Accidents are simply one of those things that happen. As accidents can occur any time and virtually anywhere, you just never know when something bad could happen to you. Though some accidents and injuries can be minor in nature, some can lead to extensive health complications that alter your very way of life. If an accident occurs at your place of business or residence for reasons beyond your control, there are critical steps you’ll need to take – your health is the first priority. If you do have to contact an ambulance, now is also the best time to contact the police so that they can handle some of the next steps for you and secure the scene.
- Seek Emergency Medical Services
No matter how the accident occurred, if you have sustained serious injuries, get help. Immediately call 911 to have an ambulance dispatched to your location. Though there are other stepsyou’ll need to take, your health is the first priority. If you do have to contact an ambulance, now is also the best time to contact the police so that they can handle some of the next steps for you and secure the scene.
- Assess the Damage and Determine Cause
The first thing to do in any traffic accident is to check for damage to you or your car, and to figure out what happened. If your injuries aren’t properly secured, a friend will need to communicate with the other involved or responsible party. This may include exchanging insurance and contact information with the other driver, and notifying your supervisor of your injuries. You can also collect contact information for any witnesses willing to come forward.
Notify the police to report the basics of the accident, and you should contact the police for further assistance if necessary. In many injury cases, you need a police report to support your claims. They will make a report, collect witness information, take photos of the scene, and interview other involved parties.
Communicate with Other Involved Party
If possible, you’ll need to communicate with the other involved or responsible party. This may include exchanging insurance and contact information with the other driver, notifying your supervisor of your injuries, consulting your friend about their property, or inquiring with the store owner. You can also collect contact information for any witnesses willing to come forward.
- Notify the Police (If You Haven’t Already)
Now that you’ve gathered the basics, you should contact the police for further assistance. In many injury cases, you need a police report to support your claims. They will make a report, collect witness information, take photos of the scene, and interview other involved parties.
- Consider Legal Counsel
When your injuries were sustained at no fault of your own, you may want to consider legal counsel. Legal professionals like Shaw Kreizer Trial and Injury Attorneys can help you to understand your rights as the injured party, assist you with filing the appropriate insurance claims, guide you through settlements and negotiations, and, if necessary, help you plead your case in court.
- Seek Medical Attention
The type of claim you file with your attorney will depend upon where the accident occurred. Workplace injuries, for instance, would require you to fill out a worker’s compensation claim. If you were in a car accident, you don’t want to incur any losses, therefore, they will do everything in their power to prove that there was no wrongdoing on the part of their client. You will want to follow up with your personal injury attorney for further assistance. They will see to it that you receive what is necessary based on the extent of your injuries and aftermath of the accident.
You may not want to wait too long after your accident to seek legal advice. Though you may not feel you need one, hiring a personal injury attorney is recommended to help you navigate these sometimes troubling waters as you focus on recovering.
- File the Appropriate Claim
Now that you have taken all the proper measures, reached out to the necessary professionals (police, attorney, and doctor), and taken care of your injuries, you’ll need to file a claim. The type of claim you file will depend upon where the accident occurred. Workplace injuries, for instance, would require you to feel out a workers compensation claim. If you were in a car accident, you’d file an insurance claim. Slip and fall accidents will likely require that you fill out an accident report with the owner of the premises so they can file a claim with their property insurance provider.
- Follow-Up with Your Attorney
Insurance companies don’t want to incur any losses, therefore, they will do everything in their power to prove that there was no wrongdoing on their client’s behalf. If they cannot prove this, they will try to lower their costs by offering you less than what you may be rightfully entitled to. Therefore, you’ll want to follow-up with your personal injury attorney for further assistance. They will see to it that you receive what is necessary based on the extent of your injuries and aftermath of the accident.
If you’ve been hurt by measures beyond your control it is imperative that you follow each of the above-mentioned steps to a tee. Be sure to act fast as there are time limits on these cases and you don’t want to wait too long. Though you may not feel you need one, hiring a personal injury attorney is recommended to help you navigate these sometimes troubling waters as you focus on recovering.
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