First Steps After an Injury

Getting injured can turn your life upside down. Depending on the severity of your injury, it can be a struggle to get back to normal. Protecting your legal rights isn't usually the first thing you think of immediately after you sustain serious injuries. Still, you can save time and effort if you follow a few simple steps after an injury.

This article provides information about what you should do after sustaining an injury. The article discusses how to obtain and use a police report and what to expect during your first meeting with an attorney. The article also addresses what type of evidence to collect to support a possible claim.

Police Reports

If you were in an accident (such as a car accident) and police responded, the police officer probably made a report of the incident. You generally have the right to receive a copy of a police report. These accident reports can come in handy in a personal injury case, and insurance companies often require them to process claims. For this reason, getting a copy of the report is a good idea. Depending on the rules of the police department, you may need to appear in person to pick up a copy of the report. You may also need to pay a fee for the copy.

The law enforcement report probably won't be admissible in a civil court proceeding. However, it can still be helpful if you're negotiating a personal injury dispute. For example, during an informal settlement discussion with the opposing side, you or your attorney can use the information in the police report to gain an advantage in negotiations. A police report made after you sustain car accident injuries may also include auto insurance information as well as license plate number and driver's license number information.

Some facts that can prove useful are the circumstances surrounding the incident. These circumstances can include:

• The time of day
• Location
• Weather conditions at the scene of the accident (if an auto accident caused your injuries)

A preliminary assessment of who was at fault is also useful, especially in a fender bender or other car accident. A police report can additionally provide contact information (such as phone numbers) for any witnesses and sometimes even witness statements about what happened.

How To Preserve Evidence

One of the best ways to preserve evidence of an incident and resulting injury is to take notes as soon as possible after the incident. Your notes should detail:

• What happened in the incident
• Your injuries
• How your injuries are affecting your daily life

Taking notes might not feel like a priority after a possibly traumatic experience. Still, doing so can strengthen your position for a legal claim. You can even make recorded statements on your phone to simplify the note-taking process.

When detailing the incident, it's ideal to include what exactly happened before, during, and after the incident that led to your injury. These details should include:

• Time and place
• Weather conditions
• Whether anyone else was present
• Anything that was said
• What you experienced and felt

It's also important to detail your injuries (both mental and physical), any medical attention or medical treatment you received, and any time you missed from work. Include any effects your injuries have had on your close family relationships.

Learn More About First Steps After an Injury

For more specific information about what to do after sustaining an injury, click on any of the links below.

• Starting a Personal Injury Claim: A step-by-step guide to what you should do after being injured in an accident. Learn about the actions to take to build your case, including collecting evidence and documenting your injuries.
• Take Notes About the Incident and Your Injuries: You should begin collecting information as soon as possible after being injured in an accident. This section describes the information you should write down to help build your personal injury case.
• Preserve Evidence and Take Photos: A successful personal injury suit requires substantial evidence. This can include police reports, documentation of medical care, and photos of the scene, including any motor vehicle damage or other property damage. In this section, you'll learn what type of evidence to collect depending on the type of injury you've sustained.
• Obtaining and Using a Police Report: A police report can be important evidence of fault in a personal injury case. Learn about how to obtain a police report and how a police report can help your injury case.
• Meeting With an Injury Attorney: This section gives you an idea of what to expect during your first meeting with a car accident lawyer or other personal injury attorney. Learn what kind of questions you'll be asked, what types of information and documents to bring along, and more.

Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

Suppose you suffered an injury due to someone else's fault. Whether your injuries came from a hit-and-run accident, another type of car crash, or something else entirely, contact a local personal injury attorney to discuss your legal options and get legal advice.

It's important to contact an attorney as soon as possible after your accident-related injury to avoid missing critical deadlines and to increase your chances of successfully recovering expenses like medical bills. Establishing an attorney-client relationship early on can make navigating your personal injury lawsuit less stressful. Some law offices even offer free consultations.