What Should I Do After a Personal Injury?

“What should I do after a personal injury?” After you’ve been injured in a car accident or slip and fall accident, it’s likely that this question will be running through your mind.  If you have to go to the hospital, who is going to be responsible for your medical bills? 

If you were injured as a result of someone else’s negligence and want to find out what your options are and how to file a claim, continue reading for some helpful information. 

Seek Medical Treatment for your Injuries

Immediately after you are involved in an accident, the best thing you can do for yourself is to seek medical attention to diagnose and treat any injuries that have resulted. Doing so will ensure that you start the proper treatment plan for your injuries so that they may heal. Moreover, while you may feel like you have not been injured in an accident because you do not experience any immediately apparent symptoms of an injury, symptoms, sometimes life threatening, may manifest to you later. Obtaining medical attention after an accident will reveal if there are any latent symptoms of injury, which, if left undiagnosed, may manifest after it's too late.

In addition to ensuring your physical health, seeking medical attention to treat any injuries you sustain can start a paper trail, which can help prove the cause of your injuries as well as the extent of them. For this reason, be sure to keep a copy of all medical notes and bills given to you. These documents can prove what injuries you sustained, how you sustained them, and the costs of the treatment necessary to heal your injuries.

Read more: Don't Let Social Media Jeopardize Your Personal Injury Claim

Take Photographs

Depending on the types of injury you sustain because of the actions of another, taking photographs immediately after you suffer injury may be impossible. However, if you are able to take photographs of the scene of the incident after the injuries happen, these photographs may be used later as evidence to prove who and what was responsible for the injuries. Nevertheless, even if you do suffer an injury that prevents you from documenting the scene right after it occurs, coming back to the scene and taking photographs may still show who and what was responsible for the injury.

With respect to your own injuries, it is prudent to also photograph your injuries after they occur. Doing so can help prove to a jury or a judge determine the extent of your injuries should you have to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party.

Take Notes of the Circumstances Surrounding the Injury

While it may seem superfluous to take notes of the circumstances surrounding your injury, taking notes can be very beneficial in helping to prove that someone else is liable for those injuries. Keeping an account of the details of the injury help the victim better remember the facts of the case. Remembering the facts surrounding an injury is key when trying to prove that someone else caused your injury. This is especially true when trial in the matter does not occur until well after the injuries occur.

Read more: Is Surveillance Footage Used In A Personal Injury Case?

Consult with a Personal Injury Attorney

After sustaining a personal injury it is important that you contact an attorney with whom you can discuss the specifics concerning your injury. Based on the facts you tell the attorney and a review of any paperwork you may have concerning the injury, the attorney will likely be able to tell you if you have a viable personal injury lawsuit against the person responsible for your injuries. Once hired, an attorney will also develop strategy and conduct an investigation into your injuries to get you the most monetary compensation you can for your injuries. Furthermore, an attorney, based on the facts of the potential claim and his or her own experience in litigating personal injury claims, can tell you roughly how much your personal injury case will be worth so that you have an idea of how much money you stand to receive should you initiate a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party.

Contact an Edison Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Personal Injury Case in New Jersey

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to another person's wrongdoing or negligence in New Jersey? Don't let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Lombardi & Lombardi, P.C. represent clients injured because of another person's wrongdoing or negligence in Edison, Brick, Freehold, Point Pleasant Beach, and throughout New Jersey. Call 732-906-1500 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 1862 Oak Tree Road, Edison, NJ 08820, as well as offices in Brick, Freehold, and Point Pleasant Beach.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.