Regardless of whether the unfortunate incident happened at your place of employment, while driving a motor vehicle, or at a business establishment, being involved in an accident that resulted in injuries is most often frightening and could lead to significantly adverse impacts upon your life. Assuming your physical and mental health remains in-tact in the aftermath, here are five steps you can take to protect yourself, as well as build a case should you decide to pursue civil actions at a later time.
Take Specific Notes Recalling the Events of the Incident
It is critical for any accident victim to chronicle the events as they happened. The particulars of any accident will differ depending upon several factors, most notably the venue in which it took place, but certain common questions should be asked and their answers should be entered into a written record. The victim should jot down pertinent facts like the date and time the event occurred, as well as other important factors including:
- What conditions brought about the accident?
- Were you warned about any potential dangers before the incident took place?
- What injuries were sustained immediately and lingered as a result of the accident?
Obtaining the testimony of witnesses is also crucial. Should the case become litigated in a civil court, eye witness accounts that can corroborate the victim’s testimony will go a long way to yielding a successful outcome.
Take Pictures and Retain as Much Evidence as Possible
As important as a written record is, photos are just as valuable, if not of greater value in helping an accident victim prove his or her case. Accident scenes do not remain untouched for long. Should the victim be able, it would behoove him or her to snap shots of the accident scene, as well as of him or herself. It is also advisable to obtain copies of whatever evidence is legally permissible to be released such as:
- Medical reports
- Property damage assessments
- Medical bills
See a Doctor as Soon as Possible
If an accident victim sustained injuries, he or she should be examined by a physician right away. Receiving prompt medical attention will not only benefit his or her immediate and long-term prognosis, but can also provide proof that the injuries incurred were caused by the incident and are not due to some underlying medical condition. Should the victim wait to receive medical care, the aforementioned argument could be used against him or her during a civil proceeding.
Locate All Insurance Policy Information
In certain instances, an accident victim might receive financial assistance from insurance policies that may be in place. It’s important to determine where potential damages may be available to help recover after an injury.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
An accident victim should consider employing the services of an experienced Milwaukee personal injury lawyer as soon as they are able. Attorneys versed in this discipline understand how to navigate through the system and make sense of the countless information that needs to be sorted through in order to build a personal injury case.
Our Wisconsin personal injury attorneys at Cannon Dunphy are experienced in the field of personal injury law. If you or a loved one sustained an injury during an accident, we invite you to contact us.