No one wants to think about getting hurt due to someone’s mistake or negligence. Unfortunately, it can happen to any of us. When it does, do you know enough about personal injury law to make informed decisions? The following tips may help.
Get a medical evaluation.
If you have been hurt in an accident at work or in a car, or anywhere, see a doctor for an examination. Unless it’s a very minor accident, you may have sustained an injury that has not yet shown symptoms. In fact, some symptoms might not show up for days or weeks. A medical evaluation at the time of the injury will help to determine the scope of damage, if any.
Consult a personal injury law expert.
While you could talk to someone who is familiar with the jurisdiction and laws pertaining to personal injury in your state, your best option is to consult a personal injury lawyer with experience in this area of legal practice. He or she can give you an opinion about whether or not you have a reasonable claim to compensation from the person responsible for the accident or injury. The attorney can also advise you about timelines and procedures so you know what to expect if a claim is filed.
Organize accident-related expenses and receipts.
Beginning with your first medical exam, collect all medical bills and receipts, along with any test results or other information you may receive. Usually the attorney you hire to represent you will arrange to collect a formal set of medical records, but keep track of everything else that comes your way.
Write a timeline of key events.
Your attorney may suggest that you keep an informal but detailed timeline of events from the time of the accident. This may include people you talked to, doctors, seen, and symptoms or consequences stemming from the injury or accident.
Make a list of potential witnesses.
Collect the names and contact information of anyone who witnessed the accident. This might be passengers in your vehicle or coworkers on the job. An informal list may prove a helpful resource if objective observations are needed.
Experiencing an injury as a result of someone else’s actions may be serious, but we don’t always know that at first. To be safe, follow steps like these to be prepared in case symptoms develop that need to be addressed. A personal injury attorney can offer helpful suggestions to prepare your injuries for legal consideration if necessary. If you would like to learn more, there are more resources available at Claim Accident.