/24-7PressRelease/ - COLUMBUS, OH, July 01, 2006 - If you've been involved in an accident and are injured, the first thing to do is attend to your injuries as far as you can, and to check to see if others have been injured, especially if it was an automobile accident and you had passengers, or a railway or airplane accident and you were with friends.
Sometimes your injuries will be too severe for you to do any more than this for a while. In that case, if you can, enlist some help from somebody else, to act for you while you regain your health.
However, assuming that you're not gravely injured, and can take care of things for yourself, here are 10 wise steps to take.
1. Immediately notify the police of the accident and call for an ambulance if anyone is injured
Often the 911 operators will call an ambulance for you. If it's a slip and fall accident, a sporting accident, or a work accident, the manager or owner of the premises or business will probably do it.
2. Record the scene as far as you can
Make notes about what happened, gather contact information from others at the scene, ask others what they saw and write it down, take photos if possible. (It's a good idea to carry a disposable camera in your car for just this purpose.)
3. Don't admit to any fault
Don't discuss things at all with anyone who you think may have been responsible for the accident, beyond obtaining their contact information. Especially don't agree that you were to blame, or volunteer any concessions. Don't agree that it was a minor accident or that it should be forgotten.
4. Don't accept any money
In order to maintain your legal position in case a trial becomes necessary, accept nothing from anybody, except, of course, useful information and medical help.
5. Cooperate with police, medical personnel and insurance people
These people have their job to do and you may want their help later on if the matter goes to trial. Give permission to the insurance carrier to obtain medical records or other relevant records.
6. Obtain the names and badge numbers of any emergency personnel
You may need this information later if the matter goes to trial. And keeping in mind how slowly legal action can move at times, that trial could be many months ahead, even many years ahead. People relocate, become ill, retire, forget. So this identifying information may well be needed.
7. Have the insurance company inspect damage before any repairs are started
In the case of an auto accident, have your insurance adjustor see the damage immediately.
· If it was a slip and fall accident, have them inspect the location and circumstances, such as a wet floor or organic matter on the floor, and your injuries.
· If it was a sporting accident, have them inspect the facilities and equipment, such as a ski lift or rented boat, as well as your injuries.
8. If you think that drugs or alcohol were part of it, insist on breath tests
The police are able to conduct on-the-spot tests for intoxication, and later at the police station further testing can be done.
9. Get copies of any police reports
When you hire a personal injury lawyer, this police reports will be one of the first things he or she will want to see. You can expedite things at that point by having a copy of it already.
10. Hire a good personal injury attorney
Don't hire the first one you come across. Ask around, collect some names, then set up interviews with the most promising-looking ones.
· Have your questions ready, written down. As you interview the attorney, check off each question after you obtain a comprehensible answer.
· If the answers are not clear, ask more questions until you understand clearly.
· If the attorney doesn't seem to have time to answer you clearly, move on
· Choose an attorney who has plenty of experience with the type of accident you've been involved in.
When you've chosen your personal injury lawyer, have them file a claim as soon as possible. Legal processes often move slowly, and the sooner you start, the sooner you can be paid some compensation for your pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills, repair bills, etc. You deserve prompt redress.
Please click here for more information regarding premises liability or other personal injury law in Columbus, Ohio.
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