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What Are My Legal Options If I Was Injured in a Car Accident?

Posted: Thursday, September 13th, 2018 at 7:40 pm

What Are My Legal Options If I Was Injured in a Car Accident?

If you were injured in a car accident, your first reaction is likely to feel a sense of worry and fear. But once the initial shock wears off, you’ll probably wonder what your legal options are. Personal injury can be expensive as well as painful. However, it’s important to keep a clear head after an accident and record as much information as you can. Even if you’re already past the date of the accident, there is still information you can collect to help your attorney make the best case for you in court. Here are some of the things you should collect.

Photographic Evidence

Photographs can show who was at the scene, how the cars were positioned, the visibility or lack thereof of any road signs, and more. Photographs can verify weather conditions, as well. Grab as much information as you can and snap as many photos as you can after the accident. Even if you’re post-accident, you can still take photos of damage, bruises, injuries, and other things to help your attorney bolster his or her case for you.

Weather and Road Conditions

National records are kept on things like weather conditions, road conditions, and so on. Printing out records that verify the conditions at the time of your accident can help you in court, as well. If you have legitimate reports, especially if you also have photographic proof, that can go a long way in helping you obtain the best possible outcome when you go to court.

Documentation of Injuries

Taking photos of any obvious injuries at the time of the accident is helpful. However, many injuries don’t show up until days later, such as bruises, and some are internal. Medical reports, hospital records, diagnoses from your doctor, a list of medication and treatments issued to you post-accident, and witness statements can all help your personal injury attorney fight effectively for you in court.

Financial Records

Part of your case will involve putting a dollar amount on your losses. That’s why it’s important to keep as many financial records as possible. You’ll want to consider the obvious things like car repair bills, money spent on prescriptions and doctor’s visits, and the like. However, also keep in mind that wages lost due to being unable to work also constitute financial loss. Keep track of everything, and work with your attorney to arrive at dollar amounts for all of it. Also make a note of any property that was damaged or destroyed in the accident, such as laptops, cell phones, and the like.

Impact On Your Livelihood

If you’ve ever watched a courtroom drama show on television, you know that being compensated for “pain and suffering” is a part of most personal injury cases. Keep a diary of emotional stress, changes to your livelihood, difficulty sleeping, therapy appointments, and anything else that documents just how much of an impact this accident had on your life. This is something else your lawyer can use to fight for you in court.

While you always have the option of representing yourself in court, it’s highly ill-advised, particularly in nuanced cases such as personal injury cases. A personal injury attorney can help you navigate the legal waters and can negotiate on your behalf for benefits you might not even know you’re entitled to. Contact a personal injury attorney today and get started on the road to recovery.

 

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