Taking the Right Steps to Maximize Your Potential Recovery
When you suffer any type of injury in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident, you have a right to take legal action to recover your losses. That includes any lost income resulting from your injuries, any medical expenses not covered by insurance, and any physical or mental pain or suffering caused by your injuries. You can also seek compensation for your inability to engage in activities you love (e.g., hobbies) because of your injuries, as well as your inability to have close and meaningful relationships with family members (loss of companionship or consortium).
The steps you take in the immediate aftermath of a motor vehicle accident, though, can make a big difference in your ability to recover compensation and how much you receive. Here are the most important things to do right after a crash:
- Get the medical care you need —Before you do anything else, conduct a medical self-assessment. If you have injuries to your head, neck, or back, it’s best to wait until emergency responders arrive and defer to their expertise. Don’t risk further injury by trying to get up and move under your own power. Even if you can walk away from the accident, you should immediately seek treatment from a hospital emergency room, an urgent care facility, or your primary care physician. The longer you wait, the greater the risk of jeopardizing your claim.
- Gather information —Don’t rely on police officers to gather necessary information about the parties to the accident or any witnesses. To the extent possible, get names and contact information for anyone involved in the accident and anyone who saw what happened. This will be tremendously beneficial to your attorney when you get ready to file a personal injury lawsuit.
- Take pictures, if possible —You don’t need a fancy camera—your phone will do. Try to get pictures of anything potentially relevant to your claim, including all vehicle damage, your injuries, any roadway hazards or defects, and even weather conditions.
- Hire an attorney as soon as possible —The sooner you hire legal counsel, the sooner you’ll have someone aggressively advocating for you. That can be critical when dealing with your insurance company. Your attorney will also ensure that critical evidence is preserved.
Contact the Law Offices of David J. Karbasian, PC
Send us an e-mail today or call us at 1-877-HOGLAW1 to schedule an appointment to discuss your personal injury claim. Evening and weekend consultations are available upon request. We can come to your home or the hospital to meet with you, if necessary.
