When you suffer an injury, you may feel bombarded with the pressure of a million things to do and a flurry of intense emotions. With all the confusion after the accident, it can be easy to lose sight of what’s important in all the details.
But if you’ve been injured, there are some important things that should take top priority.
So before you’re injured in an accident, ask yourself a few simple questions to check whether you know your rights.
First and foremost, make sure you know what to do immediately after the accident.
What Do I Do Immediately After Being Injured In A Car Accident?
Personal Injury Accident Lawyers Located in Bellevue, Bellingham, and Everett
- Secure the scene. When an injury occurs, it is vital that the first step you perform is to remove any further danger. Place the car in park, put out any fires, drag injured persons away from danger, or move away from unstable debris.
- Call for help. As soon as the area is secure, or most likely while you remove any dangers, call for help. The sooner help arrives, the better your chances of survival and lessening the severity of the long-term effects of your injuries. Call 911, yell for help, or flag down a passing motorist.
- First Aid. Treat life-threatening injuries. After the immediate area is safe, you can begin to assess yourself or others for life-threatening injuries. Begin CPR, put pressure on bleeding wounds, stabilize broken bones, and assist others to sit or lie down with a blanket to help minimize the effects of shock. If you think someone may have suffered a neck or spinal cord injury, be careful not to move them or her as this could further intensify their injuries.
- Record details. Once immediate danger has passed, help has been called, and life-threatening injuries are treated, you should record as much information as possible, while it is still fresh in your memory. Take pictures of the accident scene with your cell phone, write down the time and sequence of activities preceding the accident. Write down how the accident occurred, and include the events that followed the accident, including as much detail as possible. This information can help paramedics and doctors treat injured persons more efficiently, and can also be invaluable if the accident involves a lawsuit in the future.
- Get a medical evaluation. Even if you think you walked away from an accident without a scratch, you should still receive a medical evaluation. The stress and adrenaline that is produced during an intense period of danger can mask serious injuries. While you may feel fine immediately following an injury, you may realize in an hour that you indeed suffered injuries.
- Be honest. During your medical evaluation, be sure to tell the medical staff that your injuries may result in a personal injury lawsuit. While every doctor and nurse should chart as if every case might be called into court, it is best to mention that his or her records are likely to be used as evidence in a court case. This can prompt the staff to spend a few extra minutes documenting important details and double-checking to make sure all records arrive safely in your chart and are not misplaced.
Consider How Long Your Medical Treatment Could Be Following The Accident
After an accident happens and you’re injured, there are many concerns related to your medical care to pay attention to. This matters because you will need to assess how much your treatment has and will cost you in the long run.
So when asking yourself how you have to go to a doctor after a car accident, simply know that the answer is: As long as it takes for you to get better.
Now, if you were injured but not enough to call emergency personnel, do not wait longer than 72 hours to visit a doctor’s office, a clinic, or a hospital.
Figure Out When You Can File An Injury Claim Following The Accident
In the state of Washington, personal injury claims following an accident can be made up to three years after the collision.
Finding out whether your injury is due to the accident is essential to make sure you get the justice you deserve. So do not sit on your case for long. Contacting an attorney to have him or her represent you in this matter is important if you want to dedicate yourself to getting 100 percent better.
Insurance Claims: Is There A Time Limit To File?
It depends on the i nsurance. However, there’s literally no reason to take a long time to file.
After being injured in a car accident and suffering damage, filing a claim is important because it shows that you care about what happens to you and your property. It also speeds up the process of having your case reviewed.
No Matter How Serious The Injury, Reaching Out To An Attorney Is Key To Success
While the actions above may seem like common sense, in an emergency situation it is easy for your thinking to become muddled and confused. Following an injury, your next steps can shape your future. But instead of losing sight of what matters while trying to get better and get your case going, remember that having an experienced attorney to rely on will make a huge difference.
IF YOU, OR A LOVED ONE, HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT – CALL TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION!