What to Do After a Personal Injury Accident in Long Island

With millions of people living in Long Island, there’s always the risk of being injured by another person’s actions or negligence. Whether you get injured in a car wreck, on the job site or in the store while you’re shopping, injuries can happen anywhere at any time. You may suffer only minor scrapes and bruises, or you could suffer catastrophic injuries.

No matter the situation, it’s important to know what to do after a personal injury accident in Long Island. At TonaLaw, our experienced lawyers know how stressful and scary it can be to get injured. You may not know who you can turn to or what your legal options are. The good news is, you can always speak to a Long Island personal injury lawyer at our office for free.

Our legal team always offers free, no-obligation consultations. During our initial meeting, we’ll review the details of your case and lay out all of your options, including the ones we recommend. To speak with one of our lawyers, call us at 631-780-5355 or contact us online today.

Steps to Take After Suffering a Personal Injury

After you suffer an injury due to someone else’s actions or negligence, your first step is to remain as calm as possible. In most cases, you will want to call the police and an ambulance. Be sure to also follow these steps to make sure you are better able to physically and financially recover after an injury:

1. Take Notes or Recordings of the Incident ASAP

Depending on the severity of your injury, you may not be able to even think straight, much less take notes about what happened. But the sooner you can take down your version of what happened and details of the injuries you suffered, the better. Chances are you won’t have a pen and notepad on you at the time of your injury, but you will have something that’s perhaps better: your smartphone.

Typing up your notes on your smartphone can help you put down a written description as soon as possible. If you aren’t good at typing on your smartphone or otherwise can’t or don’t want to do so, you can alternatively open your voice recorder app and dictate what happened. Having the timestamp on your notes or recordings can go a long way in showing you described what happened right after the accident, therefore lowering the chance of forgetting details.

2. Talk to the Emergency Responders

If you were injured in a car wreck, there’s a good chance a police officer will respond to the incident. In other types of personal injury accidents, you may only have an ambulance arrive at the scene. Regardless of what kind of emergency responders come to the scene of your injury, be sure to speak with them and follow their directions.

If the police come, give a statement detailing the facts of what happened so they can file a police report. You will also want to always get evaluated by the medical professionals who arrive with the ambulance. Not seeking immediate medical attention could not only hinder your physical recovery but could also make it harder to get the full compensation you deserve after your injury.

3. Take Photos of the Scene

More powerful than any notes you take of the incident are photos you can take. Again, depending on the type of injury you suffer, you may need to take different kinds of photos. If you’re involved in a car wreck, you’ll want to take photos of any vehicles involved, road conditions, weather conditions, any skid marks and anything else that may seem important.

If you slipped or tripped in a store or at work, you’ll want to take photos of the spill or obstacle that caused you to fall. No matter the situation, taking photos can provide a lot of evidence for your Long Island personal injury lawyer if you choose to file a lawsuit. The more photos you can take, the better. Your attorney will be much happier having too many photos than not enough.

4. Follow Your Doctor’s Orders

This may seem like an obvious step, but it’s still important to mention. There are some treatments you may get prescribed that don’t make sense to you, but it’s important to follow them nonetheless. For instance, if you suffer a deep cut and are given antibiotics, you should always take the full prescribed amount — never stop before you’re told to because you’re “feeling better.”

This works the other way, too. If you are given painkillers for your injuries, it’s never a good idea to take more than you’re prescribed. Following your doctor’s orders can not only help you better heal physically but can also have a major impact on any future lawsuit. If you don’t follow your treatment regimen, the other side’s attorney can say you obviously weren’t really injured, or your worsening condition was caused by your own choices.

5. Get in Touch with a Lawyer

Finally, you need to get in touch with a lawyer if you believe your injury was caused by someone else’s actions or negligence. Even if you aren’t sure if your injury could be the basis for a lawsuit, most personal injury attorneys offer free consultations. This means they’ll review your case and help you decide if you should file a lawsuit, all without paying a dime for their advice.

If you decide to work with an attorney, they will gather evidence, such as a police report and all the photos you took, as well as your medical records. This will help them build a strong case on your behalf. An experienced lawyer will file all the necessary paperwork on your behalf and help guide you through the lawsuit process so you can get the compensation you deserve.

Speak with a Long Island Personal Injury Lawyer Today

If you’ve been injured in New York, you have legal rights. In many cases, these rights include being able to file a lawsuit to recover compensation for your injuries. At TonaLaw, our experienced legal team knows what it takes to help you get the compensation you deserve.

To speak with a Long Island personal injury lawyer, call us at 631-780-5355 or contact us online today for a free, no-obligation consultation.