Hopefully you’ll never have to use this guide but if you do ever have a personal injury, knowing what to do can help keep you a little calmer in the situation.
First of all, your health is top priority so if something feels wrong don’t be pressured into carrying on at work or getting up and walking. If you have fallen in a road, try to move to a safe space to prevent further injury from vehicles but once you’re off the road don’t move further. You may feel shaky as adrenaline wears off so it’s best to stay still for several minutes at least so you aren’t lightheaded and can better assess any pain. If you’ve fallen or hit your head, go to a hospital and get it checked out. If you’ve obtained a small fracture for example and don’t get it treated at the time it could lead to complications later on if it heals incorrectly.
If your injury occurs at work, you should ensure the details are recorded fully in your company’s accident book. This should include the date and time of the accident, what injuries were sustained, and whether any immediate first aid was administered, or an ambulance called. Another important factor that should be included is which witnesses were present and their recollection of events.
This should be done straight away so the record is as accurate as possible. If you wish to make a personal injury claim later you will need a copy of this accident report so if you try and get this before you go home or to the hospital it will save worrying in the future. It would also be beneficial to get a doctor’s report of your injuries if you can. It’s possible to get your medical records later so don’t worry if you can’t, just note that there may be an admin fee for printing.
If your accident occurs in a business you’re in as a customer, like a supermarket, you should make sure it’s recorded in their accident book with all the same details as above. They’re likely to be less willing to give you a copy as it could admit liability for your injury. If this is the case, try and get contact details for any witnesses in case you need them to corroborate later. If you attend a hospital or health clinic as a result of the injury you should also try and remember to state where the accident occurred so there’s an official record of it.
If you fall because of an uneven pavement or a hole that’s been incorrectly filled, there will obviously not be an accident book. In this case, try and get a photo of the hazard that caused you to fall, get details of witnesses if you can, and make sure to tell the medical professionals how your accident occurred.
Hire an Attorney to Help in a Stressful Time
You’ve received medical help and you’re now recovering and wondering if you might be able to make a claim. If you can prove that negligence by another party caused your injury, or in some states even if you’re partially responsible, you likely have a case. If your injury has caused you harm you can claim for compensation, and this harm can be physical emotional or financial so if you’ve had to take time off work due to the injury you could get those lost wages back. You can go about the process alone but if you’re going up against a big company’s insurance, they’re likely to try to warn you off or accept a low first offer. That’s why we think it’s best to employ a personal injury attorney to do the negotiating for you and make sure you have a solid case.
Assuming you win, you’ll have compensation left over after paying them and the whole process will have been much less stressful.
