Take Notes After an Accident or Injury
You’ll likely be feeling a wide range of emotions immediately following an accident. You might feel some pain, depending on the extent of the injuries you have. You might also be confused as to what steps you should take and who you should call to manage any medical needs. You might even wonder if you will be able to return to work following the accident.
This immediate confusion can make it difficult to remember which steps you should take to protect your legal rights in the event that another party is at fault. One important step that you might forget during this overwhelming time is to take notes. Taking notes is important for a few reasons, including to recall the details of how the accident occurred and any expenses that you will want to recover.
The more detailed notes that you are able to take, the more information you will have to build your case. You might collect information like:
Details About the Accident
Write down details of the accident, including the individual things that led up to the accident, as well as what happened immediately after. You can include things like:
- What you were doing immediately before the accident
- What the at-fault party was doing immediately before the accident
- What the scene of the accident looked like before and after
- How the other party reacted during the accident
You might also collect the contact information of anyone who can testify to these details, such as a witness. Be sure to also include information of any passengers in either vehicle.
Details Regarding Your Medical Needs
It is also important to write down any details regarding your medical needs or care received. You can include details like:
- Pains felt immediately following the accident
- Whether or not you were taken to the hospital in an ambulance
- The contact information of your medical care team
- The discharge papers or medical records from your visit
This information is important in gauging the severity of your injuries. It will also help the judge determine how much the injury has and will affect your life going forward.
Details of Any Other Economic Losses
Medical care is just one of the costs that you might incur from an accident. Write down any other economic losses you experience, including:
- Temporary transportation
- Property damage
- Childcare costs
- Lost wages
Injuries from an accident can change many aspects of your life. If another party is at-fault, then it is only right that they cover all of these expenses.
Details Regarding Claims and Communication
An accident will usually involve communication with numerous parties. It can be helpful to keep track of these conversations and write down your contact person for each one. Just a few individuals you might communicate with include:
- Your insurance company
- The other person’s insurance company
- The police
- A personal injury lawyer
Write down details like the date you reached out, what details you discussed, the name and contact information of your representative, and what each one said.
When to Discuss Your Case With a Personal Injury Lawyer
If you were involved in an accident that led to life-changing injuries, then you might be eligible to receive compensation through a third-party lawsuit. Reach out to a personal injury lawyer to discuss your options. By writing down all of the details immediately following the accident, you and your lawyer will find it more convenient to build your claim.
Contact a Mercer County Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Accident Case in New Jersey
Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to an accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at Birkhold & Maider, LLC represent clients injured because of an accident in Hudson County, Mercer County, Union County, Essex County, Nutley, and throughout New Jersey. Call 973-784-8583 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 189 Franklin Avenue, Suite 1, Nutley, NJ 07110, as well as an office in Hamilton, New Jersey.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
