The moment you get hurt, it's hard to think of anything but the pain. That's why you need to make a plan to deal with injuries now before they occur. Whether you slip in a grocery store, get rear ended by another car, injure yourself while working or get hurt in almost any other way, here's what you need to do after an accident or personal injury:
1. Gather proof
In the event that your injury is serious and you need help paying your medical bills, you need to be able to prove the severity of the accident, its location and how it happened. Look around the area – were any people filming? If so, get them to email you a copy of the film. If not, stay in your current position and get someone to take a picture. If you are with someone who was hurt, start taking pictures of the entire area. Additionally, collect the names and numbers of any witnesses and remember your own merit as a witness.
2. Take notes on your state
When it comes to legal liability, the person who caused your accident or contributed to the condition which caused your accident is typically held liable. However, if the liable individuals, their lawyers or any bystanders attest that your carelessness also contributed to the accident, you may bear some of the liability. Referred to as comparative liability, shared liability means that you can only hold the other party responsible for the percentage of the accident that was not your fault.
To avoid the accident being blamed on you, take a few notes immediately on your state. For instance, if the accident erroneously could be blamed on your drinking, take notes on how much you really drank or even take a blood-alcohol test. If you slipped and fell, note how you were actually paying attention to where you were walking rather than looking at your cell phone.
3. Identify all potentially liable parties
As soon as possible, you or whoever is with you should start collecting the names and phone numbers of everyone who could be potentially liable for the injury. If you were in a multiple car pile-up, for example, you need the names and insurance details for everyone involved. If you were hurt on a business property, you need the name of the company, the name of the owner and the name of any on-duty managers.
Collecting as much information now as you can helps to ensure that you can successfully make a claim later. Under liability law, if multiple parties are responsible, just one can be held liable for all of the damages. If you only identify the person who has no insurance policy or assets, you may never be able to make a claim for damages. However, if you have a long list of potentially liable parties, it increases your chances of making a successful claim.
4. Make a doctor's appointment
If you are badly injured, you will probably be whisked away from the scene of the accident by an ambulance. However, even if you are not hurt enough to ride away in an ambulance, you still need to visit a doctor. Seeing a doctor right away and getting x-rays or other tests helps to prove that the accident was truly the cause of your injuries. Remember to keep all receipts and records in case you need them later.
5. Contact an attorney
Even a seemingly small accident can trigger a cascade of medical bills and appointments. To ensure you get the help you need paying for these expenses, contact an injury lawyer. An injury lawyer can help you get the compensation you need for everything from medical bills to lost time at work to impaired state of living.
Share4 February 2015
Too many single people assume they don't need to plan their estate. My brother fell into this category, and his unexpected passing left our entire family struggling to deal with his home, belongings, and financial accounts. It took nearly three years for the courts to set up a deal because he left no paperwork detailing how he wanted his estate divided. The situation immediately convinced me to work on my own estate, even though I'm still in my early 30's and don't have children or a spouse to worry about. Since it's a little harder to pick beneficiaries and estate managers when you're single, I collected the resources I used for making my own decisions and decided to publish them here on my blog. Use these resources before talking to an estate planning attorney so you're prepared for making hard decisions.