Here are the steps to take before calling a personal injury attorney in Houston if you have experienced a personal injury or been involved in an accident. You know first-hand how terrifying the experience can be. First, there is the immediate shock and feelings of fear that hit you as the victim.
It can be overwhelming to go through such an unexpected traumatic experience. Often victims of personal injuries have a hard time processing what they should do or how they should act after being victimized.
Yet, it’s important for your own safety and long-term outcomes that you know what to do. Your personal injury attorney in Houston can help guide you through the post-injury process.
For your Houston personal injury attorney to get the best results though, it’s important as the victim to keep your wits about you following your injury. Read on to learn what you need to do following an injury.
Types of Personal Injuries
You might have been involved in an accident or received an injury and are not sure if it legally qualifies as a personal injury. Let’s begin by understanding how a personal injury is defined.
A personal injury is any injury you receive because another person acted in a negligent or reckless manner. That means personal injury cases cover a wide scope in the legal arena.
The most common type of personal injury comes from car accidents. In Texas, where there is one crash every 56 seconds, that’s a whole lot of potential injury. In fact, Texas reports there is one person injured in car accidents every 2 minutes 3 seconds. Often car accidents have on driver and vehicle at fault which creates the case in personal injury suits.
Motorcycle, bicycle, and truck accidents often have injuries from accidents too.
Another common type of personal injury comes from slip and fall accidents. Businesses and homeowners have a responsibility to keep walkways and driveways safe. If you fall because of their negligence, they should be held responsible.
If you have been bitten by a dog, the owner of the dog is responsible for controlling their animal and could be held responsible for your injury.
Medical malpractice suits can also fall under the umbrella of personal injury. If a doctor mishandles your case or makes a mistake that causes you harm or injury, they are responsible for their actions.
If you have been the victim of any type of personal injury where another person is at fault, you need to know what to do.
Seek Medical Help Right Away
The most important thing you can do following any personal injury is to seek medical attention right away. Even if you aren’t sure you have an injury, you should go to be checked out. Often injuries don’t show up when you are in the initial moments of shock following an accident.
If you delay seeking medical treatment, it can also impact your case. You want to connect the events of the accident to your injury through the medical team that treats you. This can be important for your attorney later on.
Avoid Discussing Your Case
Immediately following an accident, often those involved gather to exchange information. They might even start to discuss the events leading up to the accident.
It’s important here to not discuss the case with others. You don’t want to inadvertently say something that implies you have any guilt connected to what has happened. It’s best to seek legal counsel and let them do the questioning and investigating.
Gather Information and Evidence
One smart thing you can do, if you are able, following your injury or accident is to take pictures. If you carry a mobile phone, grab it and snap photos of the scene. Try to get them from a variety of angles. This might be helpful later as your attorney attempts to untangle the accident and prove the guilt of another person.
Of course, call the police, so they can make an official police report. You want to get the names, telephone numbers, and other pertinent information of all involved parties. You also want to get information about their insurance too.
Get Legal Help
Often victims of personal injuries will wonder if they should retain an attorney. They might even feel foolish or like they are overreacting. Then they start to get bills and have to go through their recovery.
It will be helpful to you if you find a good personal injury attorney as soon as possible. An experienced attorney knows how to proceed and they know how to manage the insurance companies that are sure to be hounding you to settle your case. Get the help of a qualified attorney quickly so they can act on your behalf.
Types of Damages from a Personal Injury Case
Even if you’ve recovered from your personal injury, you might be wondering about bills and holding the other person accountable for the accident. Damages and compensation as a result of an accident can cover a wide range of things.
The most common type of compensation comes to cover medical expenses that arise because you needed medical care. This can be everything from your initial emergency room visit to physical therapy following the accident to prescriptions or medical devices needed as a result of the injury.
If your injury was more significant and forced you to miss work, often compensation can be sought to cover your lost wages that resulted because of the injury.
Pain and suffering as a result of the accident or a loss of the enjoyment of life because of your injury can also result in compensation from the person at fault. Your Houston personal injury lawyer will best know how to address what compensation you should seek as a result of your injury.
Know the Steps to Take When Contacting a Personal Injury Attorney in Houston
Experiencing an injury where another person is at fault is scary and often overwhelming. It’s important to know how to protect your rights following an accident or injury.
Your personal injury attorney in Houston will need the best information to help protect your rights.
If you have been the victim and experienced a personal injury, we can help. Contact us today to set up an appointment and we can get started discussing your case.
