5 Key Steps to Take Immediately After Suffering a Personal Injury
Immediately after a personal injury, your first priority should be your health. Seek medical attention as soon as possible, and tell your doctor about all your injuries and pain, even if you think they are minor. Also, remember to keep a journal, as this can help retain important information while it is still fresh. Eyewitness testimony is also precious in personal injury cases.
Gather Witnesses
Witnesses are a crucial part of any personal injury case. Eyewitness statements can provide valuable insight into the events leading up to and at the time of your accident. However, witnesses can also damage your case if they are reliable and trustworthy. It’s essential to collect witness information as soon as possible. Memories fade as time passes, and a person’s recounting of the events may become inaccurate or biased. It is also essential to consider the witness’s character and biases. If a witness is known to be dishonest or change their story more often than the weather, it could adversely affect your claim. Florida lawmakers are attempting to stop eyewitnesses from misidentifying criminal suspects by enacting the Eyewitness Identification Reform Act. Vero Beach lawyers can help you find high-quality witnesses for your case. They will make sure your witnesses are unbiased, and they will be able to provide a clear and accurate account of what happened.
Seek Medical Attention
From a health perspective, seeing a physician is the first and most important step after any accident. Some injuries, like internal bruising and nerve damage, can have long-lasting effects if they aren’t caught early. Getting medical attention also creates documentation of your injuries and the treatment you receive. Having this documentation will make it more difficult for insurance companies to refute or deny your claims by creating a link between your injuries and the accident that caused them. Following doctor instructions is essential, including filling prescriptions and taking recommended over-the-counter medications. Additionally, try to attend all recommended appointments and visit any specialists, as doing so will help you maintain the value of your injury claim. It will also show the insurance company that you are serious about your injuries and not exaggerating for financial gain.
Contact a Lawyer
Your injury lawyer must conduct a thorough investigation to prepare your case for settlement properly. It will involve examining your medical records and bills, obtaining opinions from your doctors about the nature, extent, and permanency of your injuries, and helping you draft a personal narrative about how your injuries limit your life. It’s essential to follow your doctor’s instructions and attend all appointments to reach maximum medical improvement so your physician can accurately document your progress. The documentation will be helpful when your attorney is negotiating a final settlement with the insurance company. The parties can often reach an agreement without going to court. Typically, the deal covers money for lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering reimbursement.
Contact the Insurance Company
Whether you were in a car accident or injured at work, reporting the incident to the appropriate authorities is essential. It will help your attorney obtain the necessary information to file a personal injury claim with the negligent party’s insurance company and ensure that the incident is officially documented. When speaking with insurance company representatives, ask only questions about the accident and your injuries. If you talk about anything else, it may be used to devalue the party’s claim.
Additionally, do not exaggerate your injuries or fabricate pain. It will be discovered by your medical professionals later and could hurt your case. Having an experienced personal injury attorney by your side when speaking to the insurance company can help keep conversations relevant and avoid damaging your case.
Keep a Journal
The hours, days and even months after a personal injury are often overwhelming and chaotic. Though it may seem impossible, keeping track of the details of your incident and injuries as they unfold is essential. It will ensure you remember any monetary losses, difficulties, or even the incident’s psychological and emotional anguish. Keeping a journal can provide the credible evidence essential for getting a fair settlement from an insurance company in a personal injury case. For example, you can record all medical appointments and treatments in your journal and any associated expenses and note your pain levels as you progress through your care.
