.
If you or others are in need of medical attention, make sure to call 911 with immediate effect.
Inform the Authorities of the Situation
Once you have ensured your physical safety, the next step would be to report the incident. Who you contact depends upon the kind of accident – usually it includes one or more of the following:
- Emergency Services: In case you have sustained any injuries that need medical attention, or are stuck in a vulnerable situation, you must call the police, an ambulance or even the fire services.
- Your workplace manager: If you had the accident at your place of work, inform your manager so that the reporting can commence.
- The owner of the property: If you had an accident on somebody’s property, call the property owner (or at least their manager or representative) immediately..
Calling on the authorities initiates creating the official report, which documents every single development of the situation. This can prove to be very important in legal and insurance-related dealings.
Collect as much Evidence as Possible
As mentioned before, documentation equals evidence – which can prove to be very handy when dealing with insurance companies or in the legal system. Initiating a report is a good start but documenting the accident scene goes a step further in helping you protect your interests no matter what the situation. Here are some types of documentation you can do:
- Videos and photos: Take videos and photos of the scene with your phone and make sure to include hazards, damages and definitely injuries.
- Keep a record of contact information: Ask for the name and phone number of everybody involved in the accident. If applicable, note down their insurance information as well.
- Keep the scene secured: Try to keep the scene preserved in its entirety at least until you have collected the evidence. In case there is a safety issue, disregard this.
Any and all evidence that you may collect could prove to be extremely helpful in supporting your claims in legal or insurance-related proceedings.
Get Medical Treatment
Find and get medical treatment as a rule of thumb – even if you “feel fine” or if injuries appear minor enough to walk off. Making a delay could make your injury worse and put the legitimacy of your claims in doubt. The basic things you need to follow are:
- Getting medical treatment and clearance: Get a proper checkup from a doctor – have them note your exact physical condition as well as document any injuries.
- Ensure you fully follow any medical advice: If you have been prescribed any treatments to help with recovering, make sure to follow them, go for check-ups and keep any and all records related to all of this.
Contact your attorney as Soon as Possible
Cases involving personal injury claims tend to be complex in nature. While you can handle it yourself, hiring a lawyer specializing in personal injury would be the ideal course of action. Personal injury attorneys will help you make sure that your rights get protected and you get adequate compensation. They can also legally represent you outside court in negotiations with insurance companies – both yours and the other party’s.
Here are some key things to remember in this regard:
- Many attorneys offer consultations free-of-cost: Several personal injury attorneys – like those at our law offices, provide initial consultations for free, so that you can discuss your case’s potential without any obligations.
- A statute of limitations exists in such cases: As with most other types of cases, there is a time limit to file your personal injury claim. This is why you must act as quickly as possible.
To Conclude…
By taking the above-mentioned steps in the immediate aftermath of any accidents involving personal injury, you can lay down the foundation for your case. Taking these measures will ensure that you have laid groundwork to protect your rights, as well as your health and recovery in the future.
Are you looking for professional advice for your personal injury case? Consult with a personal injury lawyer by calling the Law Offices of Harding and Andrade immediately!