What to Do Immediately After a Car Crash

It’s important to have a mental checklist for what you need to do immediately following an accident. At the very least, whether it’s a major accident or a fender bender, damage claims and insurance companies will be involved. What happens right after an accident can make all the difference in how claims or lawsuits get resolved. Here are some things to keep in mind following a car accident:

  • Most important of all, immediately check on the safety of everyone involved in the accident. Call paramedics if there’s the slightest possibility that anyone is injured. First and foremost, this should be done for the sake of the well-being of all involved. Secondary to that, it is important to the future success of any damage claims that you as an accident promptly seek medical attention if necessary.
  • Whether or not paramedics are needed, make sure a police officer comes to the scene of the accident. It’s essential that a police report is created to determine which driver will be held legally at fault.
  • Seek medical treatment as soon as possible, and make sure you follow through on all prescribed courses of treatment and follow-up visits. Keep a daily journal of the status and progression of your injuries. You need to be establishing a thorough medical record to document injuries in the event that you wish to seek monetary damages.
  • Contact your insurance company as soon as possible following the accident. Keep careful track of the claim number you are assigned and the name of your claims adjuster. Report the accident to the other driver’s insurance company as well, but be careful about what you say.
  • Seek the services of an experienced personal injury attorney immediately. An injury attorney can assist you with the documentation and in stressful claim settlement negotiations. When it comes time for a settlement, you’ll see the difference a good personal injury attorney can make when it comes time to settle the claims.

 

5 Things to Know About a Slip and Fall Accident

A slip and fall accident occurs when a person slips, trips, or falls on someone else’s property as a result of a dangerous or hazardous condition. It includes falls caused by water, ice, snow, uneven flooring, poor lighting, or a hidden hazard like a hole in the ground. These types of accidents can be extremely serious, resulting in back, head, and neck injuries that can produce lifelong pain and health issues. Here are five things to keep in mind if you or a love one is involved in a slip and fall accident.

  1. Immediately get help. Not only do you want to get necessary medical assistance on the scene as fast as possible, you need to let an employee or property owner know want happened so you can establish a record of the incident.
  2. Do not provide the insurance company with any kind of recorded statement. Claims adjusters often try to get the injured person to agree to a recorded question and answer session over the telephone. Do not let yourself be talked into this, as you have nothing to gain and a lot to lose by it. You probably don’t know the details or extent of your injuries yet, or even the basic facts of what happened and why. Don’t get locked into a premature statement on the record.
  3. Follow through in necessary medical treatments and follow-up visits. While some people avoid going to the doctor or physical therapist at all costs, this is emphatically not the course you want to take after a slip and fall accident. Not only do you need to make sure your injuries are properly treated for the sake of your health, not following the advice of your doctors can make the insurance company suspicious that your injuries are not as serious as you’re claiming.
  4. Make notes throughout the process. First, write down everything you can remember and learn about the injury itself. Then keep track of your physician visits and all medical treatments, and the daily status of your injuries. Also keep track of any loss of wages due to an inability to work.
  5. Stay off of social media. Thoughtless updates on Facebook or Instagram can be disastrous for personal injury litigation. Don’t do the opposing side’s job for them.

 

Slip and Fall Cases and Homeowners Insurance

If you slip and fall on residential property and are considering filing a personal injury claim, you will probably be dealing with the property owner’s homeowners insurance. It’s important to keep in mind that being injured on someone else’s residential property doesn’t automatically entitle you to have the claim covered by the homeowners insurance.

The homeowner will only be liable for your injury if they were negligent, and that negligence was what led to the accident. Negligence related to the accident will have to be shown; again, just because you have an accident in someone’s home does not necessarily mean they were negligent.

These types of accidents often involve slip and falls on stairs. Sometimes this can be the result of negligence, but it could also have been accidental. The distinction is crucial in terms of whether or not the homeowner is liable. While a simple accident is not the homeowner’s fault, the following factors could potentially be the result of negligence: foreign substance on stairs; lack of handrails; poorly built step; and poorly placed carpets or rugs.

Slipping on snow or ice at a residential property is another common cause of accidents. However, liability can be difficult to show here. While in most states homeowners have a duty to make reasonable efforts to remove ice and snow and make sidewalks and walking paths reasonably safe, juries are often reluctant to find liability in these kinds of circumstances. This being the case, claims adjusters are more likely to be stubborn about these claims. If you do have an accident on residential property, make sure you immediately take pictures of the accident scene, your clothes, and any bruises or other signs of injury. Then seek the guidance of an experienced personal injury attorney to help you determine the best path forward.