When you’re injured in an accident caused by a negligent driver, you need to be prepared to take legal action if you hope to recover compensation for your damages. That process starts almost immediately after your wreck. Therefore, as you pursue your personal injury claim, you might want to consider taking each of the following steps to best protect your interests:
- Take pictures: If you’re able to, try to take photographs of the accident scene. If you can’t, then maybe someone who was with you, or a family member, can do so. This will help establish the dynamics of the accident, which could prove beneficial to any expert testimony that you may provide at trial.
- Get witness accounts: Those individuals who saw your accident can be crucial to your case. You’ll want to make sure that you write down what they saw and obtain their contact information in case you need them to testify on your behalf. If you’re taken away from the accident because of your injuries, then you might want to look at the police report to see whom law enforcement identified as witnesses.
- Seek medical treatment: Your health is your top priority. With that in mind, you should seek immediate medical care. Also, remember that you’re going to have to prove the extent of your damages in your personal injury case, which means you’ll have to show your diagnosis, prognosis, and need for treatment. You can’t do that if you don’t follow your doctor’s recommendations for treatment.
These are just some of the steps that you can take to start your personal injury case on the right foot. You might also be able to identify potential expert witnesses, assess your own driving actions, and gather your employment records to further support your claim.
There’s certainly a lot to do, which is why you might find it helpful to have a legal professional by your side as you progress through your case.