Thinking about all of the things that you need to do after you have been injured isn’t fair; rather than focusing on a list of tasks, you should be able to focus on recovering and getting the treatment that you need.
Unfortunately, failing to pay attention to the details after an accident, and to take certain steps, can harm your personal injury claim, and may result in a diminished compensation amount. At the law offices of Gosanko, O’Halloran, Lepore PLLC we are here to help you during all steps of the personal injury claim process. To get started, though, you need to take the following steps immediately following a personal injury accident–
Seek Medical Care
Perhaps the single most important thing that you need to do after being injured is to seek medical care. This is true regardless of the severity of your injuries; if you are in an accident, a doctor should assess your condition.
If you do not see a doctor until days or weeks after your accident, an insurance company may question the relationship between the accident and your injuries, which undermines your claim. Further, not seeking medical care could be dangerous for your health.
Report Your Accident
As soon as you are physically able, you need to report your accident. Depending upon the type of accident you suffer, you may need to report your accident to:
- The police. For example, if you are in a car accident, you must report this accident to the authorities immediately. Law requires that you file a report within four days of the accident.
- A company or businesses. If you are injured on the property of a company or business, you should provide them with notification of your injury as soon as possible.
- An insurance company. You should file a claim with your insurance, or the insurance of the at-fault party, as soon as you are able. If you wait too long to file your claim, the insurance company may deny it.
Gather Evidence
Because details can become fuzzy with time, you should write down as much as you can remember about the accident as soon as possible. Then, you should immediately begin the process of gathering evidence. This might include taking photos of the accident scene (which you should do immediately following the accident if you are able), requesting a copy of the accident report, and interviewing witnesses. You should also document your injuries and your recovery, and keep a journal of how you feel (physically and psychologically) on a day-to-day basis. The more evidence you have of the other party’s negligence and the extent of your injuries, the better; you will need this evidence in order to recover the maximum amount of compensation.
Contact an Attorney
At the law offices of Gosanko, O’Halloran, Lepore PLLC, we encourage our clients to schedule a free consultation with us as soon as they are able following an accident. The earlier that you schedule your consultation and decide to work with our law firm, the sooner we can begin gathering evidence, working with accident reconstruction experts, and building your claim.
If you are ready to schedule your free consultation, call us today. Our talented Seattle personal injury lawyers are reachable online, or by phone at 206-275-0700.
