What To Do After a Personal Injury Accident
Accidents do not knock on the door before happening and it is quite natural to be caught off guard when that happens. It’s normal to feel scared, stressed, mad, or lost after accidents, especially if they’re caused by someone else’s carelessness. And if you or someone you care about gets hurt, it can make things even tougher to handle.
In this state of confusion and anger, you still need to take the right steps following the accident to make sure your injury claims and lawsuits are in your favor, and you get justice along with maximum compensation.
Today, we are going to offer tips for handling personal injuries after an accident, things to steer clear of afterward, and why it’s important to follow these guidelines. We will also talk about why it is important to hire an accident attorney Reno.
Steps to Take After a Personal Injury Accident
Every injury case is unique, but there are some common important steps to take after getting hurt in a personal injury accident. If you are injured, try to stay calm and follow these steps.
Resort to Safety
After an injury, it’s common to feel shocked or in pain. But it’s important to stay calm and check your surroundings. Look around to make sure there’s nothing else that could hurt you.
For instance, if you are in a car crash, try to get away from the road to avoid more danger. Move to the median or the side of the road. But don’t move any vehicles if it might cause more harm. If you do move them, take pictures first to show how they were positioned after the accident. If it’s not a car accident, take photos of where it happened to show what the conditions were like.
If other people are involved and you can help, make sure they are safe too. If you can’t move, stay where you are and call for help right away.
Check Yourself for Injuries
Once you are somewhere safe, take a moment to check your body for any signs of injury. Here’s what to do:
- Look for any bleeding. If you see blood, figure out where it’s coming from.
- Check for numbness. If you feel numb anywhere, note where.
- Pay attention to your breathing. Is it difficult?
- Notice if your vision is blurry.
- Try standing up. Can you do it?
- Wiggle your fingers, toes, arms, and legs. Are you able to move them?
- Do you feel any intense pain?
Once you have gone through this checklist and confirmed you’re okay, ask anyone else involved in the situation the same questions.
If you or anyone else shows signs of these symptoms, call 911 right away to get help and report the accident. If you can’t make the call yourself, ask someone nearby to do it for you. Don’t assume that someone else will take care of it. Be clear and make sure someone is talking to a 911 operator.
Get Medical Help If You are Hurt
If you are hurt in any way, don’t wait and get medical help right away. Even if you don’t feel hurt, it’s important to see a doctor. You can go to the emergency room, your regular doctor, or a healthcare clinic. If it’s serious, call an ambulance.
The sooner you get help, the easier it is to show that your injuries are from the accident. When you talk to your doctor, tell them about all your pains, even if they seem small. Don’t make things sound worse than they are, just tell the truth and follow your doctor’s advice.
Gather Details/Information
If you don’t head directly to the hospital, chat with the person involved in the accident and injury. Get their name and insurance info, but watch your words carefully. Don’t admit fault or make excuses for them. Just gather their details. Also, snap plenty of photos at the accident site to record what happened and any injuries you sustained.
Talk to People Who Witnessed the accident
When someone sees an accident, their account can be super helpful in a personal injury case. Make sure to gather these details:
- Names
- Phone numbers
- Email addresses
Getting info from witnesses can really paint a clearer picture of what went down. Their side of the story can back up yours and fill in any gaps. Talking to people might not always work in your favor as they might try to avoid your questions as they do not want to be involved in the mess.
Collect Proof and Documentation
In a personal injury case, you and your lawyer need to show that your injury happened because someone else wasn’t careful. To do that, you need to gather proof and papers.
Get all the records and papers related to your case, such as:
- Your medical records
- Reports from the police
- Contact info of any witnesses
- Pictures
- Your own statement
- And more
Make sure to keep all these papers safe until your case is totally finished.
Get a Lawyer
Once you have got medical help, it’s important to hire a skilled personal injury attorney Carson City like Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney. You need someone on your side who genuinely cares about your well-being and can assist you in constructing your case.
Think about it like this – Insurance companies and other parties will have their legal teams. It’s only fair you have one too.
Looking for expert legal help after a personal injury accident? Contact Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney in Sparks, NV
Handling a personal injury accident can feel like a lot, especially when you are not sure what to do next.
If you have been hurt because of someone else’s mistake, having the right legal help is super important. Our team of skilled accident lawyers, Reno is here to stand up for your rights and make sure you get the money you should.
Call Bradley, Drendel & Jeanney now at 775-335-9999 for a consultation, absolutely free. We are here to hear you out, address your concerns, and give you the help you need to keep going.