Accidents happen all the time. Whether it’s a car or motorcycle accident, a slip and fall accident, or a dog bite, accidents and injuries can happen to almost anyone. When it happens, the shock of the event, the pain of the injury, and the difficulty of recovery can all make it one of the most stressful situations to be in, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Knowing what to do when you get injured can make a huge difference in the amount of stress you experience.
1. Seek medical treatment as soon as you can.
The first thing you should do when you get injured, obviously, is seek medical attention. Even if you don’t feel that your injuries are severe or that you don’t have any at all, you should still make sure you get checked over by a medical professional. Some serious injuries may not make themselves immediately apparent or you may not notice them right away, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t there.
2. Talk to any relevant parties.
After you’ve sought medical attention and treatment for your injuries if needed, you should talk to anyone that may be relevant to the accident. If you’ve been in a motor vehicle accident, you’ll need to call the police and file a report. In many states, it’s illegal to leave the scene of an accident without reporting it. If you’ve been injured on someone’s property or at a business, you’ll need to talk to the owner or the property manager.
3. Keep careful documentation.
Aside from getting medical attention and talking to the relevant parties, you should also make sure that you keep careful documentation of the accident. Take pictures of the scene and of your injuries at the time of the accident. Take notes and contact information of people who were involved and anyone who saw what happened. These are all things that come in handy during personal injury lawsuits, should you decide to sue because of your injuries.
Do you have any questions about what to do when you get injured? Feel free to share them with us in the comments section below. For more about this, go here. Good references here.