Take Action to Protect Your Legal Rights Before You Hire a Lawyer
If you or a member of your family is the victim of a personal injury, you usually are not going to have an opportunity to hire an attorney immediately after the incident, so it is important that you take steps to immediately protect your legal rights:
Documentation is essential. If you fall at a store, immediately contact the store manager and insist that an incident report be written. If you are in a car wreck, talk to the reporting police officers, make sure they interview all of the witnesses and obtain the contact information for the witnesses yourself. Police DO NOT always gather all the necessary witness information so, if you are able, try to gather this information yourself.
Take pictures of everything. Almost everyone has a cell phone that takes pictures, so photograph everything immediately after an injury. If you are unable to take pictures yourself, try to have someone do it for you. Take pictures of the scene of the incident, anything that caused your injury, and any physical injury that you have suffered, both before you seek medical treatment and after. The more photographs and details your attorney has, the better he can represent you in your claim.
Seek medical attention. If you are in pain, go to the hospital or doctor immediately. Do not avoid medical treatment simply because a trip to the waiting room is inconvenient or you think that you may be able to “get over it.” This decision will not help either you or your case. You have the right to seek medical treatment, so exercise that right. Even if a medical provider does not find anything serious, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Do not talk to anyone until you contact your attorney. After a report of your personal injury is made, do not speak to anyone other than a medical provider until you talk to an attorney. Do not speak to the responsible parties, do not speak to an insurance company, do not talk to anyone that calls you on the telephone until you get legal advice.
If you follow these suggestions, you will have already taken the first important steps towards protecting your legal rights. Once you hire an qualified attorney experienced in personal injury law, such as the Blount Law Firm, you will have done everything you can to maximize the value of your claim. Leave the rest to us. Call today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney.