To preserve your ability to get compensation after an injury, complete these 4 tasks ASAP
Following any kind of serious injury, it’s common to feel overwhelmed. You may be so caught up in the shock and pain of the experience that you don’t really stop to think about what may need to be done to support your ability to seek compensation from the party that wronged you.
While this is totally natural and understandable, unfortunately your inaction could end up costing you significantly later on. After all, what you do in the 48 hours immediately after your accident can actually be crucial to the outcome of your personal injury claim.
Be prepared for any future accidents you may have by memorizing these 4 must-do tasks for the first 48 hours after an accident now.
Document the Scene
No matter what type of accident you have just had, you are going to need to prove who caused your accident and how in order to secure compensation. Capturing images of the immediate aftermath of the accident with your cellphone camera can be extremely helpful for this endeavor.
If you have been in a traffic accident, try to take pictures of all the vehicles involved in the positions they came to rest in immediately after the accident—before they are moved to the side of the road. Also, be sure to capture any other relevant details such as defects in the roadway or missing signage.
If you have been in a premises accident, try to take pictures of the specific hazard that caused your injury. This might be a puddle on the floor, a loose tile or floorboard, a nail sticking out of a piece of furniture, etc. Try to also include a wide-angle shot of the scene to show that there were no warning signs about the hazard.
Get Contact Info
The next task you will want to complete before leaving the scene of the accident is gathering contact info from any witnesses. If you have had a premises accident, also get contact info for the owner or responsible party and their insurance company.
Seek Medical Treatment
Seeking prompt medical treatment is important because it provides documentation linking your injury to the accident. If you were very badly injured, you may end up going straight to the hospital in an ambulance. If your injury was less severe, you might choose to visit your own doctor—but be sure to get an appointment ASAP, ideally within 48 hours.
Call an Attorney
As your final must-do task after an accident, you will need to contact an experienced personal injury attorney such as Michael A. Kahn. Your attorney can advise you as to the strength of your claim, help you understand what steps to take next, and even handle the interaction with the insurance company for you.
To get Attorney Kahn on your side now, please contact us at (310) 209-1600.
