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. You can also consult with a personal injury lawyer about this process. The article discusses how to obtain and use a police report and what to expect during your first meeting with an attorney. It also addresses what type of evidence to collect for a possible claim.

This guide focuses on general personal injuries, including premises liability cases, dog bites, and other types of accidents. You can also find separate guides for what to do after a car accident and after a workplace injury. 

Seek Medical Care

A serious injury can be life-threatening. If you were in a violent attack or major accident, get professional medical help promptly. You may need to call an ambulance, visit the emergency room, or go to urgent care.

Seeking medical care can help you minimize the impact of an injury by creating a personalized treatment plan. Attend any follow-up visits with your doctor or physical therapy clinic.

While this step may seem obvious after an injury, many people are worried about the high cost of emergency care, so they sometimes avoid getting help. This hesitancy can risk an injury getting worse.

Depending on the cause of injury, a successful insurance or personal injury claim can lead to the recovery of your related medical expenses. Going to the hospital or clinic can help you build a strong case later. Your medical records can help prove the extent of your injury.

File a Police Report and Get a Copy

If you were in a serious accident (such as a car accident or assault and battery) and police responded, the police officer probably made an incident report. 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, which can include:

• The time of day
• Location
• Weather conditions at the scene of the accident
• Obvious hazards at the location

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. 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.

Explore Your Legal Options

An insurance claim may or may not be available in your case, depending on the type of injury you suffered. Insurance policies may also fall short of covering the full costs of an injury. 

This is when legal support could make a difference. A personal injury claim could provide a way to seek fair compensation for your losses. 

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. You should begin collecting information as soon as possible after being injured in an accident. 

Meeting with a car accident lawyer or other personal injury attorney is a smart first step. Learn about the actions to take to build your case, including collecting evidence and documenting your injuries.

Hiring a Personal Injury Lawyer

Suffering an injury due to someone else’s fault can place a sudden and severe burden on your life. Whether your injuries came from a car crash, property hazard, medical malpractice, 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 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.