If you’ve been personally injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, you’ll likely have a cause of action to file a claim against them. In many cases, you’ll be in a position to win damages compensating you for your injury.
But what steps are you supposed to take immediately following the injury or accident?
What to Do After Your Injury
These are some of the most important steps to take after your injury:
- Get to safety. Before you do anything else, get yourself to safety. In certain circumstances, remaining at the scene of the incident exposes you to additional injury risk. Even if there’s a chance you’ll be compensated for your injuries, it’s the best course of action to prevent those injuries. For example, after a car accident, it’s important to pull your car over to the side of the road, or else get out of the way of other motorists.
- Get medical attention. Next, get medical attention, even if you don’t have health insurance and even if you don’t think you can afford it. Your health needs to be your first priority, and your act of seeking medical attention will be important evidence if you choose to file legal action against the person responsible for your accident. Even if you don’t need emergency medical attention, it’s a good idea to schedule a doctor’s appointment and follow all the advice they give you. This includes attending follow-up appointments and seeking appropriate treatment.
- Gather immediately available evidence. Preferably at the scene of the accident, you should work on gathering evidence. The more information you have to show your version of events, the better. Consider taking photos and videos of the scene of the accident. Write down or take a voice memo of everything you remember. It may even be a good idea to talk to potential witnesses and get their contact information. Be sure to save all your medical records and receipts as well.
- Talk to a lawyer. After that, have a consultation with a personal injury lawyer. Your personal injury lawyer will review the details of your case with you, determining whether it makes sense to move forward with a personal injury action. If they choose to take your case, they’ll help you understand the next steps of the process and guide you through those steps. Take their advice very seriously; your personal injury lawyer is a trained professional with an ethical duty to help you get the best possible results.
- Gather more evidence. Even if you feel you’ve gathered every piece of evidence possible, there’s probably more. Your lawyer can help direct you and assist you in gathering more evidence to build your case.
- Stay quiet. Your lawyer will likely advise you of this, but throughout this process, remain quiet. Don’t approach or talk to the defendant. Don’t share stories about this accident or injury on social media. Be cautious about what details you disclose and who you disclose those details to. Any information that gets out could eventually be used against you.
- Follow your lawyer’s instructions. It’s a good idea to follow your lawyer’s advice as precisely as possible. Remember, your lawyer is on your side. They’re going to do everything possible to get you the best conceivable outcome in this case. Deviating from your lawyer’s instructions could compromise your ability to win or result in a lower settlement.
- Decide on a strategy. Together with your lawyer, you’ll decide on a strategy. In some cases, it may make sense to accept a relatively low settlement in pursuit of resolving the matter as quickly and easily as possible. In other cases, it may make sense to push for the highest settlement offer possible, aggressively pursuing negotiations even if the case eventually goes to trial.
- Focus on your recovery. Throughout this process, it’s important for your recovery to be your highest priority. Attend all your appointments, get plenty of rest, and focus on returning to your normal life.
- Find coping strategies. Mentally and emotionally recovering from an injury can be a long and complicated process. The stress of a lawsuit can make it even harder. Make sure you have plenty of coping strategies and social support to get you through.
Finding an Acceptable Solution
Personal injury lawsuits are sometimes arduous and complicated. This is especially true in cases with severe injuries or in complex cases with many interrelated variables. It’s a stressful process to go through, but with a good lawyer at your side, you can maximize your chances of winning comprehensive compensation – and getting back to your normal life faster.
