{"id":4437,"date":"2024-04-05T20:30:49","date_gmt":"2024-04-05T20:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shegerianconniff.com\/?p=4437"},"modified":"2024-04-05T20:30:49","modified_gmt":"2024-04-05T20:30:49","slug":"what-to-do-after-suffering-a-personal-injury-a-los-angeles-attorneys-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shegerianconniff.com\/dev\/what-to-do-after-suffering-a-personal-injury-a-los-angeles-attorneys-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"What To Do After Suffering a Personal Injury: A Los Angeles Attorney\u2019s Checklist"},"content":{"rendered":"

Any personal injury leaves you reeling with some form of pain. Not only is there physical pain, but there can be mental anguish making it hard to function. You have medical bills, loss of work, and the impact on your daily routines.<\/span><\/p>\n

While you\u2019re dealing with all of this, it\u2019s easy to overlook the smallest things, and reaching out to a Los Angeles personal injury attorney may slip your mind. The attorneys at Shegerian Conniff<\/a> came up with a checklist to help you take care of yourself immediately after the injury and in the months to come.<\/span><\/p>\n

Document the Scene<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re in a car accident<\/a>, slip and fall accident, or are injured in a workplace, document the scene if you can. Photos of the cars, property, and intersection signs all help in a car accident. In the workplace or a slip and fall, take photos of what caused the injury, such as water on the floor or ice on the sidewalk outside.<\/span><\/p>\n

You may not be able to do this due to injuries. That leads to the next thing on our checklist. Take care of yourself. You may have to backtrack and document the scene and accident after a trip to the hospital. That\u2019s okay. You might find that area businesses, homes, or bystanders have videos they can share with you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Taking photos of your injuries is another part of documenting the scene. Do this if you can before you go to the hospital or urgent care. Otherwise, get photos when you\u2019re with doctors.<\/span><\/p>\n

If it was a workplace injury, getting witness statements from your co-workers is also important. It helps add validity to your claim, especially if the accident was related to something that people had pointed out that the employer needed to fix or change.<\/span><\/p>\n

Get Medical Attention<\/span><\/h3>\n

You may not feel hurt right now, but once the adrenaline wears off, you could be in a lot of pain. Even a minor head injury could lead to a concussion. If paramedics show up, let them examine you. If they recommend you go to the ER, take up that offer. It\u2019s better to learn you\u2019re fine at the hospital than wait until you\u2019re home and realize something\u2019s wrong.<\/span><\/p>\n

Plus, it gives you the paperwork you\u2019ll need to get medical bills covered by insurance, short-term disability, or other coverages that help with your wages and medical expenses. It ties the event or accident to the injuries you received.<\/span><\/p>\n

Take any recommended treatment plan from the doctors you work with and follow them. If you\u2019re told to go home with someone watching you for a day, make sure you\u2019re not alone. A concussion requires someone to keep checking on you. If it\u2019s recommended that you work with a physical therapist for the next few months while a broken leg heals, make sure you attend every appointment.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t follow doctor\u2019s orders, there\u2019s a chance that any claims you make could be denied. It could be argued that you didn\u2019t do as you were told and that caused the injury. You want to have proof of your injuries, recovery process, and all follow-up care.<\/span><\/p>\n

Call a Los Angeles Attorney<\/span><\/h3>\n

We\u2019re not putting this task at the end of the list. Your best time to talk to a personal injury attorney<\/a> is when you\u2019re at the hospital and haven\u2019t forgotten tiny details. Make a call and listen to the attorney\u2019s advice. It helps you know exactly what else is needed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Plus, you have someone to support you through your recovery as it can be challenging trying to manage your pain and have to talk to insurance adjusters, police, and other professionals who are trying to determine responsibility and financial matters.<\/span><\/p>\n

Be Careful Talking to Others and Do Not Post on Social Media<\/span><\/h3>\n

You might be tempted to talk about what happened, but don\u2019t do this. Anything you say on social media or to others could be used against you if there is a lawsuit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If the other party\u2019s insurance company calls, you can give your account and share your name, address, phone, and insurance information but don\u2019t continue past that. Reach out to an attorney to negotiate a settlement or file a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf. The insurance company can work with them from that point on.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make Sure the Correct Paperwork Is Filled Out<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you were in a car accident, you have to fill out a police report. Make sure you take care of this as soon as you can. If you wait too long, you could find yourself in violation of DMV regulations. In California, you have 10 days to complete the SR-1 when the accident involves injuries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For a workplace injury, make sure your HR has filled out an incident report and has all of the information that\u2019s needed. If you were involved in a slip-and-fall at a store or restaurant, verify that they\u2019ve filled out an incident form and any necessary paperwork with their insurance company and ask for a copy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If they won\u2019t give you a copy, ask why. You have the right to a copy of the form. Do not sign any paperwork without first talking to a personal injury attorney. They could be trying to get you to sign away your right to sue for the injuries you received.<\/span><\/p>\n

Do Not Discuss Fault<\/span><\/h3>\n

Never admit fault or suggest that you might have been at fault. Let the police or authorities do their job. They can do over the evidence and witness reports and determine fault.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

California is a pure comparative negligence state, meaning even if you are partially at fault, you can still sue for damages. It\u2019s always best to not state any wrongdoing. Don\u2019t give the opposing party\u2019s lawyers anything to use against you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Organize Your Forms and Evidence<\/span><\/h3>\n

Successful personal injury claims usually have a lot of detailed records. Paperwork helps prove your case. The paperwork you want to have available includes:<\/span><\/p>\n