Steps to Take If You’re Injured in an Accident

According to data collected by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 2.5 million American workers were injured on the job and needed treatment in the emergency department in 2018. 

Whether you’ve been in a workplace or auto accident, the event can be an overwhelming experience. That’s why it’s important to know what steps to take after you’ve been injured in an accident. 

This guide will detail everything you need to know. Keep reading to learn more.

Get Medical Treatment Right Away

If you’re wondering what to do if injured in an accident, the first thing to do is seek medical attention. You might think your injury is small but you can’t be sure of the extent until you’re examined by a doctor. 

If the accident is severe enough you’ll be taken to the emergency department by ambulance. Any kind of head trauma requires MRI scanning. A head injury might not seem serious at first but the possibility of internal bleeding is too dangerous and needs to be ruled out by a doctor. 

Create a Report of the Accident

If you’ve been in a car accident, even a small one, you should contact the police so you can make a report of the accident. After getting to safety and caring for your injuries you’ll need to give a detailed account to the officer that arrives on the scene. The officer’s report will be necessary when it comes time to submit your claim. 

You’ll need to make a report of the accident if it happens at the workplace too. Your supervisor should know what happened. Any coworkers who were present should give their account of the incident as well. 

Collect Necessary Evidence

If you got injured in an accident you’ll need to collect evidence of the incident as well. While you’ll provide details in the accident report, having your own records is vital down the line. 

If you were in a car accident you should take pictures of the cars and the damage they incurred. Take pictures of yourself and any visible injuries you have too. 

Take photos and videos of your accident if it occurred at work as well. Make sure you capture any safety violations that might have led to the accident, things like faulty equipment. 

Collect Contact Information Too

This is a necessary step after you’ve been injured in an auto accident. While the police officer will collect this information when writing their report, you should have contact information for everyone involved in the car accident jotted down. 

You’ll need first and last names, driver’s license numbers, and plate numbers. You should also make a note of the model and color of the other cars involved. You’ll need to exchange insurance information with the other people involved in the car accident too. 

Submit a Claim to Your Insurance

This is another important step to take after you’re injured in a car accident. You should try to submit your insurance claim as soon as possible. 

The earlier you talk to your insurance company the more details you’ll remember about the accident. You’ll need to submit the photo and video evidence you collected at the scene. 

This will speed up the claims process. You want to ensure you’ll get your payout as soon as possible so you won’t have too many hospital bills and car repair costs to worry about. 

Keep a Detailed Notebook

Other injured in an accident advice you should follow includes keeping a notebook with detailed notes. Information you should have written down includes how many expenses you’ve had since the accident, this could include medical bills and car repairs. You should also make a note of losses like compensation you’ve lost because you had to miss work after the accident. 

You should keep notes on the injuries you experienced as well. Write down the symptoms you feel each day. Jot down any medical treatment you receive related to the accident.  

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

After suffering a personal injury you should reach out to a personal injury lawyer. An attorney can help you navigate the claims process and negotiate a better deal for you if you feel your insurance company isn’t giving you the payout you deserve. 

The great thing about a personal injury attorney is that they won’t get paid until you get paid. So you won’t have to worry about expensive lawyer fees. 

Go to Physical Therapy

It’s also important to keep up with all your doctor’s appointments and physical therapy after you’ve been injured in an accident. The process is long and can be painful but you’ll only get to the other side if you follow the recommendations of your doctors who understand your injuries best. 

If you want to get back to where you were before the accident and don’t want to have permanent injuries you have to do all the exercises you’re asked to at your physical therapy appointments and home.  

Maintain a Positive Attitude

Suffering an injury from an accident can bring a lot of stress to your life. Medical expenses and doctor’s appointments can become a burden. 

One of the best things you can do after your accident is to take everything one day at a time. Try your best to maintain a positive attitude so you can move through the recovery process smoothly. 

What You Should Do After You’re Injured in an Accident 

If you’re injured in an accident, whether you’re at work or driving in your car, there are important steps you should take right after. After getting treated for your injuries you should contact a personal injury lawyer. Your lawyer will help you process your claim so you can get the compensation you deserve. 

Did you find useful information in this blog? If you did, check out some of the other blogs on our site for more helpful tips.