Steps to Take After an Injury
Our Santa Ana Personal Injury Attorneys Explain What to Do if You’ve Been Injured in an Accident
If you’ve been injured in an accident, there are some important steps you should take right away. Taking these steps will help protect your legal rights—improving your chances of recovering the financial compensation you deserve. Keep reading to find out what you need to do from our Santa Ana injury attorneys.
What to Do if You’ve Been Injured in an Accident in Santa Ana
As a personal injury victim, it is up to you to protect your legal rights initially. While you can (and should) rely on an experienced attorney to seek just compensation on your behalf, it is up to you to take the first step of scheduling a free consultation.
But this is not the only step you need to take. In fact, there are several additional steps that you will need to take in order to protect your rights under California’s personal injury laws. With this in mind, after being injured in an accident, you should:
1. Seek Medical Attention for Your Injury (or Injuries)
One of the most important steps you can take is to seek medical attention for your injury (or injuries). You should take this step as soon after your accident as possible. Go to the emergency room if necessary, and when you see a doctor, be sure to explain the following:
- That you were injured in an accident;
- The nature of the accident and how you got injured; and,
- All of the symptoms you are experiencing.
This will help ensure not only that you receive an accurate diagnosis but also that your medical records reflect the cause of your injuries. This, in turn, will help when it comes to seeking just compensation for your medical bills and other losses.
2. Take Detailed Notes
You should also prioritize taking detailed notes about the accident. After a traumatic accident, recalling all of the details can be challenging, and your memory can start to fade surprisingly quickly. Taking some time to go back over the accident in your mind and write down everything you can remember will help ensure that you are able to share as many details with our Santa Ana personal injury attorneys as possible.
3. Report the Accident
In most cases, you will also want (or need) to report your accident. Depending on the circumstances involved, this could mean:
- Reporting the accident to the police (if you were injured in an auto accident);
- Reporting the accident to your insurance company (if you were injured in an auto accident); and/or,
- Reporting the accident to the property owner or your employer (if you were injured in a premises-related accident or injured on the job).
If you were injured in an auto accident, reporting the accident to the police is required by law in California. You may also be required to report an auto accident under the terms of your auto insurance policy, and if you have a premises liability claim or work injury claim, filing a report will help document where and when your accident happened.
4. Be Sure to Keep Any Evidence in Your Possession
If you have any evidence in your possession, you should be sure to keep this to share with our Santa Ana injury attorneys as well. This could include photos or videos you took with your phone, a driver’s or property owner’s insurance information, a copy of the police report, damaged clothing or personal items, or anything else that you think might possibly be relevant to your personal injury claim.
5. Prioritize Your Recovery
While seeing a doctor promptly is a critical step, it is just the first step in your physical recovery. As your injury (or injuries) begin to heal, you should prioritize following your doctor’s advice and taking care of your medical needs. One of the most common mistakes people make when they have personal injury lawsuits is resuming physical activity or returning to work too soon. If you ignore your doctor’s recommendations and your recovery becomes longer (and more expensive) than necessary, the insurance companies may be justified in denying just compensation for some of your injury-related losses.
6. Document Your Injury-Related Losses
Speaking of your injury-related losses, you should document them to the best of your ability. There are three steps you can take to help make sure that our Santa Ana personal injury attorneys will be able to seek the full compensation you deserve:
- Keep track of your medical records and bills;
- Keep track of any time you miss from work; and,
- Write down your daily pain levels and all of the other ways the accident negatively impacts your daily life.
Negative impacts could include things like being unable to enjoy your hobbies, being unable to spend time with friends, or being unable to spend meaningful time with your spouse or children. If your injury (or injuries) interfere with your normal life in any way, write it down so that our attorneys can seek just compensation.
7. Contact a Local Personal Injury Law Firm Right Away
When you need to seek just compensation for an accident in Santa Ana, there is no substitute for highly experienced legal representation. You will need a team of experienced Santa Ana injury attorneys who are prepared to stand up for your rights, and this means that you should contact a local personal injury law firm as soon as possible. You can get started with a free consultation; and, with contingency-fee representation, you pay nothing unless you win.
Schedule a Free Consultation with One of Our Santa Ana Injury Attorneys Today
Were you injured in an accident in Santa Ana? If so, you may have a personal injury claim, and you will want to discuss your legal rights with an attorney as soon as possible. To schedule a free consultation with one of our Santa Ana injury attorneys, call 714-400-2000 or get in touch online today.