What You Should and Should Not Do in a Personal Injury Claim

When you’ve suffered a personal injury, you may be unsure how to proceed, especially if you think you need to file a claim. The process can be complex and understanding the specific steps you need to follow can be difficult. You don’t have to be overwhelmed, though. By following these tips, you can prepare yourself for filing your personal injury claim.

What You Should Do

• Get the information you need from any person who may be at fault for your injuries. Verify contact and insurance information to ensure it is correct.
• Police and first responders will likely come to the scene. Cooperate with these individuals, giving them the information they need to make correct reports and manage the situation as their protocols dictate.
• Even if you don’t feel injured after an accident, seek the opinion of medical professionals. Many serious injuries such as organ damage and internal bleeding are hard to detect if you don’t know what to look for. Let medical professionals assess, treat and document your injuries as soon as possible after the incident. Follow any advice they give you regarding your recovery, including taking time off work as necessary.
• If there is any evidence from the accident, save it in case you need it later on. If you cannot physically take it with you, take pictures.
• File an appropriate report. If you have an accident in a store, for example, you should file an incident report with them. If you have a car accident, call the police who will help you file a report.

What You Should Not Do

• Don’t assume you know what to do. There are professionals at every step of this process to help you through.
• Do not acknowledge any blame for the accident. Do not apologize.
• Don’t discuss the incident with others at the scene of the accident. The only thing you need from them is their insurance and contact information.
• Don’t post about your accident on social media. Especially do not post pictures of the incident or your injuries. Apologies, talking to others and apologies may seem harmless, but these things can be taken out of context and used against you.
• Don’t assume that you are uninjured. Only a trained medical professional should make that assessment.
• Do not discard any evidence. Likewise, do not try to hide evidence.
• Don’t accept a settlement without speaking with a qualified attorney beforehand. It may seem like a good deal at the time, but without an experienced professional leading you through the process, you could be leaving some serious cash on the table.
• Don’t let the fear that you have already made a mistake keep you from contacting an attorney for help. The bigger mistake would be to not seek guidance from those who know how to navigate these complex processes.

These tips are an excellent start to get you on your way to successfully filing your claim. To ensure the best possible outcome for your claim, contact the award-winning attorneys at Mills and Mahoney about your case via our online case review form or call us directly at (919) 683-2135.