Five Things To Do If You Are Injured
Injuries happen quickly and sometimes those injuries are the result of another person or entity’s negligence. If you have been involved in anything from a car accident to workplace injury or something in between, you could be entitled to compensation, you should contact a personal injury lawyer near you.
If you find yourself in this situation, here are five things you should do:
- Make sure you are out of immediate danger. Most importantly, make sure you are safe. If you are not safe, immediately try to move yourself as quickly as possible to safety before doing anything else. If there are others who are in immediate danger, you may be able to assist them after you have moved to a safe location.
- Call emergency services. Typically, after an accident, it is wise to call 911 and have the police come to the scene. As emergency responders, they can assist you and others to make sure everyone is safe. They can also help with containing other services needed, such as a tow truck or ambulance. When calling emergency services, be sure to be as descriptive as possible about your location so they can arrive quickly. The address or street is especially useful. The other helpful thing about having the police present is that they will file a police report, which often has useful information that can be used by a Chicago personal injury lawyer if you pursue compensation.
- Collect evidence. If you are able to, collect evidence of what happened. Any pictures you can take of the scene of the accident, may be useful as you pursue compensation. Additionally, if there are witnesses, their name, numbers, and addresses could be useful as well. If you were injured by a specific person, be sure to capture their details as well. If it is a business, make sure you know where that particular business is located and even their manager’s contact information if possible. If you are too injured to collect any evidence, do not worry. Often police reports and medical records have a wealth of information and detail. A lawyer can help you get the information needed to make the strongest case possible.
- Seek medical attention. Even if you do not think your injuries are serious, it is usually best to seek the opinion of a qualified medical professional. Sometimes due to the adrenaline your body is producing after an accident, you may not feel some injuries until days or weeks after the actual event. A medical provider will note any current injuries you have and provide documentation that could be useful if you decide to pursue a personal injury case.
- Contact a personal injury lawyer. As soon as possible after your accident, it can be a good idea to contact a personal injury lawyer to get their opinion on your case. It is usually best to do this quickly after because the circumstances will be fresh in your mind as well as the mind of any witnesses present. Furthermore they can advise you on how to proceed and if or how to discuss the incident with the other person’s insurance company.
If you have been in an accident, schedule a FREE case review with Disparti Law Group today to discuss next steps.