Immediately after a car accident, you should attempt to write down as many details down as possible. As time goes on, you should also document any injuries and treatments associated with those injuries. Doing so can help preserve a potential civil lawsuit, and also help establish that you were in fact injured in the accident – especially if there is a time lapse between the event and your personal injury lawsuit. Relying on memory alone is never recommended, because often minor details that can influence your case will be overlooked or you may forget important dates that determine the statute of limitations in your case.
Your safety is the most important thing after an accident; therefore, take care of yourself by contacting an ambulance or seeking attention in an emergency room following the accident. From there on, you can start documenting as much as you can about your injuries. Recount every detail as if you were recreating a story, including the date/time of the accident, what was said, any injuries that you noticed immediately at the scene and where you were treated following the accident.
You will need more than just the basics when you are documenting your injuries. Details that are relevant to the incident are important and could significantly affect your case. Instead of stating you have a cut on your arm, be more specific about the type of cut, how physicians treated it and when you noticed that cut. If you can, document how deep and long the cut was as well.
Document everything regarding your injury, including details that may seem minor. For example, if you are suffering from slight discomfort, you should still write that down and the date/time that it occurred. If chronic pain begins later on, your notes could help establish that you were encountering small spells of pain before the chronic pain set in.
Financial losses are imperative in these types of cases. You will need to document all damages and financial losses that you encounter, including:
If you have medical bills or documented losses, keep the receipts and give those copies to your attorney. This will help your attorney establish your damages and better calculate a fair settlement for your case.
Immediately after an accident, you should contact a car accident attorney. Doing so can help preserve any evidence and ensure you document the necessary losses and injuries to prove your case later on. After your accident, contact The Law Offices of Kevin J. Roach, LLC. We are here to answer your questions. Contact us online or call us toll-free at 866-519-0085.
