What Should I Do — Or Not Do — After An Injury?
Your actions after a personal injury could dramatically help — or harm — your case. At Beausay & Nichols Law Firm in Ohio, we can help you take the steps to seek treatment, report your injury and recover as much compensation as possible. We can also help you avoid common pitfalls in personal injury cases. Here, we will go over a few things to do — and not do — after an injury.
Do:
- Seek medical treatment
- Call the police
- Document the scene
- Get contact information
If you are injured, see a doctor immediately. If necessary, call an ambulance. The police will file a report, which is important for your records. Take pictures of the scene of the crash using a cellphone or camera. Get the name, phone number and license plate numbers of the other party involved in the crash, plus any witnesses.
Don’t:
- Apologize
- Leave the scene
- Say, “It’s O.K.”
- Talk to insurance companies
Although it is a natural instinct to apologize, do not do this, as it might be taken as an admission of liability. Even if the accident is minor, do not leave the scene until you have the other driver’s contact information and you have documented the scene. This can also be taken as an admission of fault. Insurance companies will want to talk to you. They may want to record your statement. Don’t do it. Insurance companies want to minimize your damages. They do not have your best interests in mind. So be careful in any interaction with an insurance company.
Ask A Lawyer About What To Do After An Injury
These are a few simple tips, but we can discuss your case in detail when you schedule a free consultation at our office in Columbus. You will not pay any fees unless we recover compensation for you. For personal injury and medical malpractice, give us a call at 614-529-3476. You can also schedule with us online.
