Accidents can happen to anyone. It doesn’t matter who you are, what you do for work, whether you have a family, or how much money you have in the bank—every time you go out in the world, there is a chance that you could suffer a serious accident-related injury.
If you have been injured in an accident, there are steps you need to take in order to protect yourself. This includes steps focused on protecting your health, as well as steps focused on protecting your legal rights.
The Law Offices of Mickey Fine has extensive experience assisting clients with motor vehicle accidents and other claims involving serious injuries. For a free review of your case, please call (661) 333-3333 today for service in Bakersfield, and nearby areas of California.
5 Steps to Protect Your Health
In order to protect your health after suffering serious injuries in a vehicle collision or other accident, you should:
1. See a Doctor as Soon as Possible
After any type of serious accident, one of the first things you should do is see a doctor. Even if you are not experiencing significant symptoms and even if your pain is tolerable, you could still have a serious internal injury that requires immediate medical attention.
2. Follow Your Doctor’s Medical Advice
Once you see your doctor and receive treatment, do your best to follow his or her instructions for your recovery. Make sure you know what you need to do in order to care for your injuries, and don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand.
Following through with your medical care is extremely important. You don’t want to delay your recovery or make your injuries worse because you misunderstand something your doctor tried to explain.
3. Attend All of Your Appointments
Likewise, you should make sure to attend all of your followup appointments as scheduled. If you need surgery, try to schedule your surgery as soon as possible, and make sure you are fully prepared when the date of your procedure arrives.
4. Make Sure You Don’t Return to Work Too Soon
If your doctor’s instructions include resting while your body recovers, then make sure you stay home from work for as long as necessary. If someone else was at fault in your accident, you may be able to recover financial compensation for your lost income in addition to your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other losses via a personal injury lawsuit.
5. Seek a Second Opinion If Necessary
Finally, if you have any questions or concerns about the quality of the medical care you receive initially, then you should seek a second opinion. When it comes to your long-term health, you cannot be too careful; seeking a second opinion is well worth the time and effort involved.
5 Steps to Protect Your Legal Rights
In order to protect your claim for just compensation, you should also try to take the following steps as soon as possible:
1. Take Detailed Notes about the Accident
Write down everything you can remember about the accident. No detail is too small, and at this point you should not dismiss anything as insignificant.
In order to assess your legal rights, your attorney will need as much information as possible. The more information you can provide during your free initial consultation the better.
2. Keep the Details of the Accident to Yourself
Until you hire an attorney, you should only share details of the accident with close, trustworthy family members who are involved in your care or recovery. If you are contacted by insurance adjusters, let them know that your attorney will be in touch.
It is also important to avoid sharing details online. A stray comment or the wrong photo can seriously undermine your claim.
3. Find the Right Lawyer
Before contacting an attorney, it is important to make sure that he or she is a good fit for your case. If you have been seriously injured, you don’t want a lawyer who merely dabbles in personal injury law. The lawyer you select should have experience and proven results in cases like yours.
In addition to confirming that the lawyer’s skills and experience meet your needs, you want an attorney who provides quality legal service. Read online reviews to see what clients have to say about the lawyer or law firm you are considering.
4. Speak with a Personal Injury Lawyer
While doing your research is important, it is not a substitute for actually meeting with a personal injury lawyer. When you meet with a lawyer, he or she will go over the specific facts of your case and provide a personalized assessment of your legal rights.
The attorney you hire will pursue a claim for compensation on your behalf. He or she will deal with the insurance companies for you so you can focus on recovering from your injury.
5. Do Not Wait Any Longer Than Necessary
Finally, in order to protect your legal rights, you should speak with an attorney about filing a claim as soon as possible. You should not wait any longer than necessary, as delays could potentially jeopardize your claim for damages.
Discuss Your Accident Case with a Personal Injury Attorney Today
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, it may be difficult to know where to turn. Your first priority should be your health, but it is important not to overlook the compensation that may be available if your injuries are the result of another party’s negligence.
The Law Offices of Mickey Fine can help if you have been seriously hurt in an accident. Please call (661) 333-3333 today for a free consultation. Injury lawyer Mickey Fine serves clients in Bakersfield, and nearby areas of California.