What to Do & Not to Do After a Personal Injury

No one anticipates suffering a personal injury in an accident in Colorado. You may not be able to predict one, but you can prepare for an accident by knowing what to do and what not to do afterward. If you need advice about a particular case, consult with a personal injury lawyer.

What Should I Do After a Personal Injury?

If you get injured in an accident, try to remain calm. Your top priority is your health. Make sure you are in a safe location after the accident, such as away from the road if you were injured in a car accident. Then, take the following steps:

• Report the accident. Tell someone about the accident so you have a record of the event. The proper authority might be a police officer, property owner, employer or someone else, depending on the circumstances. Request an official accident report and make sure you get a copy.
• Take photo evidence. Use your smartphone or a camera to document the scene of your accident. Take photographs of all relevant details, such as the floor in a slip and fall accident claim or the site of a car accident. Record video footage of the scene, as well.
• Seek medical attention. Go to an emergency room or hospital immediately after your accident. Even if you initially feel fine, seek medical care. You may have an injury with delayed or nonobvious symptoms, or your adrenaline may be masking pain. 

Once you’ve received proper medical attention, contact an attorney. Speaking to a lawyer early can help you build a stronger case against a defendant. An attorney can help you protect your rights and go up against insurance companies. Your lawyer will let you know if you have a claim during a free consultation, and most operate on a contingency fee basis. This means you will only have to pay your lawyer out of a settlement or judgment award won.

What Should I Avoid After a Personal Injury?

Just as there are things that you should do after suffering an injury in Colorado, there are also things that you should not do. Making just one mistake could compromise your ability to recover fair financial compensation for your injuries and medical bills. Avoid these common mistakes:

• Do not admit fault. It is normal for a victim to immediately apologize or admit fault for an accident, often out of politeness. However, it is important not to admit fault to the other people involved, the police or an insurance company. Wait for an investigation to confirm what happened.
• Don’t fail to seek medical care. Some jurisdictions require victims to seek medical attention before they can bring a claim. In addition, most insurance companies will reject a bodily injury claim if there are no medical records proving the injury.
• Refrain from posting about your injury on social media. Stay off of all social media platforms until your injury claim has been resolved. Anything you post – even something you believe is not related to your accident, such as a photo of you out with friends – could be used against you to undermine your claim.
• Don’t give a recorded statement to insurance. A recorded statement is something that an insurance company could use against you later. If you are asked to give a recorded statement during the claims process, politely decline.

Keep in mind that an insurance company will be looking for reasons to deny your claim and save money on your payment. This is why it is important to know what to do and what not to do after a personal injury. The lawyers at Cannon Law can help you protect your rights from the very beginning of your claim. Contact us today for a free case review.