None of us plan to be the victim of a personal injury accident. Clearly we don’t leave the house planning for an accident. It stands to reason then that most people don’t give much thought to what to do after a personal injury accident has happened. Sadly, however, personal injury accidents do happen all the time and take numerous forms. When the term “personal injury accident” is mentioned, most people think of a car accident. While a car accident certainly qualifies as a personal injury accident, there are countless other situations that are also considered personal injury accidents. Airplane accidents, dog bites, chemical burns and slip and falls are just a few other accidents that fall under the category of personal injury accidents. If the worst happens, and you find yourself the victim of a personal injury accident, consider the following tips to give you some direction and make sure that you preserve the evidence needed to get you the compensation you are entitled to.
1. Make a police report. Many people are unsure whether they are required to contact the police in an accident situation. The bottom line is that although California state law may or may not require you to contact the police, you should make a report anyway. A police report helps establish when the accident happened, where it took place and who was involved. It may also include important witness information.
2. Get witness information. If you are able to do so, ask any witnesses that saw the accident or that might have valuable information for their name and contact information. As mentioned above, a police report may contain witness information but it is best not to rely on a police report.
3. Seek medical attention immediately. This may seem obvious, especially if you are seriously injured, but many people think hat their injuries are minor and that they do not need to go to the hospital. There are two very important reasons to ALWAYS have a medical doctor check you out after an accident. One reason is that you may have serious internal injuries that are not apparent from the outside and/or injuries that will show themselves a day or two after the accident. By seeking a medical evaluation at the time of the accident you may be able to begin treatment sooner and you could even be saving your life. The other important reason is that when it is time to seek compensation, your personal injury attorney will need to prove that any injuries you sustained were a direct result of the accident. The longer you wait to seek medical treatment the harder it will be to prove that the injuries were the result of the accident.
4. Keep detailed bills and notes. Keep track of every bill you receive, every hour that you miss from work and any other expense related to the accident. The more detailed your records, the more compensation you may be entitled to. Also, keep a journal indicating how the accident has affected your life. Make notes in the journal regarding the pain you are going through and the emotional impact of the accident.
5. Retain an experienced personal injury attorney. Again, this may be obvious, but the sooner you find an experienced personal injury attorney to protect your rights, the better your chances of receiving the compensation you deserve.
For a no cost, detailed evaluation of your California personal injury accident case, please contact experienced personal injury attorney Emery Ledger of Ledger & Associates at 1-800-300-0001 or visit him online at www.ledgerlaw.com.
