When you suffer a personal injury, it can turn your life upside down. It can even be challenging to get your life back to normal. It is not uncommon to be emotionally distraught from the sheer shock of the incident. And if you are injured, it further complicates matters. It may be difficult to determine the extent of your injuries at first. You might be unable to physically maneuver, and you could need emergency medical attention.
Protecting your legal rights is not usually the first thing you think about after your injury. Nonetheless, following some simple steps can save you a significant amount of time and effort if you decide later to take legal action.
After a personal injury, do your best to stay calm and follow these steps to help you prepare for a personal injury case.
Seek Medical Attention
You should go to the Emergency Room, or visit your primary care doctor, or a healthcare clinic as soon as you are able. You might also call an ambulance at the scene of the accident. Keep in mind that delaying going to the hospital could have repercussions on your health or your legal case. As far as insurance companies are concerned, seeking medical attention within 72 hours after an injury is an appropriate amount of time.
When you meet with your physician, share with her all issues and pain you are having, even if you consider them to be minor. You also want to me sure you do not embellish or exaggerate your medical issues. Be honest and straightforward with your doctor and adhere to their recommendations.
Contact An Attorney as Soon As Possible
We advise you to reach out to an attorney as soon as you possibly can after your incident. Seek professional advice and an evaluation of your case. Your lawyer can review your information and inform you if anything else is needed.
If you wait too long to speak with an attorney, valuable evidence could be gone, forgotten, or changed. Rely on your personal injury attorney to take care of all the legal details of your injury claim or lawsuit while you focus on recovering your health.
Avoid Talking About Your Case
We strongly recommend that you only discuss your case with your physician and your attorney. Also know that when you do talk about your case with others, including an insurance agent or an opposing attorney, your lawyer should always be present.
When you are inclined to share information from your personal injury incident, be careful what you tell friends and colleagues, and be very cognizant about what you say regarding your injuries. Don’t divulge details.
Gather Evidence and Documentation
It is important for you to understand that when it comes to your personal injury case, you and your lawyer are responsible to prove that you were injured as a direct result of someone else’s negligence. In order to do that, you need to provide evidence and documentation.
We recommend that you gather records and documents of everything relating to your case. That includes medical records, police reports, contact information of witnesses, photographs and more. It is also helpful for you to write down what happened before, during, and after the incident in your own words so you can remember the events later on.
Hang onto all of your evidence and documentation until after your case is closed.
Be Aware of the Statute of Limitations
In Washington State, the statute of limitations for a personal injury law case is three years. This time frame means you have three years from the date of your incident to file a personal injury lawsuit. There are limited exceptions to this time frame.
Obtaining and Using a Police Report
A police report can be vital evidence of fault in a personal injury case. We can help guide you and assist with how to obtain a police report. We will discuss how a police report can help your personal injury case.
Roberts Jones Law Is Here To Serve Your Legal Needs
The Roberts Jones personal injury attorneys have your back. With the help of one of our experienced personal injury lawyers, justice will be served.
At Roberts Jones Law we will provide you with the guidance, care, and support needed to secure the compensation you deserve.
Trust the attorneys at Roberts Jones Law when you want legal services catered to your individual needs.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not contain legal advice.
