|
An accident can be a traumatic event physically, emotionally, and financially.
Injuries caused by an automobile collision, slip and fall accident or from a
dangerous product often result in medical bills, lost income, rental car expense
and other related bills. The law states that persons who suffer injuries due to
the carelessness of others may be entitled to compensation.
Unfortunately, accident victims often fail to investigate various rights and
benefits to which they are entitled. This is understandable, since the
emotional stress and physical pain caused by the accident tend to prevent a
calm, organized pursuit of legal rights. An injured person should contact an
attorney to determine his or her legal rights regarding the particular
circumstances as soon as possible after an accident occurs.
You can assist your attorney in
obtaining a fair settlement or verdict for the pain, damages, and expenses
incurred by following these guidelines:
You should not give statements, either orally or in writing to any
representative of the party who caused your injury. Often there is confusion at
such a time, and statements made under these circumstances may be misconstrued.
Statements can be handled by an attorney, experienced in such matters.
With an injury due to a slip and fall, it is vitally important to determine the
cause of the accident and the nature of the slippery substance. For example, a
slip in a supermarket may be due to spilled food or salad oil; a fall in a
retail store may have been caused by floor wax; a slip in a parking lot may be
due to snow and ice that has not been removed or treated in a timely manner.
Additionally, attempt to learn whether any of the property owner's employees
either witnessed the fall or were aware of the danger.
In a traffic accident, obtain the names and addresses of all parties to the
accident, any witnesses, the insurance companies for the other parties, and the
name of the investigating police officer.
Make a note of any statements made by any witnesses or parties at the time of
the accident, if possible, or as soon as possible afterward.
Keep a diary of the physical difficulties which the injury is causing. A
day-to-day entry is very useful in the future when trying to recall the problems
which your injury caused. Specifics can demonstrate the injury effectively such
as "could not drive to the store today due to the pain in my lower back" or "had
to leave work at 1:30 p.m. due to my headaches, and missed a staff meeting."
Keep a log of all expenses incurred as a result of the accident. Keep a log of
all lost income. This should include the specific dates missed from work, even
if you were paid through sick leave or annual leave.
Take photographs of physical injuries such as scars or bruises. In addition,
take photographs of damage to any property such as a vehicle involved in the
accident. Take photographs of the scene of the accident.
|
