(Newswire.net — November 2, 2020) — After you are injured in an accident that you believe was caused by someone else’s carelessness or negligence, you may not be sure where to turn for help. However, there are some things you need to do right away to protect your rights under the law.
Seek Medical Attention
The first thing you need to do if you are injured in an accident is to seek medical attention. Not only do you want to protect your health and get treatment for your injuries, you want to document that you were injured as quickly as possible. If you end up filing a claim or going to court, you will need medical records that indicate that you were injured, how severe your injuries were, and the treatments you underwent to resolve the injury.
For the best chance at a speedy recovery, you’ll want to take care of yourself physically, and you’ll also want to focus on your mental recovery. Get plenty of rest, get plenty of sleep, and don’t return to work until your doctor says it’s okay. You may also want to seek therapy if you have been emotionally traumatized.
It is critical that you follow your doctor’s orders to the letter whenever you’re involved in a lawsuit. The failure to follow their orders could impact whether you receive any compensation for your injury.
Document Details
Once you have dealt with your injuries, you need to document all the details you can. First, write down a detailed account of the accident, including road conditions, the surrounding area, what you were doing, what the other person was doing, etc. Be as detailed as you can. You will also want to collect:
- Copies of medical bills, medical leave requests, etc.
- Notes regarding witness accounts
- Photographs
- Witness statements
Statute of Limitations
It is important to remember that each state has a time limit for when you can file a personal injury claim. This may range from one to five years. If you delay filing until after the statute of limitations runs out, you will be unable to collect any compensation. This limit is usually very strict and even filing one day after the statute runs out will negate your claim. There is also the possibility that you will receive a settlement sooner the faster you file your claim.
Dealing with the Government
Some states have statutes that prevent individuals from filing lawsuits against government agencies. Keep in mind that if the person who caused your injury was working for a governmental entity, whether city, county, state, or federal, you may not be able to file a lawsuit against the entity that employed them.
You may be able to file a lawsuit against a government worker who injured you individually, or they may be a member of a union who will provide them with representation. Either way, the government agency they work for may be out of reach.
Hire a Lawyer
The best thing you can do after you have been injured is to hire a personal injury lawyer. A personal injury attorney looks out for your rights under the law. They will work with the insurance company and the person who caused your injury, allowing you to focus on healing rather than the red tape involved in a personal injury accident.
If you have been injured in an accident that you believed was caused by someone else’s negligence or carelessness, the first step you should take after seeking medical treatment is to hire an attorney. To learn more about practice areas in a personal injury case, you can visit this website.