When you are involved in a personal injury arising from an accident caused by the fault of another, you and your family will undoubtedly feel overwhelmed, which is a totally normal response. Not only are you dealing with the immediate effects of your injuries and their consequences, but being compensated for your injuries and finding your way through the insurance claims and legal system is a totally foreign situation for the vast majority of people who suffer a personal injury. That is when you need an experienced personal injury lawyer to help you.
What to Do at the Scene of the Accident
Regardless of how you were injured, whether it is a car accident, a slip and fall accident, a truck or motorcycle accident, the time immediately during and after the accident occurrence is a critical time and you need to act accordingly. Obviously your first concern is to take care of your personal well being and that of your loved ones who may have also been involved in the accident. If the accident involved a motor vehicle, take care to get away from the vehicles involved in the accident as well as nearby traffic. Call 911 immediately and seek medical attention when it arrives. Document everything. If you have your mobile phone with you, take pictures of everything involved in the accident.
If there are bystanders nearby who saw the accident, talk with them and get their contact information. Exchange your contact information with others involved in the accident and get their contact information as well. Keep your conversations and contact limited and do not make any other statements to anybody. Most people want to be apologetic and helpful and may make a statement like “I’m sorry. I didn’t see you.” While this might seem like a seemingly polite and in some way comforting thing to say, it is anything but helpful when it comes to recovering damages in your personal injury case. Such a statement, while well-meaning, can come back to haunt you when pursuing your claim.
Talk to an Experienced Syracuse Personal Injury Lawyer
When asking what to do following a personal injury accident, always remember one simple, time tested answer: Talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer with a proven track record as soon as you can. Insurance companies will want to talk to you and record their interview. Do not make any kind of a recorded statement with an insurance company representative unless and until you are advised to do so by your personal injury lawyer.
Talking to and engaging the services of an experienced lawyer is critical in a personal injury case. An experienced personal injury lawyer has the resources and expertise to evaluate the facts of your case, evaluate them in the context of the law and propose the best plan of action for you to recover the compensation you deserve.
A qualified and experienced Syracuse personal injury lawyer will have the experience and knowledge to deal with insurance companies, hospitals, the courts, and will be able to effectively represent you in negotiations, settlements, and at trial should that become necessary. He will keep you informed every step of the way, explaining to you what is happening so you can make the best informed decision as your case progresses.
What to Do Following a Personal Injury Accident
Working with your personal injury lawyer and his team is one of the most important things you can do to ensure you are treated fairly and get the settlement and compensation you deserve.
Have you sustained injuries in an accident? We encourage you to contact the Syracuse personal injury lawyers at McMahon, Kublick & Smith, PC to make an appointment for a free case evaluation.
