It’s natural to feel overwhelmed after suffering a catastrophic accident. You may be so taken aback by the shock and sorrow of the situation that you fail to consider what you would need to do to strengthen your case for compensation from the entity who injured you.
While this is completely normal and acceptable, your inactivity might wind up costing you a lot of money in the long run. After all, what you do in the 48 hours following your accident might have a significant impact on the result of your personal injury claim.
Memorize these four must-do chores within the first 48 hours following an accident to be ready for any future incidents. Contact Law Offices of Michael A. Kahn at (310) 209-1600 if you are involved in and injured in a car accident.
Take pictures of the scene
Whatever sort of accident you’ve just had, you’ll need to establish who caused it and how in order to receive compensation. Using your cellphone camera to capture photographs of the accident’s early aftermath can be highly useful in this quest.
If you’ve been in a car accident, attempt to photograph all of the cars involved in the positions they came to rest in just after the crash—before they’re pushed to the side of the road. Make a note of any other pertinent information, such as road issues or missing signs.
If you were injured on someone else’s property, try to photograph the particular hazard that caused your injury. A puddle on the floor, a loose tile or floorboard, a nail poking through a piece of furniture, and so on are examples of this. Include a wide-angle photo of the situation to demonstrate that no warning indications regarding the danger were there.
Obtain contact information
Gathering contact information from any witnesses is the next duty you should perform before leaving the accident scene. If you were injured on someone else’s property, collect the contact information for the property owner or liable party, as well as their insurance carrier.
Seek medical assistance
It is critical to get medical attention as soon as possible since this will give proof relating your injury to the event. If you’ve been seriously hurt, an ambulance may be summoned to take you to the hospital right away. If your damage is minor, you may want to see your own doctor—but make sure to schedule an appointment as soon as possible, ideally within 48 hours.
Consult a lawyer
After an accident, the last thing you should do is contact an expert personal injury attorney like Law Offices of Michael A. Kahn. Your attorney may advise you on the merits of your claim, assist you in determining the next steps, and even manage your insurance company interactions for you. Call us now at (310) 209-1600 for help.
